The 1960’s was a time of rule breaking, counterculture, and changes in tradition! Going against the norm was a consistent theme in the 60′s. Young Americans were changing the way they lived, the way they thought, and specifically, the way they conceptualized art. An artistic trend that developed at the time was Popular Art, better known as Pop Art. Famous artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Claes Oldenburg, and the iconic American artist, Andy Warhol shaped the Pop Art movement.
By simply viewing the styles and quotes of famous American pop artists we can conclude that this revolutionary art movement craved the spotlight! So, it makes sense that the themes of pop art consisted of bright colors, abstraction, and a sense of surrealism( from the 1920’s). This type of art is one of my favorites, because it is so fun to look at, and completely unfamiliar to any definitive themes of postmodernism.
Teaching children about art from various time periods will give them valuable insight on the evolution of art and a unique perspective on different time periods.
Warhol once said, “An artist is somebody who produces things that people don’t need to have.” But you will certainly want the stunning piece of pop art your child is about to create. So, here is a fun way to let your kids pop their art, Warhol style!
Learn how to make Warhol inspired Pop Art with your child
What you will need:
- Bright colored paints and black paint. (Preferable pink, green, yellow, bright blue and orange) However, you can change it up, mix and match, and pick your favorite bright colors.
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Paint brushes- medium size
- Newspaper
- A large canvas, or poster paper
What to do:
- Take your canvas and your ruler and divide your poster board into 4 or 6 equal squares.
- Draw the same picture in every square.
Tip: You want to draw something simple that can be easily duplicated, like basic shapes. If the picture is too detailed, the different colors will not be easily distinguished. You can see here I attempted to draw a simple flower. It may even be easier if you draw the picture for your child and just have them color. - Here comes the fun part! Using the variety of bright colors, paint your repeated pictures. Make sure to paint each grid with different colors.
Tip: Don’t be scared to use unusual color patterns! This art isn’t about realistic figures, but rather the popping colors! - Finally, take your black paint and draw borders around your repeated pictures to distinguish them.
Ta-Da! There you have it. Your very own pop art picture! The best part about this new work of art is that it will be bright and alluringly abstract. It might sound crazy, but the end result will be great to hang up for everyone to see. Warhol often talked of “15 minutes of fame” to refer to celebrities that grabbed the attention of the media. While your child may not be painting to grab attention from the media, they will certainly be pleased to gain 15 minutes of fame from their family, so display that canvas for everyone to see! Andy Warhol would be so proud!
Like this post? Please share it!
Filed under: Just for Fun! | Tagged: crafts, cultures, history
