Kandinsky for Kids: Jello Art Project
There is a fabulous monthly series over on Red Ted Art called Kids Get Arty where you are encouraged to view the works of great artists with your kids and find an activity inspired by that art. An easy place to get started looking at art with toddlers is a Russian painter named Wassily Kandinsky. He produced abstract works featuring bright colors and often very simple shapes. So today I've got a great Kandinsky for Kids Art Project!
A well known work of his is this one called Farbstudie Quadrate or Color Study of Squares:
4 Packets of original unflavored Knox gelatin
4 small boxes of Jello, various colors
4 cups boiling water
I boiled the water in our electric kettle, poured it all into a large measuring cup, whisked in the 4 packets of Knox gelatin until dissolved, then poured one cup into each of 4 bowls and whisked in a box of jello into each. I used one ramekin and the rest were done in small circle and square lock-n-lock containers, which worked well. This mean there were no scraps, which there would have been if I had cut them out of a larger sheet pan. They were just right after 3 hours in the fridge.
I ran a toothpick around the edge and then inverted the container with the toothpick still in and coaxed them out onto a plate. I used a knife to trim the square/rectangles and a small metal biscuit cutter to cut the circles. I was amazed at how well they stood up to the cutting and toddler man-handling. Now we were ready to make some art!
Art Theory
Part of the idea of the Kids Get Arty series is to really talk about art (as opposed to a craft), talk about the artist, the content of the art, how it was made, etc. My discussion with Ladybug, being almost 3, was not that deep. But we did first look at the picture and I asked her what she thought the picture was about. Not surprisingly she said circles. I asked if she saw any other shapes and she said ovals. I pointed out the squares and she looked kind of surprised when she noticed them.
Jello Art Time!
Next I brought out the jello shapes. I asked her if she thought we could make a picture with the jello and she seemed unsure of what I meant but it could have just been that she just wanted to eat the jello. I asked her if she could find all the squares and put them on the white platter. Then I asked her how we could make these squares look like the ones in the picture and she got it! She started stacking the circles on the squares. It was pretty fun…we have not done any kind of jello sensory activities (but we will now!) so I had to let her wiggle and jiggle them. I don't know who giggled more, her or me! In fact I even gave a few tiny pieces to Little Big Man and he was captivated!
The white platter helped to show the jello colors well but we still had to take the jello- where else- to the light box! Here is what it looked like lit up:
We had a lot of fun with the Jello and it ended up being similar to a puzzle for Ladybug to try to match up the circles on the squares. Plus…jello is just fun! We will surely have to play with it more often!
More Kandinsky Art Project Ideas
Be sure to head to Red Ted Art for regular installments of Kids Get Arty and check out these other great blogs for Kandinsky ideas:
No Time For Flash Cards uses hot glue guns and bottle caps
Kids Art Market uses chenille straws to weave a Kandinsky inspired craft
Stay Tuned!
If you enjoyed our Kandinsky for kids Jello Art, please do follow us on Facebook, share the post, check out my awesome DIY Kids Stuff Pinterest Board and click those Pin it buttons to share! Thanks for reading, see you next time!
HI there,
I love this. I love when kids actually look at other artists. Your jello idea is wonderful. I am following you at Money Saving Monday.
Blessings,
Janis http://www.janiscox.com
Thanks for the kind words, we had a lot of fun with it! Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for commenting on my blog. I followed you on Twitter.
Great to meet you.
Blessings,
janis http://www.janiscox.com
This is so cool. I might have to try something along these lines…my kids would love it!
It was pretty cool! The recipe made way less than you might need if you make it as a sheet and cut it out. Just something to keep in mind if you are making it for multiple kids! Using the small containers was nice, I could stack them too. Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by!
This is FUN!!!
Thanks so much!!
This is so much fun and a great way to explore art. Great work. Jodi @ http://www.meaningfulmama.com
Thanks Jodi, it was fun, and continues to be fun a couple days later (we have only been eating the jello in small quantities since it’s afterall not sugarfree!). Thanks for stopping by!
Looks like great, jiggly fun!
It really was fun and yes, jiggly! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Oh my goodness how FUN is this? So bright and colourful and well, just fun fun fun. Definitely and exciting art project for kids.
So pleased to have you take part in Kids Get Arty!
Maggy
Maggy, thank you for the kind words- and for the inspiration! It was great to tie in a real artist to an “art project”.
what a brilliant idea to use Jello: I love this project!!
Thank you so much for the kind comment, and for stopping by!
Love this {and I’m sure the kids would too!}
Thanks for the kind words and for stopping by!
What a fun art project! I love how you can eat it when you are done!
Yes this was a big bonus and surely added to the giggle count! 🙂
This looks like such great fun – and yummy fun too (which is always good!). I’ve been meaning to join in with Maggys Kids Get Arty for a while now.
Thanks for linking up to last weeks Mondays Parenting Pin-It Party, I’ve featured you this week as one of my favourites from the linky last week 🙂 http://mammasaurus.co.uk/parenting-pin-it-party-week-two/
Wow! Thank you so much for featuring me! What a nice surprise! Yes I have the next Kids get arty on my calendar, a great series! Thanks again! Have a great day!
I love this. A definite must try with my boys. Have pinned it. Thanks for a fab idea.
You’re very welcome! And thank you for the kind comment and for sharing on pinterest!
This looks so delicious. I think this would be fun to do, and I’m like 30. (lol. “like” 30. avoiding specificity, you know?) Anyway, I’m featuring you on my blog tonight! Huzzah!
Wow, thanks so very much! It WAS fun and delicious! And I’m “like” the same age! Reminds me of when I was young, I never got why my mom would say, “I’m 37 again!” every year on her birthday. Ha! Thanks for the feature!! I’ll be sure to stop by and link back.
Thanks for linking this post to Discover and Explore. I love the idea of using Jell-o to create art! I hope you’ll be back to share for our Zoos and Wild Animals theme this week.
I’m still trying to get my head around how the kids didn’t eat all the jello before the project 😉 This is really an awesome idea for sharing/creating art – love it! Thanks for sharing at Discover & Explore this past week — I’ll be featuring your post on Tuesday 🙂
This is sooo awesome & fun, I’m over the moon glad I found your blog!! 🙂 Michelle
Thanks for the kind comment, so glad you found us too!
I adore this post! Jello and Kandinsky? Who would have thought….
Thanks for taking the time to comment, yep not a combination you’d think of every day but it was a lot of fun!
Great stuff!! Process art is not my strength, so I really love ideas like yours! Thanks so much!
Thanks for the compliments and thank you for stopping by, I am a big fan. 🙂
That is pretty coll! My kids would love this. I suck at teaching art. Thank you so much for the inspiration to think out of the box. Thanks for sharing!
Such a neat idea to use jello to make art! While this creation is not going to last forever (it’s too yummy!), you can hold tight to the memory, with Keepy. It’s an easy to use app for organizing your children’s artwork and privately sharing it with the whole family. So snap a pic of that jello masterpiece and let grandma join in on the fun! http://keepy.me