Preschool Art Lesson: Kandinsky's Circles

Your child can make an easy, colorful, and fun painting inspired by Wassily Kandinsky's well-known painting Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles. This project is best suited for ages 3 through 5. Children may need help with measuring or folding.

This project is a great introduction to or review of shape and color. And they won't even know they're learning!

*a piece of 8.5x11" white paper

*oil pastels OR crayons

*watercolor paints

*a brush

*a cup of water and paper towel for painting

*optional: a ruler and pencil

Be sure to have all materials on hand before you begin. The project runs more smoothly if you are prepared. You can use EITHER crayons or oil pastels for this project. They both work equally as well.

You will need to divide your paper into six equal sections. You can do this one of two ways:

1. Measure with a ruler and draw lines (lightly) with a pencil.

*OR*

2. Fold the paper to create the lines for you

Note: Most young children will need help with this step to get the sections to turn out equally. However, its a good opportunity to introduce measuring and folding skills!

Have your child put a different colored dot in the center of each section. Now the magic is getting started!

Have your child add concentric circles around each dot using whatever colors they want. The more color, the better! The last circle should touch near the edges of the section without going over (too much). Its okay if the circles are imperfect or wobbly. It will give character to the piece!

Using water color paint, have your child paint each section of the piece a different color. Its important that they use a unique color in each section to get the right finished effect. You can help them eliminate ones they've already used if they need the extra guidance. Have a cup of water and paper towel handy to clean off the brush in between colors.

Allow the painting to dry and then display proudly! Well done!