Arthur Dove Abstract Art Project for Kids

Abstract Art by Kids inspired by Arthur Dove

The art of Arthur Dove (August 2, 1880 – November 23, 1946) at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston is child-like, is it not? Ok, maybe a really talented child. He is considered the first American abstract painter. The girls and I found him on the third floor of the new American wing’s Modernist collection. We hunt down PickyKidPix‘s favorite artist, Jackson Pollock, whose No. 10, 1949 hangs there too.

Modernist Artist Arthur Dove (a little art history)

This is the painting that caught my eye. With just simple shapes and a few colors, Dove conveys a nature scene. I love the colors and its simplicity.

There were more!

Dancing Willows, about 1944. Dove explored the problem of representing motion, dance, and music throughout his career. In his latest work, the artist used planes of color to evoke the shifting, intersecting patterns of light and shade, as a group of willow trees sways in the breeze. Museum of Fine Arts Plate

That Red One, 1944. Around 1910 Dove began to experiment with abstraction — one of the very first Americans to do so. He continued to explore non-representational styles throughout his career, but his images always retained some grounding in nature. Near the end of his life, he painted this simple, compelling image, possibly based on sunrise over the water. Dove spoke of wanting to show “the point where reality and abstraction meet.” Museum of Fine Arts Plate

Abstract Art Project for Kids Based on Arthur Dove

I wanted to use seashells as the focal point of an art project based on the art of Arthur Dove. Use any seashell you want. Here are some we have in our house. Now, imagine a beach scene and draw or paint in the style of Arthur Dove.

Can you imagine a beach scene or would you prefer to have a photo? Here are some images.

Can you combine a sea shell and a beach scene into your own composition? You can make it up or use these photos.

Now, let’s try making a drawing or painting in the style of Arthur Dove using his ideas like:

• Simple shapes
• Strong colors
• Different shades of one color

Try using just a few colors. We are going to try this with crayons but oil pastel or paint would work well too!

Use any medium you like!

You could also just cut shapes out of construction paper.

Use what you have and what inspires you.

There are no rules here except one: Have Fun!

Here’s what we came up with:

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