1866 - Born in Moscow, Russia1866 - Born in Moscow, Russia

As a boy, he was a good student and took drawing As a boy, he was a good student and took drawing lessons. He loved to draw. He learned to play the piano lessons. He loved to draw. He learned to play the piano and cello before studying law. He eventually became a and cello before studying law. He eventually became a lawyer.lawyer.

1896 – He visited a Claude Monet Art Exhibition. Monet 1896 – He visited a Claude Monet Art Exhibition. Monet was an Impressionistic artist who used a large amount of was an Impressionistic artist who used a large amount of color in his work. Kandinsky was so taken by the art-and color in his work. Kandinsky was so taken by the art-and the power of the color that he quit his job, and at 30 years the power of the color that he quit his job, and at 30 years old, traveled to Munich Germany to study art again.old, traveled to Munich Germany to study art again.

Once in Germany, he met Franz Marc and became one of Once in Germany, he met Franz Marc and became one of the earliest pioneers of what is known as abstract art.the earliest pioneers of what is known as abstract art.

Life of KandinskyLife of Kandinsky

What is abstract art?What is abstract art?

Abstract paintings focus on geometric Abstract paintings focus on geometric shapes, color and line instead of shapes, color and line instead of representing natural or recognizable representing natural or recognizable shapes as their subject, real people or shapes as their subject, real people or things.things.

He discovered the power of abstract art by He discovered the power of abstract art by observing a painting one day -he noticed observing a painting one day -he noticed “its‟ extraordinary beauty and glowing “its‟ extraordinary beauty and glowing inner radiance”, only to realize it was one of inner radiance”, only to realize it was one of his paintings that had been turned upside-his paintings that had been turned upside-down!down!

Abstract PaintingsAbstract Paintingsby Kandinskyby Kandinsky

Composition IV 1911; Oil on canvas

Composition VIII 1923; Oil on canvas

After that, Kandinsky believed that true artists could After that, Kandinsky believed that true artists could express their inner feelings through lines, shapes and express their inner feelings through lines, shapes and especially color. He felt all colors and forms had meaning especially color. He felt all colors and forms had meaning and carefully planned each painting to express the and carefully planned each painting to express the feelings he wanted to communicate. He did not feel the feelings he wanted to communicate. He did not feel the need to put recognizable objects in his work. In fact, he need to put recognizable objects in his work. In fact, he liked to title his works with words like Composition or liked to title his works with words like Composition or Improvisation so viewers would not read too much into the Improvisation so viewers would not read too much into the meaning of the titles.meaning of the titles.

Kandinsky retired in Paris and died in 1944 at the age of Kandinsky retired in Paris and died in 1944 at the age of 78. He is often called the father of abstract art and is 78. He is often called the father of abstract art and is famous for his simple compositions and use of color and famous for his simple compositions and use of color and shapes.shapes.

Life of KandinskyLife of Kandinsky

He had a neurological disorder called synaesthesia, He had a neurological disorder called synaesthesia, which for Kandinsky meant that he could hear which for Kandinsky meant that he could hear colors as well as see them. According to him, “Color colors as well as see them. According to him, “Color is a power that directly influences the soul…Color is is a power that directly influences the soul…Color is the keyboard…The artist is the hand that plays.”the keyboard…The artist is the hand that plays.”

Life of KandinskyLife of Kandinsky

What What CCOOLLOORR or or CCOOLLOORRSS do you hear?do you hear?

Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles 19131913

Hue – the color name. Example: Hue – the color name. Example: RedRed, , YellowYellow, , BlueBlue, etc., etc.

Intensity – the pure color strength. Example: Intensity – the pure color strength. Example: bright bright redred or diluted or diluted redred..

Value – the lightness or darkness of a colorValue – the lightness or darkness of a color

CCoolloorr

PPrriimmaarryy CCoolloorrss

RedRed, , YellowYellow, & , & BlueBlue

All other colors can All other colors can be made from be made from mixing these three mixing these three colors.colors.

SSeeccoonnddaarryy CCoolloorrss

Equal amounts of 2 Equal amounts of 2 primary colors.primary colors.

OrangeOrange, , greengreen, & , & purplepurple

CCoommpplleemmeennttaarryy CCoolloorrss

Colors directly Colors directly opposite each other opposite each other on the color wheel.on the color wheel.

RedRed – – GreenGreen BlueBlue – – OrangeOrange VioletViolet - - YellowYellow

NNeeuuttrraall CCoolloorrss

Not associated with a Not associated with a colorcolor

BrownsBrowns, , BlacksBlacks, , GraysGrays, & White, & White

They can be used to They can be used to change value of a change value of a colorcolor

Example: Example: RedRed + + White = White = PinkPink

How do How do ccoolloorrss make you make you feel?feel?

Warm colors are: Warm colors are: redred, , orangeorange, , yellowyellow--artist use warm artist use warm colors to attract the colors to attract the eye. eye. RedRed is the is the hottest.hottest.

Cool colors are: Cool colors are: blueblue, , greengreen and and violetviolet

a. 1 square must have a neutral color.a. 1 square must have a neutral color. b. 3 squares must have complimentary colors b. 3 squares must have complimentary colors

in themin them c. 1 square must have all warm colorsc. 1 square must have all warm colors d. 1 square must have all cool colorsd. 1 square must have all cool colors

DirectionsDirections

Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles 19131913