Learning about Alexander Calder

Our artist this week was Alexander Calder.  Also known as Sandy, he was born July 22, 1898.  And died November 11, 1976.  He is attributed with creating the mobile.

This artist has the prime upbringing for a creative individual.  He had his own tools and instruments to create.   He sculpted with all kinds of materials that he found laying around.

He used to fashion his friend's portraits as movable.  But eventually he gravitated toward simple shapes.

 He used bright colors, favoring red, yellow, blue and black in his oil paintings.

Since he made a metal duck when he was 11 years old, I decided that Lydia's art project for Alexander Calder should be something to show form.  So she made a multi-dimensional dog out of construction paper.

She folded the paper in half and drew features on it, and then cut it out.

 Drew the head separate and cut it out.

 Connected all the pieces together and added features of a tail and ears.

I got this project idea from Artistic Pursuits.  It was fun to do.

Suggested links for Alexander Calder:

How to make a mobile.

This is a short 10 minute video, it cuts off though and doesn't finish his whole life.  But very informative about his early life.

Official Alexander Calder Website.

Next week..................Mark Rothko