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STELLAR STORIES: The Swimmers: Paper Cut-Outs with Matisse

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By Ana Bianchi
Gingko Press, Inc., 2018. Informational.

This beautiful informational book is both a brief biography about Henri Matisse and an art activity guide. Bianchi gives context for Matisse and his shockingly colorful fauvist paintings. Then we learn that in his later life Matisse was wheelchair bound and in poor health. Without the strength to create art in his usual way, he decided he would paint with scissors instead. And so began Matisse's interest in bright, bold collage. Bianchi describes Matisse's approach to this medium as sometimes representational, sometimes abstract, and often utilizing both the positive and the negative of his paper cut outs. The book then gives instructions for how to make your own art projects inspired by Matisse. There are lots of useful tips and tricks, including the advice to use pins to set up your composition before finalizing with glue, and the suggestion to limit yourself to a color palette of four or five colors.

The Swimmers would be a great starting place for anyone taking a trip to an art museum this summer, or as a guide for an exciting day of art-making.

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