Make Art Like Mary Blair

What You Need:

• Colored construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• White unlined paper
• Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville (optional)

What You Do: 

1. Begin by introducing the artist, Mary Blair. You can read aloud the book, Pocket Full of Colors, or provide the following summary:
   • Mary Blair was an artist who created the art for Disney movies such as Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan. She used bright colors and shapes in much of her work. She was a very creative person who used her imagination as she created art and animation while working at Disney. Today you will be making art in her style!
2. Look at examples of Mary Blair's castle art using the internet or through the read-aloud. Point out the use of shapes and bright colors in her work. Ask your child to identify the shapes they see by name. Invite your child to name the colors or notice interesting patterns in the art.
3. Demonstrate how to cut out shapes from the colored construction paper (for younger children, you may choose to pre-cut shapes and/or draw shapes for them to cut out on their own). Invite your child to cut out shapes in a variety of sizes and colors.
4. Explain that now your child will get to create a castle using their shapes, similar to the ones that Mary Blair created. Model as needed how to put shapes together and glue them to the paper.
5. Create an art gallery of the finished pieces in your home!
6. Extend your child's learning by creating additional pieces of art by using just small shapes, large shapes, or only a few colors. Encourage your child to get creative and make their own art in this style!