Iceland Illustrated - Henri Matisse
Learning Sequence 1
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Intro with Gavin
Encourage students to visualise the Icelandic landscape and guide them to notice the natural contrast between light and dark. Demonstrate how asymmetry makes a composition more dynamic, and remind them of the rule of thirds when placing key features.
Support them as they experiment with water and pigment to explore tonal contrast. Focus on developing the skills of controlling light and shade with watercolour and placing emphasis effectively in the composition.
In today’s lesson we are going to explore landscapes inspired by Iceland. Picture yourself standing in front of ancient volcanic mountains, one side covered in bright snow and the other in dark shadow. This contrast is what makes the scene powerful and memorable.
We will learn how artists use asymmetry, which means each side of the picture looks different. This helps the eye travel across the page in a natural way. By using the rule of thirds, we can place the most important part of our work where it catches attention straight away.
With watercolour you will experiment by adding more water for lighter tones and more paint for deeper shades. This balance of light and dark brings your painting to life.
When your artwork is finished, you will transform it into something meaningful, perhaps a calendar or a gift, reminding others of both beauty and kindness.
Your Weekly Keywords
Ask students to work in pairs and guide them to define each keyword in their own words before checking formal definitions. Encourage discussion so they listen and refine their ideas together.
Afterward, invite pairs to share and compare with others, highlighting similarities and differences. Focus on building the skills of collaborative definition and using art vocabulary in context, helping students grow comfortable speaking about their creative process with confidence
Every week you will be given ten important words that connect directly to the art we are creating. These words will help you talk about the techniques you are using and build the language of an artist.
Look carefully at the task card and, with a partner, try to explain each word in the simplest way you can. Do this first without a dictionary, as the skill of forming definitions together takes time and practice.
Once you have finished, share your ideas with another pair and compare your explanations. You may find you have chosen similar meanings or discovered a fresh way to describe the same word.
By practising this process each week, you will not only understand the art more deeply but also develop the ability to talk about your creative choices with confidence.
Quote of the Week – Henri Matisse
Guide students to read the weekly quote aloud and invite them to share what they think it means in simple words. Encourage group discussion so that ideas are compared and built upon together.
Support them by linking the quote to the artist’s style or work in an easy-to-understand way. Focus on developing the skills of interpreting meaning and making connections between words and artwork, helping students feel inspired by artists from the past.
This week’s quote is from Henri Matisse, a painter who loved using bright colours. He said, “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.”
Think about what this means. Why might it feel brave to try something new in art? Talk about it with a partner and share your thoughts.
If you like this quote, you could look up some of Matisse’s colourful paintings. Collect each weekly quote to keep yourself inspired.
Art History - Who was Henri Matisse?
Guide students to read the book on Henri Matisse carefully and highlight key moments in his life and art style. Support them in selecting the most important facts to include in their infographic or poster, encouraging creativity in design and presentation.
Remind them that they can use either digital tools like Canva or traditional materials. Focus on developing the skills of identifying key information and communicating knowledge visually so their posters can inspire others.
Read the book about the life of Henri Matisse and think about what made him such an important artist. As you read, notice the key events, the style of his paintings, and how he used bright colours in creative ways.
Next, use the blank template to design an infographic or poster that tells the story of his life. You can make it on Canva or create it with pencils and paper.
When you finish, share your poster with a friend, your teacher, or even your family. Teaching others is one of the best ways to remember what you have learned.
Make an Information Report
Guide students to recall key information from the video and story about Henri Matisse before they begin creating their infographic. Encourage them to organise their ideas into short bullet points with clear titles such as “Early Life,” “Cut-Out Art,” and “Famous Works.”
Support students in adding simple illustrations, such as colourful shapes or portraits, and suggest including a timeline to show how his art developed over time. Remind them that infographics should be bright, easy to follow, and engaging. Focus on developing the skills of summarising key information and presenting knowledge visually so students can communicate Matisse’s importance as an artist in a creative way.
After watching the video and reading the story about Henri Matisse’s life, it is time to show what you have learned in a fun and creative way.
Use the template provided to make a colourful infographic. Remember to include:
Titles – clear headings for each section
Bullet points – short, simple facts about his life and art
Illustrations – small drawings of colourful cut-out shapes, portraits, or even Matisse himself
Diagrams – you might show a timeline of his life or how his art style changed over time
Make it bright, clear, and exciting so anyone who looks at your infographic will understand why Henri Matisse is such an important artist.
Create With Jordan – Full Video
Encourage students to watch the video closely and pause when needed so they can notice each technique. Point out how Jordan uses water to make lighter tones and more paint to create darker shades, building strong contrast.
Highlight the use of asymmetry and the rule of thirds, showing how these guide the eye across the painting. Focus on developing the skills of controlling tone with watercolour and using composition to lead the viewer’s attention.
This week, Jordan shows us how to paint the mountains of Iceland using watercolour and coloured pencil. Watch closely as he explains how to balance light and dark, creating contrast between the snowy side and the shadowed side.
Notice how he talks about asymmetry and the rule of thirds to guide the viewer’s eye across the painting.
Take your time with the video and let the techniques sink in. Once you have finished watching, you will be ready to create your own mountain scene.
Create With Jordan - Create Your Calendar
Guide students to watch Jordan’s video carefully and then paint their own asymmetrical landscape, using contrast and balance to bring it to life. Support them in cutting out their work and placing it into the calendar template.
Encourage them to gift the finished calendar to someone they care about or keep it in class to organise monthly events. Focus on building the skills of using asymmetry effectively and turning art into purposeful creations.
Today you will be artists just like Jordan. Begin by watching his video carefully. Notice how he paints the mountains of Iceland, using light and dark to show contrast and balance. He explains how asymmetry, when each side of the picture is different, makes the landscape feel alive and exciting.
Once you have seen how he does it, it is your turn. Create your own landscape. It does not need to be exactly the same as Jordan’s, because your imagination is important. You might choose snowy mountains, a dark volcano, or rivers of ice and rock. What matters most is that your painting shows contrast and guides the viewer’s eye across the page.
When you have finished your artwork, cut it out carefully and use the template to make a calendar. This calendar can be given to someone you love or kept in the classroom to help everyone know what is happening this month.
If you want to make it extra special, you and your classmates can join your pictures together to create a full year’s calendar, which could be gifted to your school principal or displayed proudly in your class.
Your painting will not just be a picture. It will become something useful, meaningful, and inspiring, reminding you every day that your creativity has the power to bring joy to others.
Sketch With Jordan - The Mountains of Iceland
This activity encourages students to draw inspiration from a video of a seal to design their own book covers, fostering individuality and creativity. Guided by Jordan's techniques, students are empowered to apply their unique styles, choosing any Antarctic animal for their cover.
This creative process not only enhances artistic skills but also serves as a springboard for students wishing to extend their learning by writing their own books based on the cover they've designed, further personalising their educational journey.
At the beginning of this week’s class, we showed you the wonderfully majestic seal jumping around behind us. It is now your turn to use that video as inspiration to create your very own book cover, just like Jordan.
Watch the video provided and follow the guidelines explained; once complete, try to create your own book cover using the styles and techniques explained by Jordan.
Remember, you can choose any Antarctic animal to feature on the front of your book cover.
Quiz and Certificate
Remind students that completing the creative task is only the first step and now they will demonstrate their understanding through a short quiz.
Encourage them to approach the questions carefully and to think back to the skills they practised, especially asymmetry and the use of light and dark. Celebrate their success when they earn a certificate and motivate them to aim for the full set. Focus on the skills of recalling key concepts and reflecting on their learning.
Now that you have finished this week’s creative task, it is time to collect your certificate. This one celebrates your learning about asymmetry and the importance of using light and dark in art.
Click the button below to take a short and fun quiz. Once you complete it, your certificate will be ready for you.
Remember, there are ten certificates to collect in this course—see how many you can earn. Good luck!
