Best known for his expressive paintings of brilliant color in bold simplified designs, Matisse stands as one of the pillars of modern, 20^th century art. Engaged in constant exploration and experimentation, he continually sought to renew his art. Toward the end of his life, Matisse pioneered a new art form where he would cut shapes out of paper previously painted in a variety of colors and arrange them in lively compositions. He called this method, ‘drawing with scissors.’ Although initially dismissed as ‘childish,’ these colorful, semi-abstract works including ‘Snail’ and ‘The Sorrows of the King’ both at New York’s MoMA, are now considered to be some of his finest masterpieces.

Join Pamela Morton, artist and art history professor -- living around the corner from Matisse’s studio in the South of France -- for a half-hour talk about Matisse’s paper cut-out work followed by an art class (about an hour) in which you will be instructed in making your own ‘Matisse cut-out.’ The entire session should last about 90 minutes.

For the art project, you will need several sheets of different colored paper (i.e., white, blue, red, yellow, green, black), a pair of scissors, pencil, eraser, and glue (Elmer’s glue or a glue stick).

The class will be live and will take place at 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern/8 pm France

Pamela Morton is an artist and university teacher who has been living and working in the south of France for over thirty years. An expert on Provence and the artists of the south, she has organized and led museum and site visits for cultural organizations and college students. She lectures on Picasso and Matisse as well as on Cezanne and van Gogh and has taught painting and drawing along with 19^th and 20^th century art history courses for study abroad programs in Aix and Marseille. With a background that includes art restoration and museum education, Pamela brings special insight to her understanding of artistic works and their settings both in time and place. Like the artists she studies and admires, Pamela finds inspiration for her own work in the bold light and landscapes of the south of France.