Wassily Kandinsky's paintings were the inspiration for the first projects for my first and second graders.
In first grade, students looked at his concentric circles color study before using only primary colored oil pastels to create their artwork. I often use this as a first project to help me assess students ability to trace, color neatly, and follow step-by-step instructions. It also is a great practice in mixing all of the secondary colors.
In second grade, we studied Kandinsky's Composition VIII before making our own abstract paintings. Students then used different gadgets to print lines and shapes on top of their paintings. After they completed their artwork, they were asked to compare and contrast this very open-ended abstract project with their realistic still life paintings from last year. It was interesting to hear why some students prefer making abstract art while others got more enjoyment from making something realistic. These little artists had a lot of opinions to share!