The Art of CONNETIX

By Sarah Shan

STEAM education—integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics—recognises the vital role of creativity in learning. The “A” for Arts encompasses everything from visual design and music to drama and creative problem-solving, fostering innovation and self-expression.

Engaging in artistic activities, whether through hands-on creation or appreciating the work of others, helps develop critical thinking and imagination. With CONNETIX, children can explore endless artistic possibilities—building, designing and bringing their creativity to life!

There are many benefits of both engaging in artistic activities and viewing the artwork of others. Whether from the past or the present, by famous or infamous artists.

Benefits of Focusing on the Artwork of Others

Observing artwork may enhance a child’s ability to visualise and use their imagination, which can be extremely useful when learning to read and developing reading skills.

Embracing the emotional responses felt when viewing art can help children become reflective learners. By asking open-ended questions, children can be encouraged to reflect on their own emotional response to the artwork.
Develop analytical ability by considering the artist’s motivations and context. This can help children see how visual images can help shape this. These skills will encourage them to consider the influence of images around them and on social media.
Describing a composition, children may expand their vocabulary and develop their ability to articulate and explain the world around them, including the ability to talk about their emotions and feelings.
Promoting a discussion about artwork is a great way to teach them the importance of negotiation and how to listen to each other’s point of view.

Benefits of Engaging in Artistic Activities

The importance of engaging in artistic activities such as drawing, painting and sculpture making is how it enables children to not only gain technical skills in these areas but also develop skills such as problem solving and communication.
Children thrive when they can practice decision-making and express themselves without worrying about a right or wrong answer, developing self-esteem and self-control.

The production of art contributes to the development of fine motor skills. These dexterity skills practised at an early age help by allowing children to explore grip and pencil control.

Visual-spatial skillshelp children understand where objects are in space. Creative activities like drawing and painting can help develop their visual-spatial awareness. These skills are important when repeating dance moves, hitting a ball, writing letters, drawing shapes or even completing a maze.

The creative process of making art can reduce stress levels and anxiety, helping with a child’s overall mental health.

Art is a universal language and acts like a gateway to cultural awareness . Children can connect and enjoy visual arts from different cultures or time periods.

CONNETIX can be used to create unique art and used to recreate the art produced by others. Here are four ways we have incorporated CONNETIX into our Visual Arts home learning.

CONNETIX and Kandinsky

The artwork, “Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles,” created by Wassily Kandinsky around 1913

The Painting Location: Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany

Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) was a Russian painter, teacher and art theorist, a pioneer of abstract art.

Kandinsky created a grid composition (the “squares” of the title). Within each square, he painted concentric circles, meaning that the circles share a central point.

Circles represented ideas around progress, regeneration and renewal. The concentric circle holds several ancient meanings such as wholeness.

The vibrant colours were carefully chosen and applied, demonstrating his pursuit of pure abstraction and his interest in the emotional impact of colour and form. Each square presents a unique combination of colours, creating a harmonious but dynamic visual experience. The concentric circles symbolise a rhythmic continuity that echo throughout the entire piece.

We created a valentine’s version of Kandinsky’s ‘Squares with Concentric Circles’ using hearts instead of circles. My three sons each drew a heart on the square tiles using a chalk pen. I made the centre heart. We were really pleased with how this turned out.

Recreate

A base tile
16 x coloured tiles
Chalk pens

CONNETIX and Mondrian

The artwork, “Composition with Red, Yellow and Blue” created by Piet Mondrian (1930)

Location: Kunsthaus Zürich , Switzerland

Piet Mondrian (1872- 1944) was a Dutch painter who was also an important leader in the development of modern abstract art.

He developed a new form of rigorous abstraction called Neo-Plasticism. This limited artwork to the use of straight, horizontal and vertical lines and basic primary colours. The vertical lines symbolise dynamic aspects of existence, while horizontal lines represented stability.

We used the painting as a base to design a similar piece of art. We made an outline on white paper and filled in the series of squares or rectangles with primary-coloured tiles such as red, blue and yellow. The black tiles were also used to create the black rectangles and squares.

Recreate

A large sheet of paper/ whiteboard or white flooring.
Red tiles
Yellow tiles
Blue tiles
Black tiles
Clear tiles – optional
Tape or marker pens

Both Kandinsky and Mondrian feature Abstract art in which the visual language of shape, form, colour and lines are used to create compositions. The literal depictions of physical things in the visible world are not portrayed.

CONNETIX and Picasso

The artwork, “Woman wearing a beret and checkered dress” created by Pablo Picasso 1937

Location : Private collection

Pablo Ruiz Picasso (1881 –1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker and theatre designer. Cubism is characterised by its radical approach to form and perspective. Breaking objects down into geometric shapes and presenting multiple viewpoints simultaneously. Picasso used cubism in many of his portraits.

We used CONNETIX to recreate Picasso style cubism portrait in which the features of the face could be moved to represent different perspectives.

Recreate

A selection of tiles of various colours, shapes and sizes
Approx 6 versions of eyes, eyebrows, mouth, nose and ears.
Chalk pen
Whiteboard or paper

CONNETIX and Warhol

The artwork “Dollar sign” created by Andy Warhol 1981

Location: Tate, London

Many of Andy Warhol compositions can be found at his museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Andy Warhol (1928 -1987) was an American visual artist, film director and producer. The pop art movement of the 20th century saw his work challenging convention and celebrating the extraordinary in the ordinary, everyday objects and icons. Warhol used many techniques such as screen printing and painting, he transformed ordinary objects into vibrant, thought-provoking art that redefined the boundaries of creativity.

We used the pop art style of Andy Warhol to create a piece of art. Using the tiles as the background and contrasting them to a coloured object that was repeated on each tile. We used my son’s handprint for the recurring object.

Recreate

Four large square tiles (different colours)
Four cut outs of hands using the same four colours

These four art projects have been fun and thought provoking. They have helped to develop many skills during both the planning and production stages. We enjoyed discussing the style, the colours of the artwork and the artists themselves. We are planning a trip to our local Art Museum to do more research for the focus of our future CONNETIX art projects.

Everyday is a good day for art! Why not join in with the celebration using these ideas or inspiration from other famous artists/styles. Remember to tag @CONNETIX_tiles and we would love to hear about your art activities too @mylittlebrightsparks.

Sarah Shan

A qualified Science Teacher and mum of 3, Sarah brings her educational knowledge and love of all things STEM to her articles, reviews and play ideas that she shares through her Instagram account.

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