Presents
“Senecio”
by
Klee
1879-1940
Lesson Summary:
This lesson discusses the Swiss-Born artist, Paul Klee.
His art was dreamlike and filled with color, light, poetry and music.
Volunteer Checklist – Kindergarten
Lesson Information
Artist: / Paul Klee (Clay) (1879-1940)Art Title: / “Senecio”
Period or Style: / Abstract
Art Element: / Color
Project/Medium: / Black crayon portraits with ‘bleeding’ tissue paper wash
Prep-work Required
Discussion: / Familiarize yourself with current lesson detailsArt Activity: / Cut bleeding colored tissue paper into 2”x2” squares
Presentation Materials
Print: / Project sample / In Lesson FolderImages: / Photo of Klee in Studio; Plant drawing, “Cat and Bird”, “Untamed Waters”; “Golden Fish”; “City on Two Hills”; “ Ad Parnassum”; “Golden Fish”; Park near L”; “Senecio” / On Thumb drive in Cabinet
Lesson Plan: / Klee / In folder
Background Info: / Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists book / In folder
Activity Materials
Watercolor paper / 1 sheet per studentBlack crayons and bleeding tissue paper squares (on paper plates) / Enough per student
Spray bottles / Volunteers use only
Klee Lesson Plan
Lesson Objectives
To introduce students to the life of Swiss artist, Paul Klee, an important artist as well as a very good musician, writer and teacher.
To learn about the art terms “LINE”, shape and color.
To familiarize students with the concept of abstract art.
Artist Information
With Kindergarten students, it is important that you KEEP THE ARTIST DISCUSSION SIMPLE. Remember; spend 20% on the discussion portion and 80% on the art activity.
Choose to EITHER read the Great Artists book on Klee (recommended) or share with students 3-5 important facts from the attached Klee Art for Children sheet.
Paul Klee
Today we are going to learn about an artist named Paul Klee and how he learned to turn simple lines into exciting colorful shapes to create his art.
Who knows how to draw a line? Then you are on your way to becoming an artist!
Lines are where all art starts. Lines make shapes and make things seem to move in art. Artists can make you feel things with their art just by changing how thick a line is or how curvy or the direction the line is going in. Lines that go up and down have strength and purpose. Lines that go across are more calm and serene. Often an artist will use bold or jagged lines to mean action or anger. Curvy lines can be fun and whimsical.
The artist here, Paul Klee, (show artist in studio) liked to draw-as a young boy in his uncle’s restaurant. He would spent a lot of time drawing the faces he imagined he saw appear in the marble tabletops. (Show plant drawing)
Paul Klee (Clay) was born in Switzerland into a musical family. Who knows where Switzerland is? (Show map.) His father, Hans, was German (show map) and a music teacher. His mother, Ida Maria was Swiss and a trained singer and liked to draw.
As a child, he loved cats, and throughout his life he continued to draw and paint them. His favorite cat was named, Bimbo (Show Cat and Bird)
Klee started young at both drawing and music. At age 7, he started playing the violin. It took him a long time to decide whether to become an artist or musician. In the end he chose art and went to Munich, Germany to art school and eventually became an art teacher himself.
Music was always still important to him and his paintings have a ‘musical quality’ or rhythm to the color and pattern in them (show’ Untamed Waters’)
As Paul Klee studied art he developed a style that was Abstract. This meant his art didn’t always look like something real. He loved using geometric shapes and different colors in his art. (Show ‘City on Two Hills and Ad Parnasseum”)
Other times he liked to draw dreamlike paintings filled with symbols and designs that are very exciting to look at. (Show “Golden Fish” and “Park L”).
Today we want to look at his painting ‘Senecio”(show) and use it for inspiration for our art project.
Art Activity
Show ‘Senecio’ and discuss the grid of colors.
You may want to do a quick demonstration of the project or a step-by-step demo.
Show the sample project and explain the details.
Have students write name and teachers name on back of paper.
Have them sketch in pencil a large head (6 in) and neck and shoulders and face features.
Next outline it in black crayon pressing firmly.
Parent Volunteers can spray once on the paper to dampen before they apply tissue paper squares, filling up the page.
After it is all covered parents can spray again to make the tissue ‘bleed’ more.
Next the tissue paper can be removed and thrown away or can be dried first on the drying rack and tissue paper just tapped off the next day in the garbage. This saves your hands from mess.
The students will find that the paper has left behind a color pattern on their picture and the crayon ‘resisted’ the color leaving a beautiful result.
Let the pieces dry thoroughly on the drying rack.
Return the next day and collect artwork and store safely until the end of the year.
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© 2004 Bancroft Art Appreciation Committee