Paul Klee Inspired Cats

Paul Klee

Swiss painter, Paul Klee, was best know for his Surrealist works of art.  His use of imagery and color truly strike a chord with children.  Blogger Deep Space Sparkle has some fabulous ideas on how to incorporate Paul Klee into the classroom.  Below is my take on Klee's Cat and Bird, painting and first grade artists.

Cat and Bird
Paul Klee
1928

First grade students began this lesson by slowing down the pace and looking deeply at the Klee's, Cat and Bird painting.  We discussed how Klee was instrumental in the Surrealist movement and that surreal meant representing dream like scenes.  We admired the cat and tried to make sense of the significance of the bird, floating circle and hypnotic eyes.  The class really got deep into the conversation!  

Afterwards, students used their sketchbooks to practice making a Klee inspired cat.  I modeled to the class how to use simple shapes and letters to draw the cat's face and how to fill the paper.  We used a "W"  for the face, a "U" for the tongue, a heart and upside-down letter "V" for the nose, and "rainbow lines" for the arches of the cat's eyes. 

The second class, students then made their final drawings.  Each students picked a colored piece of construction paper and I guided the group with the same demonstration on how to make their surreal kitty.  Klee's use of color stretches the imagination.  We explored pastels as the medium for color and how to use the pastels properly.  I demonstrated how to put the pastel on its side and use the edge of the pastel to color in the space.  Then I used my fingers to smudge the pastel and fill in the space.  Students we instructed to switch colors for each section of their cat similar to the style Klee used in his artwork.  The results are magical!

LOVE this fuchsia tongue!

Great smudging technique!