Fav Artist Fridays!

I'd like to introduce you to one of the artists our third graders are currently studying, Swiss-German impressionist painter Paul Klee!

Klee in his Studio; image courtesy of
http://recontextualizingtheavant-garde.blogspot.com/.

Mr. Klee was born in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland on December 18, 1879. His parents were both talented musicians--his father a music teacher and his mother a Swiss singer--and taught him to play the violin. He became so talented on violin that he was invited to play as an exceptional member of the Bern Music Association at age 11! Once he reached his teens, though, he decided to focus on visual arts.



Black Columns in a Landscape by Paul Klee, 1919

 

Southern (Tunisian) Gardens by Paul Klee, 1919

After studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, Germany he became great friends with artists like Wassily Kandsinsky, August Macke, and Franz Marc who were trying new things all the time! But it wasn't until a visit to Tunisia in 1914 that Klee really got inspired.  He said of his trip:



"Colour has taken possession of me; no longer do I have to chase after it, I know that it has hold of me forever... Colour and I are one. I am a painter."



Burg und Sonne (Fortress and Sun) by Paul Klee, 1928



Fire in the Evening by Paul Klee, 1929



Paul Klee's style and technique continued to change throughtout his artistic career and he was influenced by everything from war to jazz. Today, his paintings can sell for upwards of $7.5 million and in 2005 a museum was built in his honor in Bern, Switzerland. It holds about 4,000 pieces of his artwork!



Insula Dulcamara by Paul Klee, 1938

Check out www.paulklee.net/ for more information, quotes, and images.

What We're Up To: Unit 1

We're getting into the swing of things here in the art room! Students have finished a short sketchbook assignment and are on to the first lessons of the year.

Teacher samples, essential questions, and standards
for each grade posted on the front bulletin board.

Art is a Language is the theme of our first unit. We focus on the elements of art: shape, form, color, texture, value, space and line. I love explaining to students that the elements of art are like building blocks; we choose the ones we want and compose our artwork with them!

Here are the projects each grade is beginning and the element(s) of art we're focusing on, as well as any special resources I'm using:

KINDERGARTEN



Pigeon Pizzaz  featuring line, shape,
color, and pattern.
(lesson written by FCS Art teacher Martha Arrington)

 

Caldecott Award-winning book
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

1st GRADE



Line Pattern Elephants featuring line, pattern, value, and
secondary colors.



First book in the Elmer series by artist
David McKee 

2nd GRADE  

Robert Indiana-Inspired Pop Art Initials
featuring pattern/repetition, complementary
colors and line.

Book of Love Pink-Blue-Green 
serigraph by Robert Indiana

3rd GRADE

Paul Klee-Inspired Shape Portraits featuring
geometric shape, line and warm/cool colors.
(lesson written by FCS Art teacher Equiana Frazier)

Senecio by Paul Klee

4th GRADE

Matryoshka teacher sample featuring contour line,
geometric/organic shape, pattern/repetition. 

The original matryoshka doll set designed and carved by
Vasily Zvyozdochkin and Sergey Malyutin, respectively, in 1892.

5th GRADE

Vincent van Gogh Chairs featuring
contour line, positive/negative space,
pattern/repetition and color schemes.
(image from www.artsonia.com) 

Vincent's Chair with His Pipe
by Vincent van Gogh, 1888.

Be sure to click on the links in each of the captions for more information, to purchase the books I use in the classroom, and to visit great interactive websites!