Josey’s Art School
Presents
Studying Art with the Masters
This Lesson: Gutstav Klimt “Birch Forest I”
By
Robin Norgren, M.A.
Discussion
-Klimt seems to have felt tranquil in the middle of forests. The trunks are cut off by the top of the canvas. Rather, the trees reach up to the sky like columns in a cathedral created by nature.
-The rich heritage of folklore based around the forest, including
Grimm's fairy tales, may have struck a chord with Klimt.
-Rather than dwell on the mysterious, dark nature of the forest, Klimt has
chosen an autumnal scene.
SOURCE: http://www.gustav-klimt.com/Birch-Forest.jsp
Materials needed
Pencil (to write the child’s name on the back of the work)
Black pen
8.5x11 or 9x12 white cardstock/precut poster board/watercolor paper– something with a bit more stability to it than copy paper in order to withstand the amount of paint and glue your students will be using. You will need enough for each participant to use as the base for his/her artwork
This is a lesson that can be adapted in many ways depending on the age and skill level of your classroom.
Watercolor paint
Paintbrushes and water bowls
Masking tape
Kitchen sponges cut into squares
Black Acrylic paint (or Tempura paint) – not pictured in photo
Baby wipes
Aprons
Length of Time/Duration of project: 30 minutes
Prep work: Gather the materials. This should take no more than about 20 -30 minutes
Instructions
- Take your piece of paper that you are using as the base for the project and write the child’s name on the back of the paper or let them write their names on their own.
- Place your paper long and tall. Take strips with masking tape and place randomly on the page.
3. With your pencil, divide your page into 3 using squiggly lines.
4. Begin to paint the bottom quadrant with green watercolors.
5. Paint the middle area with brown watercolors
6. Paint the top of the page with blue watercolors.
7. Take the masking tape off the page; be careful not to tear the paper.
8. Outline the tree shapes with black pen/marker.
9. Paint thin lines in the middle of the white space; blot with the sponge.
10. OPTIONS FOR OLDER/MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS: tear the masking tape in half and create a denser forest.
11. Add shadow to the trees where appropriate.
OPTION FOR OLDER/ADVANCED STUDENTS: create the speckled effect BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF THE TAPE seen in the original painting by flicking the paintbrush filled with black paint onto the page.
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