Friday, October 13, 2017

Paul Klee Cat and Bird in Oil Pastel

































These adorable Paul Klee cats were done by kids aged 4-11. We were inspired by Klee's painting 'Cat with Bird' and noted Klee's bright colors, simple interconnected lines, and simplified bird. 

1. We drew our birds on large cardboard, since Klee himself loved to paint on cardboard and other non-traditional grounds. I drew the cat on the whiteboard and 'thought out loud' as I drew, describing the shapes and lines as I went. The kids followed along step by step using black oil pastel. 
2. We then used creamy oil pastels to color our cats in vibrant warm colors with a touch of green for that complementary color scheme. Klee never painted without a color scheme in mind.
3. The best part: we went over all our colors with baby oil and a brush to make them even creamier, bolder and more painterly. It's amazing what baby oil can do to oil pastel! Look at those bold black lines!