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An Ocean of Klee

An Ocean of Klee

Science and art come together in these ocean-inspired watercolor resists in the style of artist Paul Klee.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • White Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Introduce students to the art of Paul Klee, especially his ocean-themed works such as The Golden Fish, Fish Magic, and Around the Fish. Encourage them to talk about his technique, style, and other insights about his work. Include a discussion about the mood of his artwork and some interesting facts about him.

  • Step 2

    Brainstorm a list of creatures from the ocean, and have students pick one they'd like to depict in the style of Klee. Explain that in The Golden Fish he used a watercolor resist technique, which helps give it a moody, textured underwater quality.

  • Step 3

    Have students sketch their ocean creature lightly in pencil, then use oil pastels or crayons to color it in. Remind them to press firmly if they use crayons. Next have them paint over the design and background with watercolors. Encourage them to add other ocean images associated with their creature to the background.

Standards

ARTS: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

ARTS: Apply criteria to explore and evaluate artistic work.

SCI: Design pictorial or graphic representations/ models that are useful in communicating ideas.

Adaptations

Have students write and display information cards on the ocean creature they chose for their art. This could include habitat, food, needs, coloration, etc.

There is a music performance available on YouTube with works written by jazz/pop trumpeter Chuck Mangione entitled: The National Gallery Performing Musical Interpretations of the Paintings of Paul Klee. Have students collaborate on creating a song based on their Klee-inspired creations.

Learn about World Oceans Day, which began in 1992 to foster public interest in the protection and sustainable management of the world's oceans. Challenge students to think about ways they could contribute to this effort. Might they use a school bulletin board to educate others about marine life?