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"Every
child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows
up." ~ Pablo Picasso
(Pablo
Ruiz y Picasso), 1881-1973, Spanish painter,
sculptor, graphic artist, and ceramicist who worked in
France; the foremost figure in 20th-century art. Leader of
the School of Paris, he was remarkable for his
technical virtuosity, incredible originality, and prolificacy.
Admitted to the Royal Academy of Barcelona
at 15, he later moved to Paris, where he remained until 1947, then
moving to the South of France. His early works, e.g., Old Woman (1901;
Philadelphia Museum Art), show the influence of Toulouse-Lautrec. His
production is usually described in series of overlapping periods. In his
melancholy blue period such works as The Old Guitarist
(1903; Art Institute, Chicago) depicted, in blue tones, the world of the
poor. His rose period is characterized by a lighter palette and subjects
from the circus. In 1907, Picasso
painted Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (Museum of Modern Art,
N.Y.C.), the most significant work in the development of
"Cubism" and abstraction, and a forerunner of analytic cubism.
In the synthetic phase of cubism (after 1912), his forms became larger
and more representational, as in The
Three Musicians (1921; Museum of Modern Art, N.Y.C.). In the 1920s
he also introduced "collage". His second landmark work was Guernica
(Reina Sofía, MadridCentro de Arte Reina Sofía), an
impassioned condemnation of war and fascism. In his later years,
Picasso turned to creations of fantasy and comic invention. Working
consistently in sculpture, ceramics, and the graphic arts, he continued
to explore his personal vision
until his death at 91.
This
article is from Ask Jeeves Encyclopedia (no longer available)
Find out more from these sites:
Carol
Gerten biography
Mark Harden's
Artchive
Picasso
Quotes Know
the Artist: Pablo Picasso
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Photograph
from
Carol Gerten's
Fine Art
Self
Portrait- 1907
from Olga's
Gallery
This
portrait represents the proto-cubist style --
a forerunner to cubism.
See
another self portrait
More in
Early Works
Photograph
in later years
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Middle School Ideas
Submitted by: Rebecca Engleman, Cathedral
Catholic School
Lesson Idea: Picasso cubism - collage - painting
Grade Level: Middle School
Materials: tempera paints, construction paper, scissors, glue, oil
pastels.
 
Picasso Meets Collage
Preparation: Set up an
eye appealing still life in the room
"After
viewing and discussing the works of Pablo Picasso, this group of eighth
grade students designed these still life compositions. They
began by sketching a still life set up in the art room from observation.
The sketch was painted with tempera paint using a flat style and a
neutral pallet.
Collage
papers were then created by mixing colors and creating texture by using
sponges, spray bottles, and dabbing. These beautiful papers were
cut into the appropriate shapes by using the beginning sketch as a template.
After
the shapes were glued in place, oil pastels were used to create patterns
and enhance the overall design."
Submitted by Joan Maresh-Hansen,
Author, Speaker, Consultant
Lesson: Painting Like Picasso (Excerpt
from ArtWorkBook www.artworkontheweb.com)
Grade Level: Middle School and up
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Objectives: Interpret
images in a way similar to Picasso. Investigate human
portraiture while understanding the transition from reality to
abstraction.
Time Line: 15 hours
Tools and Materials: paper,
pencil, markers, canvas or canvas board, acrylic, brushes, gel
medium, water containers.
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Procedures:
- Discuss life and work of Pablo Picasso.
Discuss terminology.
- View Picasso's "Girl In A
Mirror." Choose to either draw a reflected
portrait of yourself or another person or three self
portraits from three different views. Using markers, color
these in complimentary colors.
- Simplify and alter your images. Tear it
up, rearrange the parts, and glue the parts to a new
background. Use this as a preliminary plan for a
final painting. Have fun while you investigate.
- Paint sketch the image onto the
canvas. Working in abstraction-images can be
simplified and details omitted. Colors should be
orchestrated throughout. Interest in work can be
enhanced with a variety of values (shades
and tints)
Continuation/Variation:
In continuing the investigation of human portraiture,
approach the facial features with a "loosened
up" attitude- again borrowing from reality and moving into
abstraction. Interpret a model under a spotlight with an
oil pastel crayon dipped
in India ink. A hard black outline is the result. Use
unrealistic colors to fill in shapes. Incorporate collage -
Still
life of musical instruments. Paper Portraits A La Picasso:
Take a blank piece of poster board (approximately 12" x 18" or use up the scraps). Plan
at
least four-six planes, fold or score the poster board where it
changes directions. Make some of the changes on an angle
rather than vertical. In line drawing, simulate eyes, nose,
lips, ears, hair, etc. Apply paint or markers to further
enhance. It should stand alone and be
interesting from all sides and angles.
Terminology/Techniques: Picasso's Blue period -
Rose period - Collage - Cubism
Analytical/Synthetic Cubism - Diversity - overlapping pattern
Motivation/Resource: Film- "The Life and
Work of Pablo Picasso" "Girl in a Mirror"
print
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Elementary
Ideas
(Left)
Submitted by: Jeannette Anthos, J. H. House
Elementary, Conyers, GA
Lesson Idea: Picasso
Faces - mood/emotion
Lesson
Plan available (on Artsonia)
Grade level: elementary (this was fifth grade)
Lesson Focus: Elements: color, line, shape
Principles: repetition, rhythm, unity
Historical period: abstract, Cubism, Pablo Picasso
Materials: white drawing paper, Sharpie markers, oil pastels
 
For Jeanette's lesson (left), students looked at "Girl in the
Mirror". After a discussion of the work by Picasso, they drew their
own Picasso style faces. They began with the shape for the face, then
divided it to show a profile (multiple views). Students also drew the
features in the style of Picasso. Once the faces were done, they added
the hair to create flowing movement. They outlined with Sharpie markers.
After a discussion on color plans, they were ready to color with oil
pastels. See detailed
plan on Incredible Art Department (copied with permission from
Artsonia).
(Right) Submitted by: Tracey Albert, May
Whitney Elementary
Lesson Idea: Picasso
self-portraits - mixed media
Grade level: Elementary (this was second grade)
Lesson focus: line, color, shape, balance, texture, unity, emotions
Materials: glue, gold markers (or gold puffy paint), pastels, black
paper (or any dark color)
After a discussion of Cubist style portraits by Pablo Picasso,
students had the opportunity to create their own self portraits.
Students drew on black paper (any dark color will work) - dividing the
face to show multiple views and fracturing into shapes. Drawings were
outlined with glue. After the glue was dry, students colored it with
gold markers. Gold puffy paints can be used with similar results).
Students colored their portraits with a limited color plan using
pastels. Oil pastels also work well with this lesson. This lesson can
also be done with plain glue on black paper - or using any color of
puffy paint.
 
Submitted by Judy Decker
UNIT: Printmaking and Ceramics
Lesson details to come. Shown, student
reduction print. Linoleum prints were rolled onto slabs to make vessels.
Slabs were draped to shape (pots had football shaped base - with curved
front and back). Some student made lids for their containers.
Two of my favorite Picasso portraits of women. Weeping Woman was used
for one side of the ceramic vessel above
Pablo Picasso -Jaqueline with Flowers Picasso's
Weeping Woman Ceramic example above used collagraph
prints for the image.
Lesson
Plans for Pablo Picasso
Interactive Web Site
Mr.
Picasso Head - Interactive. Great
Fun kids! Choose your face shape, eyes, nose and such - change colors,
sizes, flip and rotate, too. This could keep you busy for hours - Tell
mom you are doing your art homework (our secret). (Note: the gallery
didn't load for me - keep trying - and let
me know how you like it. Teacher should preview gallery before
sending letting students browse)
Incredible Art Department Lessons:
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