Klimt Trees - Liz Elwell ~ artist & educator



Klimt Trees

4th grade – AS 9.1.4. A, B, D, F; 9.2.4. L

Objective

Students will learn about and discuss the artwork of Gustav Klimt with a focus on his piece entitled “Tree of Life”. Utilizing line variation, color, stylized forms, symbols and a variety of media, students will create their own “Tree of Life”. This lesson will not only instruct the students on the work of an influential artist, but also teach them how to pay homage to past artists through their own artwork. They will also come up with a symbol that represents some aspect of who they are and incorporate it into their image.

Anticipatory Set

Discuss and view the artwork of Gustav Klimt with a specific focus on the “Tree of Life”. Also look at other images of the “Tree of Life” as well as trees found in nature that serve as inspiration. Ask questions about Klimt’s use of color, types of lines, shapes, and his use of symbols.

Gustav Klimt – Austrian Symbolist painter

- work is distinguished by gold and colored decoration

- some people liked his art, but a lot didn’t, they didn’t think it was art

- now he is famous, some of his paintings have sold for more money than any other painting, even has his picture on the 100 euro coin called The Painting Coin

Tree of Life – image of tree with many branches, represents concept that

everything is connected: science, religion, philosophy, mythology

-Remind students all trees are different in real life, all our trees will be different as well

Essential Questions

What is a symbol? -Have students give examples of symbols

What symbol represents you?

What does the concept of the “Tree of Life” mean to you?

Procedure

Day 1

Supplies

Oil Pastel

Black Paper (large – 12x24”)

Pencil

1. Using a pencil or oil pastel, each student will draw a tree trunk with at least 4 large swirling tree branches coming out of it and then continue adding smaller swirling branches connected to the large one

2. Use oil pastels (preferably browns, tans, yellows, and golds) to color in tree branches – discuss how using multiple colors layered adds depth and interest

3. Have each student draw a horizon line in pencil towards the bottom of their paper and fill in with squiggly lines to create texture – they should pick 3 analogous colors to do this

4. Each student should choose an image that symbolizes some aspect of themselves, an interest, hobby, etc and add it in one of the branches or hiding partially behind the base of the tree, etc

Day 2

Supplies

Tempera Paint (gold, white, yellow)

Confetti Squares

Foil Paper

1. Paint the tree trunk and large branches attached to it with gold tempera paint (water this down so it is less opaque)

2. Cut shapes out of the foil paper (squares, circles, triangles) and glue them all over the sky (any negative space above the horizon line)

3. Glue confetti squares on top of foil cut outs and onto tree trunk

4. Add white and yellow dots (“stars”) to fill up any leftover space in sky

Assessment

Day 1 – Check for effective use of layering oil pastels and creation of tree, ground, and symbol

Day 2 – Check for completion of all required aspects of projects and that it incorporates a good use of a variety of color and line variation; check for originality in work but still clearly inspired by work of Klimt

Closure

Put up the projects and as a class try to find the symbol hidden in the image then guess who it is meant to represent.

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