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Cool Cats: feline fun with abstract art

Arts & Activities, April, 2002 by Phyllis Gilchrist Lambert

A realist at heart, abstract art is always a tedious unit for me to teach, so I am constantly searching for new and interesting ways to introduce this particular style to my students. I love cats, and using them as subject matter for projects comes naturally for me. So, with cats on my mind, and a desire to come up with a fun way to teach abstract art, "Cool Cats" was conceived.

The first step was to have my art students sketch cats. They used old calendars, cards, magazines--anything that had photographs or pictures of cats. We discussed the meaning of the word "whimsical," and the children all agreed that cats could be very whimsical in their play! As they were sketching, students were asked to pay attention to detail and the different patterns on the cats' fur.

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I gave each student a 12" x 18" sheet of manila sketch paper and asked them to fold the sheets into four sections. In each section of their paper, they were asked to draw a "cat part." Head, body, tail, leg/paw--each part was drawn in its own space. I encouraged the students to draw large cat parts, filling up the paper. Students could use sketches that they had previously completed and were encouraged to use parts from different cats.

During the next art period, I introduced the students to the work of Pablo Picasso. We discussed his paintings and talked about how they were different. I pointed out to the students that in some of Picasso's paintings, the "parts" aren't always where they are supposed to be.

With this concept in mind, students were asked to trace over their drawings with marker and to retrace the parts onto a sheet of 12" x 18" drawing paper. In putting their cats back together, they were asked to arrange them "Picasso-style," by arranging the parts in positions they would not normally go!

All cat parts had to touch or connect in some way. Students were asked to be consistent with their patterns. As their work progressed, giggles were heard all around the room.

For the finishing touch, the students outlined their cats in crayon and painted them with watercolors. Before choosing colors for their cats, we discussed the concept of contrast. Control of the paintbrush was difficult for them, so a little damage control was initiated at this time--I encouraged students to cut their cats out and mount them on a piece of construction paper. Some students had negative space within their cat, so this was a great opportunity to discuss negative and positive space.

This was a lesson that all my art students seemed to enjoy, and a great way to let them know that it is okay to trace their own work, but not the work of others.

So choose your favorite animal and draw it Picatso style!

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will ...

* learn about Pablo Picasso and his abstract style of art work.

* learn about modern artists that draw and paint cats.

* discuss the unique qualities of cats' patterns, proportions and habits.

* identify positive and negative spaces created within their cats.

* be reminded that it is okay to trace their own creations, but not the artworks of other artists.

* review mixing colors and specific qualities of ware colors

* create an abstract cat painting.

* learn basic steps in mounting artworks,

MATERIALS

* 12" x 18" manila sketch paper

* Pencils

* Black markers

* 12" x 18" drawing paper

* Watercolors

* Brushes (medium and detail)

* Prints, calendars, photos of cats

* Picasso art reproductions/prints

Phyllis Gilchrist Lambert teaches art at Berryhill Elementary School in Charlotte, N.C.

Cool Cats: feline fun with abstract art

Arts & Activities, April, 2002 by Phyllis Gilchrist Lambert

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