Art Lesson w/ Ms. Jennifer: Gustav Klimt

Materials:
Brown Kraft paper (cut a brown bag and use inside, or shipping box or paper) or white paper
Crayons, paints, or oil pastels
Gold crayons, paint, or colored pencils
Glitter glue or gems
Instructions:
Begin by drawing a two short vertical lines for the tree’s trunk.
Now make several horizontal lines for branches close to the trunk.
Add swirling lines for the branches. Add a black bird.
Use colors to make patterns in the branches. Klimt used triangles and circles often.
Use metallic materials (gold crayons or markers, glitter glue, gems etc) to add some “bling.”

You did it! Now don’t forget to email images of your work to Jennifer@BlowingRockMuseum.org

About the Artist:
Gustav Klimt was born in 1862 Austria to a poor, immigrant gold engraver. Klimt’s brother became a gold engraver like his father and Klimt began his career painting murals and ceilings in buildings. He was known for the heavy use of gold leaf in his paintings, as well as the repetitive patterns he used.

You might recognize his painting “The Kiss” or this “Tree of Life” from the mural known as the Stoclet Frieze.

His portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer is one of the most expensive paintings ever sold!

Gustav was also a fan of Nature and liked to paint in the nearby woods. This painting of birch trees is one of my favorites.