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Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso was born in Spain. He spent most of his life making artwork in France. He liked to draw, paint, design and build things.
Explore the following images of Pablo Picasso’s artwork and their descriptions.
What do you notice? What do you wonder?
Press the following titles to explore Pablo Picasso's artwork.
This is a painting from Picasso’s Blue Period. During time, Picasso felt sad and used cool colours to express himself. The painting shows a person sitting on the ground. They are holding a brown guitar in their hands. The person has a serious expression on their face. Picasso used the colour blue to paint the background, the person’s clothes and the person’s skin.
A painting of a clown with geometric shaped clothing and warm colours. Picasso used bright colours and shapes. The clown is wearing clothing with a large pattern of diamonds on it. The clown painted using cool blue and white colours. The clown appears to be standing behind a bright red curtain. The clown’s facial expression appears to be neutral and calm. The use of warm and cool colours, and the calm expression could be described as a relaxed feeling.
Action
Get ready, get set…
Picasso used different elements of art to share how he was feeling with the world. Colour and form were some of the elements Picasso used.
Colour wheel
When artists choose a colour for their artwork, they use the colour wheel.
They might use diverse colours to help us understand what they are feeling when they created their art.
Press ‘Colour Wheel’ to explore a description of a colour wheel.
A colour wheel explores the six colours of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. The colours red, orange and yellow are considered warm colours. The colours green, blue and purple are considered cool colours.
A circle labelled ‘Colour Wheel’ divided into the 6 labelled colours of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. The colours red, orange and yellow are grouped together and labelled as warm colours. The colours green, blue and purple are grouped together and labelled as cool colours.
Artists use colours to express emotions and ideas. When artists discuss colours, they use words like warm and cool colours.
What are warm colours?
Warm colours include red, orange and yellow. These colours might remind people of sunshine, fires and heat.
Warm colours are also used by some artists when they feel happy, angry or excited.
What are cool colours?
Cool colours include blue, green and purple. These colours might remind people of cool, cold places like the winter or cold water.
Cool colours are also used by artists to when they feel peaceful, calm or sad.
Sorting Colours
Can you sort which of the colour dots are warm colours or cool colours?
In the following Matching activity, choose the word that best fits the image!
Let’s sort two more colour dots into warm colours or cool colours!
In the following Matching activity, choose the word that best fits the image!
Now let’s sort two more colour dots into warm colours or cool colours!
In the following Matching activity, choose the word that best fits the image!
Sharing feelings and ideas in art
Picasso’s artwork
Explore the following images.
The Old Guitarist, painted by Pablo Picasso in 1903
The guitarist is bent over in a very sad position.
Self Portrait painted by Pablo Picasso in 1901
Picasso’s expression is very sad. The painting uses mostly blue colours.
The Tragedy painted by Pablo Picasso in 1903
The people are bent over with their arms crossed in a sad position.
What kind of colours did Picasso use to create these paintings?
What do you notice about the body positions?
What do you notice about their facial expressions?
Press ‘Answers’ to explore what emotions Picasso was sharing with the audience.
When Picasso felt sad, he painted with the cool colour blue. The people in his paintings have their arms folded and are bent forward. Picasso chose to use serious facial expressions and painted people bent forward to share the emotion of sadness.
Did You Know?
Did you know?
The time that Picasso painted when he felt sad is now known as his Blue Period.
Explore the following paintings in the carousel. What do you notice?
Family of Saltimbanques painted by Picasso in 1905
Mother and Child, Acrobats painted by Picasso in 1905
The Harlequin of Barcelona painted by Picasso in 1917
What colours did Picasso use to create these paintings?
What do you notice about the body positions?
Press ‘Answers’ to explore how Picasso shared emotions with his audience.
Picasso shared his happy thought by using warm colours such as pink and red. He painted circus performers in costumes and families. The people in these paintings are standing up straight or sitting down.
Did you know?
Did you know?
The time that Picasso painted when he felt happy is now known as his Rose Period.
Go!
Let’s explore Picasso’s painting The Old Guitarist one more time.
How do you think Picasso felt when he painted the following painting of a guitar player?
Think about what you have learned about using elements of art including shape, line and colour to express feelings.
Now let’s examine the following paintings by Picasso and select the matching feeling.
The Old Guitarist, painted by Pablo Picasso in 1903
Let’s examine the following painting by Picasso and select the matching feeling.
The Harlequin of Barcelona painted by Picasso in 1917
Consolidation
Putting it all together
Time to create! How would you share your emotions through art?
Materials Needed
Materials needed
Materials needed for this learning activity:
- a blank sheet of paper or an art journal
- drawing materials such as pencils or crayons
- an electronic tablet for drawing
- any other art materials you like to use
Task 1
What would you create if you were feeling happy?
Would you use colours, shapes and/or lines?
You may use the following fillable and printable document to create your art.
If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Using the following fillable My Happy Art template, on a blank sheet of paper, or using a method of your choice, create an image to share what art is to you. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access My Happy Art.
Portfolio
Portfolio
Why did you choose those elements? Explain how each element relates to being happy.
Task 2
What would you create if you were feeling sad?
Would you use colours, shapes and/or lines?
Using the following fillable My Sad Art template, on a blank sheet of paper, or using a method of your choice, create an image to share what art is to you. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
Portfolio
Portfolio
Why did you choose those elements? Explain how each element relates to being sad.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.