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“A line is a dot that went for a walk.” – Paul Klee

Now that is quite a unique, though accurate description of a line! And this single quote represents everything that Paul Klee, the German-Swiss artist, was about. He was a man without pretenses, who wasn’t afraid to call a spade a spade. It reflects his penchant for the basics, his simplicity and of course, his sense of humor! This makes it all the more fun to learn about this interesting artist, with the help of some  Paul Klee art projects for kids!

Paul Klee is quite different from most famous artists. While other artists were often single minded about their art from the start, Klee grew up learning music. He was very good at it too, but rebelled to learn art during his teens. Even then he wasn’t too confident, saying that he “probably never would learn to paint” and that “a long struggle lies in store for me in this field of color”. But nevertheless, he decided to study about color, eventually becoming an expert. He was also unique in the sense that he didn’t subscribe to any particular kind of art, experimenting and practicing all kinds instead. Let’s learn more about his colorful personality through these Paul Klee art projects for kids to make, play and learn!

10 Paul Klee Art Projects for Kids

1. Castle Collage

The Castle and the Sun is one of Paul Klee’s most iconic works of art. It’s a mix of colors and geometric shapes like squares, triangles and diamond shapes along with a huge circle for the sun. Art is Basic recreates this artwork in a lovely collage, which the kids can make based on colors of their choice. Use a mix of watercolor paper, magazines and scrap paper for a lovely effect.

2. Head of a Man Oil Pastel Art

Paul Klee’s sarcastic humor was often reflected in his work, and one example is the painting called ‘The Head of a Main going Senile’. It features a man with a rather whimsical expression, something that has been captured in this fun art project by Lost Persons Home School.

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3. Color Theory on Book Pages

Like we said, Klee studied color intensely, and he’s got some beautiful work showing color families and color gradation. Arte a Scuola has a unique take on this, by using black markers on book pages to draw shapes and coloring them in.

4. The Cat and the Bird

Paul Klee adored cats and his own pets were often models for his art work! As a result, we can see many cat-related works of art, an important one of which was The Cat and the Bird. This book of the same name talks about the friendship between a cat and a bird, told through a series of illustrations based on Paul Klee’s works. The book also talks about the painting and is a great pick for young readers.

5. Tissue Paper Self Portrait

Self portraits are a part of nearly every artist’s art class, and this project from Simply Art Lessons uses Klee’s geometric shapes and bright colors with tissue paper. The paper is wet and the color is allowed to bleed through, creating a gorgeous effect.

6. Paul Klee Diagram

Remember the quote about the dot going for a walk? The art work, The Groom’s Arrival’, is almost a literal interpretation of that, and Art Projects for Kids has an easy diagram that is very close to the original! Just follow the instructions and let your pencil glide along.

7. Paint Chip City Collage

If you’ve got a bunch of paint chips, then this city collage from The Art Annex is perfect! You can create your own urban city version of Paul Klee’s Castle and the Sun – you get your personalized, modern abstract art!

8. Cat and Bird Collage

We know that Klee loved cats, and his Cat and Bird art is pretty popular. It shows a cat who’s got a bird on his mind – literally ‘on’ his mind! Elementary Art Room has quirky little project where you can make your own cat and bird. Try it using different art and craft materials, like feathers, scrap paper and googly eyes.

9. Coloring Pages

If your little ones aren’t in the mood for a full fledged project, some coloring pages from Artsology will be perfect. Many artists are featured here, including Paul Klee’s work. Download and print for some quiet time engagement.

10. Geometric Fish

Besides cats, fish also featured prominently among Klee’s work. The most famous among his fish paintings are Fish Magic and the Goldfish, which show fish against a dark background, with an almost ethereal quality. This project from Katie Morris Art tries a clever way to recreate these paintings, and the results are quite nice!

Paul Klee is a great example of how you can attain mastery of any subject through practice and study, even if you think you’re not ‘naturally’ talented. He loved colors, thought he wasn’t good at it but persevered and the results are there for all to see!