The document provides instructions for an art project exploring Paul Klee's use of the grid structure in creative ways. It explains that Klee would overlay simple grids with diagonal lines to form compositions. Students are encouraged to take a creative approach by starting with parallel lines, adding horizontal and diagonal lines, shapes like triangles, and larger shapes. Colors can then be filled in to create contrast between brighter and neutral shades. More advanced students are challenged to study Klee's use of color gradation and create compositions using gradually changing color mixes.

1. grid
noun
1. a frameworkof spaced barsthatareparallel to or crosseach other;a grating.
"the metalgrids had been pulled acrossthe foyer"
synonyms:grating,mesh,grille,gauze,lattice
2. a networkof lines thatcross each other to forma series of squaresorrectangles.
"a grid of tree-lined streets"
synonyms:network,matrix,reticulation
Art 916/918 - Studio Fine Art Bowie Senior Center
14900 Health Center Drive
Bowie, MD 20715
(301) 809-2300
Ellen Baer– Instructor
Project: The Playful Grid (Based on the work of Paul Klee)
The drawingsbelowshow howKlee mayhave begunthispainting.He mayhave startedwitha simple gridandthenoverlaid
the grid witha seriesof diagonal lines.
Step 4 Step 4Step 4Step 4
Normally when I think of a grid I
think of the good old graph
paper we used in high school like
the grid to the left. In the graph
paper each bar and cross bar are
placed at equal intervals on the
page but, in Klee’s work the
structure of the grid is used
much more creatively.
The painting to the right titled
“Two Tents” uses mostly parallel
lines with one vertical cross bar
and several diagonal cross bars.

2. In this assignmentplease take a creative approach to the grid. Below is an example of how you
might approach the project.
You mightstart out
withsome parallel
lines
Crossthemwith
some horizontal
lines
Maybe addsome
more horizontal
lines
Throw insome
triangles
Addsome largershapes
Use your imagination.
Use variation in sizes and
shapes.
You can add circles,
trapezoids, half circles,
pentagons and drawings
to the grid.
Fill in the
spaces you
have
created
with color.

3. COLOR
To see the slide show we saw in class go to www.whatcom.ctc.edu/index.php/download_file/-/view/409/
AdvancedStudents:
Study how Klee used color in the two examples above.
Notice how he contrasted neutral colors or shades with brighter tints and purer colors.
See if you can usethis in your composition to create push and pull.
OR
Create a composition using the concept of color gradation (seepainting on the 1st
page).
This will require you to mix colors that gradually changefor example tints of the same color
that get lighter and lighter or shades of color that get darker and darker. Or you can make
a color become more and moreneutral by gradually adding its color opposite.
Beginning Students:
1. Fill in shapes that you wantto stand out with pureprimary and secondary colors.
2. Fill in background areas with neutral colors (neutral colors are created by mixing
complimentary colors together).
The complimentary pairs are: Red + Green, Yellow + Purple, and Orange+ Blue)