gridnoun

1. a framework of spaced bars that are parallel to or cross each other; a grating."the metal grids had been pulled across the foyer"synonyms: grating, mesh, grille, gauze, lattice

2. a network of lines that cross each other to form a series of squares or rectangles."a grid of tree-lined streets"synonyms: network, matrix, reticulation

Art 916/918 - Studio Fine Art Bowie Senior Center14900 Health Center DriveBowie, MD 20715(301) 809-2300

Ellen Baer – Instructor

Project: The Playful Grid (Based on the work of Paul Klee)

The drawings below show how Klee may have begun this painting. He may have started with a simple grid and then overlaid the grid with a series of diagonal lines.

Step 1 Step 2 Step 4Step 3

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.

In this assignment please take a creative approach to the grid. Below is an example of how you might approach the project.

You might start out with some parallel lines

Cross them with some horizontal lines

Maybe add some more horizontal lines

Throw in some triangles

Add some larger shapes

Fill in the spaces you have created with color.

C OLOR

To see the slide show we saw in class go to www.whatcom.ctc.edu/index.php/download_file/-/view/409/

Use your imagination.

Use variation in sizes and shapes.

You can add circles, trapezoids, half circles, pentagons and drawings to the grid.

Advanced Students:

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 use this in your composition to create push and pull.

OR

Create a composition using the concept of color gradation (see painting on the 1st page). This will require you to mix colors that gradually change for 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 more neutral by gradually adding its color opposite.

Beginning Students:

1. Fill in shapes that you want to stand out with pure primary 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)