Tree Self Portraits Inspired by Gustav Klimt and Rebecca Rebouche

When I discovered the contemporary artist Rebecca Rebouche, I knew I would have to teach a lesson based on her work.  Her "Tree Series" paintings drew me in because of the balance of simplicity and detail and the obvious playfulness she enjoys in the process.

My art students love drawing trees and some even believe that they know How To Draw a Tree, as if there is just one right way to do it.  Here is where I introduce another favorite artist, Gustav Klimt, with his painting "Tree of Life."  In looking at this intricate, swirly, gold-tinted tree, we see that the possibilities are endless.  

Although Rebecca Rebouche and Gustav Klimt lived 100 years apart, when we compare their work we can see some similarities. 

Third and fourth graders looked at Rebouche's "Tree Series" paintings and Klimt's "Tree of Life" painting.  In addition to the symbolic meaning of the trees themselves, both artists included other objects in the branches of their trees to represent things that are important to them. Click here to learn more about the symbols in Klimt's "Tree of Life." 

We often start the year by drawing or painting self-portrait.  In planning the self-portrait process, I wanted students to focus on what truly makes them special and unique.  Rather than trying to, once again, help students show this in a traditional head and shoulders self-portrait, I decided to take a more abstract approach.  These tree drawings by grades three and four are a type of self portrait. 

Can you guess the students who created them based on what they chose to include in the branches?

Watch these beautiful videos to see Rebecca Rebouche at work and see how she draws inspiration from the natural world.

I can't tell you how long it took me to get these picture posted.  I have no idea why they showed up all as one long line, but please humor me and scroll to the right to see all of these beautiful trees!

Beautiful Hands

Kindergarten artists read "Beautiful hands by Kathryn Otoshi and Bret Baumgarten.  They traced their hands and colored them with construction paper crayons, then painted with liquid watercolors in warm or cool colors.  They observed the watercolor resist technique.

Collages inspired by Alma Woodsey Thomas

"Through color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness..."
Alma Woodsey Thomas (1891-1978)

Click here to learn more about Alma Thomas.

Art offers sanctuary

Why is ART Important?

Selfie Self Portraits

Fifth and sixth grade artists used iPads to take their "Selfies," then traced over the photo on acetate using a Sharpie marker.  This is the first step to this in progress self portrait project. 

Drawing from Nature

First and second grade artists learned about Leonardo DaVinci and looked at his observational drawings of things found in nature.  We made small art journals and took them outside to find objects to draw from observation.