Wassily Kandinsky, Squares with Concentric Circes

This project could be done with any grade level. For younger children it helps to have the paper already divided into sections or squares. I used a yellow colored pencil to draw the lines that separated each square. Folding the paper into sections could also work, but I found it actually would have taken longer to do that, and the paper didn't lay as flat as I would have liked.

We used the tempera blocks from the art cupboard. I've never used this type of tempera (also known as tempera cakes) so wanted to try it. Just add a little water  (similar to watercolors).

Another option is to have each student make one concentric circle, then arrange them in rows like Kandinsky's work.

Here's an example of the project I presented to the class: 

Self-Portraits with Paul Klee color blocks

Two fifth grade classes looked at few of Paul Klee's paintings done with block colors and a self-portrait. We talked about the paintings a bit and how Klee used color to express himself, his emotions and ideas. We also examined this project as illustrated on the following two web sites:

Two links where I found this project:
--http://thetalkingwallsmurals.blogspot.com/2013/01/paul-klee-inspired-self-portrait-lesson.html
--http://www.teachkidsart.net/self-portrait-workshop-paul-klee/

Five links to sample Paul Klee works:
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Klee#mediaviewer/File:Paul_Klee_1911.jpg
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Klee#mediaviewer/File:Red_Balloon.JPG
--http://arteascuola.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/08-00571.jpg
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Klee#mediaviewer/File:Paul_Klee,_In_den_Häusern_von_St._Germain.jpg
--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Klee#mediaviewer/File:Senecio2.JPG

Self-portrait lesson:
I drew a large face divided into halves and fourths, talked about how each eye is 1/5 of the width of your face, the nose is 1/5 wide, sides of mouth end below pupils, ears are same length as between eyes and bottom of nose, etc.
Similar, but more realistic, to this link:
http://kiokreations.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/How-to-draw-face.jpg

How to:
Then I showed them how to draw a face with the correct proportions and let them use their small whiteboards and erasable markers to practice face shape, features and proportions, while I drew on the large whiteboard.  Then we moved to watercolor paper and pencils and mirrors, to sketch themselves with simple lines.  Students traced their pencil lines with a black Sharpie, then choose 12 pre-cut tissue paper squares to place in a grid on their drawing.  The teachers and I misted the artwork with water from spray bottles.  Students used paintbrushes to smooth the paper down and spread the water evenly.  They could remove the tissue paper within a couple minutes, or leave the tissue paper to dry, at which point it falls off or is easily loosened.  Done!  I purchased Spectra tissue paper that is supposed to allow the colors to "bleed" in a watercolor effect, and cut the squares with a sliding paper cutter.

Materials:  watercolor paper, pencils, mirrors, Sharpies, tissue paper that "bleeds."
Time:  1+ hour, but could be adjusted depending on time available.  Could do less instruction time on Paul Klee and/or on how to draw a face.