Picasso Bird Art Project Picasso Art Lesson Art History Picasso Art Activity

In this Picasso Bird Art Project, students create a bird inspired by Pablo Picasso using oil pastels and acrylic or tempera paint. The finished artwork is bold and whimsical, with oversized shapes, bright color and strong line work, and it looks great on display.

It is written for teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers working with Grades 3 to 5. The lesson helps students loosen up, try unusual shapes and make art that does not have to look realistic to be successful, while exploring bold color, playful shape and expressive line.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• 1 Cover Page
• 1 About the Resource Page
• 1 Critical Thinking Questions Page
• 3 Lesson Plan Pages
• 1 Warm-Up Art Challenge Page
• 1 Student Reading Page about Pablo Picasso
• 1 Color Poster Sample Page
• 1 Rubric Page
• 1 How-to Draw: a Picasso Bird Page
• 1 KWL Chart Page
• 1 The Message Reflection Page
• 1 Analyze: Elements and Principles Reflection Page
• 1 Compare and Contrast Page
• 1 Questions and Wonders Page
• 1 Goal Setting Page
• 2 Artwork Reflection Pages
• 1 Peer Feedback Page
• Artist's Statement Pages
• 1 Full-Page Example Artwork Page
• PDF Step-by-Step Tutorial with visual and text directions for painting the bird shape, adding background color, layering oil pastel details and building expressive Picasso-inspired lines

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

The Warm-Up Art Challenge and student reading page introduce Picasso's bold style, his love of shapes and color, and the playful, imaginative ways he explored art. This helps students connect their own artwork to a famous artist.

Students then make a big bird with colorful bodies, striped and curved oil pastel details, blue wings and tails, and strong black outlines. Even when they follow the same general steps, their lines, colors and details make each bird unique. The finished pieces work well on bulletin boards, hallway displays and art show walls.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers who want a Pablo Picasso bird art lesson.

How long will this art lesson take?

Most classes finish in about 2 to 3 art classes, depending on student age and skill level, class behavior, teacher instruction style and class length.

What materials are used?

Oil pastels, card stock or thicker paper, and acrylic paint, paint brushes and water. Tempera paint is also an option.

Does it include reflection or assessment pages?

Yes. It includes a rubric, KWL chart, reflection pages, peer feedback, goal setting, artist statement pages and more.

Is this resource editable?

No. It is non-editable.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist and educator whose work has been featured on NBC LX News and in OCO Magazine, as the featured educator on the cover of the October 2025 edition. She designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers, and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

This resource is for single educator use only.

YOU MAY: use it with your own students. Please purchase additional licenses if more than one teacher will be using it.

YOU MAY NOT: share, copy, upload, post online, distribute or resell it in any form.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic