Pablo PicassoBy: Shari Jackson

Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881. He was the most famous painter of the 1900’s.

Pablo Picasso could paint before he could talk. His first word was “pencil”. Pablo’s father was an art teacher and a painter. At an early age, Picasso showed a talent for drawing and painting. He was way ahead of his friends with his artwork, but Picasso had a hard time learning in school.

Picasso’s first painting at 9 years old (A Man Riding a Horse in a Bullfight).

1901-1904, Blue Period: What colors did Picasso use? How do these paintings make you feel? How do you think Picasso was feeling when he painted them?

1904-1906, Rose Period: What colors did Picasso use during this period? Can you compare the rose period to the blue period? How do these paintings make you feel? How do you think Picasso felt when he painted these?

1907-1917, Cubism : Picasso painted pictures made of shapes. Some of his paintings looked like they had been cut apart and glued back together. What shapes can you see?

Picasso met Sylvette David in France (1954). He asked her if she would like to have her picture painted. They became very good friends.

Picasso created 40 works of art, inspired by Lydia “Sylvette” David (Corbett).

This is Sylvette, today. She lives in England and she is also a painter, like Picasso. Can you notice some things that are the same about Sylvette’s and Picasso’s paintings?

Picasso produced more than 30,000 original works throughout his lifetime. His style was always changing. Picasso lived to be 92 years old. One of Picasso’s paintings sold for $155, 000,000.00 in 2013.

Please listen carefully as I read, Picasso and the Girl with the Ponytail. You will learn more about Picasso and his friend, Sylvette.

Turn and talk to your neighbor about something that you learned while listening to this story.

Let’s try to work like Picasso, but be sure to give this work your own style.