Blue Period

This Picasso project will show how easy it is to change the mood of a drawing. Lots of cool colors and looking away from the viewer are themes Picasso liked to use during his Blue Period. 

The Blue Period is a term used to define the works produced by Spanish painter Pablo Picasso between 1901 and 1904 when he painted essentially monochromatic paintings in shades of blue and blue-green, only occasionally warmed by other colors. These somber works, inspired by Spain and painted in Barcelona and Paris, are now some of his most popular works, although he had difficulty selling them at the time. For students that are familiar with how to draw themselves straight on, looking directly at the viewer, this is a little twist that gives very different results. By moving the eyes to one side, and making them cast downward, a much more somber look is produced. After that, students just need to customize the hair to make this portrait drawing look more like themselves.

Lastly, limiting the color palette at the end to just blues and greens will show students the power of color on a painting. This time around, it’s not about using their personal color of hair or skin, but more about choosing specific colors to add to the mood.

🎨 Blue Period Project Inspired by Pablo Picasso

🖌 What Is the Blue Period?

Between 1901–1904, Picasso created paintings using mostly blue tones. These artworks often showed:

• Sadness

• Isolation

• Poverty

• Emotional struggle

• Elongated figures

• Simple, moody backgrounds

• Strong light and dark contrast

Your goal is to create an inspired by this style — not a copy.🎯 Project Goal

Create a monochromatic (one-color family) artwork using to communicate a strong emotion or mood.

Your artwork should:

• Tell a story or express an emotional experience

• Use a strong range of light and dark values

• Have a clear focal point

• Show intentional composition

🧠 Step 1: Choose a Theme

Your artwork must express emotional depth.You May Choose:

• Loneliness in modern life

• Mental health themes (symbolic & school appropriate)

• Grief or loss

• Aging

• Feeling like an outsider

• Personal emotional experience

• Symbolic self-portrait

• Social commentary

• Emotional narrative scene

⚠️ All content must be school appropriate.✏️ Step 2: Planning Requirements

You must complete:

✔ 3–5 thumbnail sketches

✔ 1 refined composition sketch

✔ 1 blue value scale (at least 5 steps light → dark)

✔ 1 paragraph concept statement

Your concept statement should answer:

• What emotion are you expressing?

• Why did you choose this subject?

• How will you use blue and value to create mood?

🎨 Step 3: Create the Final Artwork Requirements

• Monochromatic blue color scheme
  (You may use blue-green or blue-violet variations.)

• Strong value contrast (lights AND darks)

• Clear focal point

• Emotion shown through:

• Facial expression

• Body language

• Composition

Background that supports mood📏 Size Requirement

Minimum:

🖍 Recommended Mediums

• Acrylic (recommended)

• Gouache

• Watercolor (advanced)

• Charcoal + blue pastel

• Blue colored pencil

• Ink wash

• Mixed media

• Oil paint

• Digital monochromatic painting

• Collage with blue overlays

• Textural mixed media

✍️ Written Requirements (Turn In With Artwork)Artist Statement (1–2 paragraphs)

Include:

• What emotion are you expressing?

• How does your piece connect to the Blue Period?

• How did you use value and color to create mood?

Process Reflection

• What worked well?

• What was challenging?

• What would you improve?

📊 How You’ll Be Graded

• Emotional Depth & Concept

• Use of Monochromatic Blue

• Value & Contrast

• Composition & Focal Point

• Craftsmanship

• Planning Completion

• Written Reflection

⭐ Art 2 vs Art 3 Expectations

• Strong technique

• Clear emotional message

• Solid value development

• Advanced symbolism

• Complex composition

• Strong conceptual depth

• Intentional distortion or abstraction

💡 Optional Challenge

• Add ONE small contrasting warm accent color

• Include symbolic objects

• Create a diptych (2-panel piece)

• Pair your artwork with a short poem

Important Reminder

This is about — not perfection.

Push your value range.

Take risks with composition.

Make it meaningful. 

Student Examples