Chuck CloseChuck Close is an American artist. He was an Art teacher at

Umass Amherst in Massachusetts. He now works and lives in New York City. He started off his career by painting portraits that

looked just like real photos!

Chuck CloseIn 1988 Chuck Close became paralyzed and he is now in a

wheel chair. He did not have control of his arms and hands to paint the perfect photos that he did before…

Chuck CloseIn 1988 Chuck Close became paralyzed and he is now in a

wheel chair. He did not have control of his arms and hands to paint the perfect photos that he did before.

Instead of giving up on painting he decided to try a new style! He started painting with a grid. Up close his paintings look like

squares and blobs, but far away they look like portraits!

Chuck Close

Kandinsky & Chuck CloseSome people think that

Chuck Close might have gotten the idea to do circles from the

famous painter namedWassily Kandinsky.

What do you think?

Chuck Close

Chuck Close

Mrs. Brown & Chuck Close

Chuck Close

Look at the painting to the left.

What do you see about Chuck Close’s painting process?

How does he paint all those colors?

Chuck Close

Look at the painting to the left.

What do you see about Chuck Close’s painting process?

How does he paint all those colors?

Answer: He starts by painting each square a solid color!

Chuck Close

Chuck Close

Chuck Close

Chuck Close

Chuck Close

Chuck Close

Kandinsky & Chuck Close

1. Fold your 12”x12” paper in half four times to create 16 boxes.

2. With pencil, write your name on the back, and trace the fold lines.

3. Paint each square a solid color.

4. Paint small circles in each square… then paint larger and larger circles around those.