Graham Knuttel
A Graham Knuttel-inspired piece by Arno and Adam
Catastrophy
Graham Knuttel
Graham Knuttel (born in 1954 in Dublin, Ireland) is one of Ireland’s most famous modern artists. He is known for his bold, colourful paintings and sculptures that often show people in a very unique and imaginative way.
As a child, Graham loved drawing and painting. His father was an artist too, so creativity was always part of his life. He studied art in college in Ireland and later travelled to London and other parts of Europe, where he developed his own special style.
His Style
Graham Knuttel’s artwork is easy to recognise:
- He uses bright, bold colours
- His people often have unusual shapes and features
- His paintings can look a bit like cartoons or abstract art
- He mixes humour with serious ideas
Sometimes his characters look funny or strange, but they can also show emotions like happiness, sadness, or loneliness.
What His Art Is About
Knuttel’s art often explores:
- Everyday people and life
- Human emotions
- Social issues (how people live and treat each other)
Even though his work can look playful, it often has deeper meanings.
Interesting Facts
- He has had exhibitions all over the world
- His work includes both paintings and sculptures
- He is considered a leading Irish contemporary artist
- His art can be found in galleries and collections across Europe
Comprehension Questions (20)
- When was Graham Knuttel born?
- Where was he born?
- What kind of artist is he?
- What did he enjoy doing as a child?
- Who influenced him at home?
- Where did he study art?
- What countries did he travel to?
- What type of colours does he use?
- How are the people in his paintings unusual?
- What style is his artwork similar to?
- Does his work include sculpture?
- What emotions can his artwork show?
- What is one theme in his art?
- What is another theme?
- Why might his art look funny at first?
- What deeper meaning can his art have?
- Where has he exhibited his work?
- Is he an important Irish artist?
- What makes his style easy to recognise?
- Do you like his style? Why or why not?
Answer Key (Teacher Page)
- 1954
- Dublin, Ireland
- A modern/contemporary artist
- Drawing and painting
- His father (an artist)
- In Ireland
- London and Europe
- Bright, bold colours
- They have unusual shapes/features
- Cartoon/abstract style
- Yes
- Happiness, sadness, loneliness (any emotion)
- Everyday life
- Human emotions/social issues
- Because of the unusual shapes and colours
- It shows deeper ideas about people/life
- Around the world
- Yes
- Bold colours and unusual figures
- Opinion-based
Powerpoint
Graham-Knuttel-The-Artist-of-Shapes
Colouring Pages
| Graham Knuttel was a famous Irish artist from Dublin. He painted in a very special way, using a toolkit of interesting techniques! Read the words below and match them to their meanings.
Instructions: Draw a line to match each word to the correct meaning.
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Exploring Expressionism
Expressionism inspired Knuttel. This is a type of art in which the artist conveys feelings rather than simply painting exactly what they see. He loved painting characters with a secret story, like chefs, grumpy birds, and cafe-goers.
- How did Graham Knuttel make his paintings feel full of energy and drama? Name two things he did with shapes and colour
- Do you prefer art that looks exactly like real life (like a photo) or art that is quirky like Knuttel’s? Why?
Be the Artist!
Art doesn’t have to look like a photo to be amazing. Sometimes, changing things makes them more interesting! |
| It’s time to be the artist! Draw a bird in the style of Graham Knuttel in the box below.
Make sure to include: ● A huge, pointed beak ● Two massive round eyes ● A thick black outline using a marker ● The brightest colours you have!
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Art Activities Inspired by Graham Knuttel (Ages 10–12)
- Colourful Character Portraits
- Draw a face using unusual shapes
- Use bright, bold colours
- Add exaggerated features (big eyes, long nose)
- Discuss what emotion the face shows
- Mixed Emotion Painting
- Divide the page into sections
- Show different emotions in each part
- Use colour to represent feelings (e.g. blue = sad, red = angry)
- Clay or Junk Art Figures
- Create a figure using clay or recycled materials
- Make it quirky and unusual
- Paint it in bright colours
Activities for Younger Children (Ages 5–6)
- Funny Face Drawing
- Draw silly faces
- Use lots of colour
- Add big eyes, tiny mouths, or wiggly hair
- Colour Splash Painting
- Explore bright paints
- Mix colours freely
- Talk about how colours feel
- Build-a-Person Collage
- Cut shapes from coloured paper
- Build a face or person
- Stick in unusual ways (eyes in funny places!)
