Lil' Picasso November 2025: Giving Thanks Through Art: Inspired by Thanksgiving and Iconic Artists

by Jasmine Soumakian November 3, 2025

Dear Parents,

As Thanksgiving approaches, we’re excited to bring the spirit of gratitude, tradition, and creativity to our Lil' Picasso students. This month, our young artists will explore themes of Thanksgiving while learning about a few unique and inspiring artists. We’ll introduce them to a blend of classic and modern styles, from vintage illustration to playful, colorful minimalism. Here’s a preview of the Thanksgiving-themed projects your students will be working on this November:

1. Football Player Portraits Inspired by J.C. Leyendecker

J.C. Leyendecker was a famous American illustrator known for his detailed magazine covers, especially his iconic football-themed illustrations. His bold, classic style brings a nostalgic feel to holiday images, and students will create a mini football player portrait inspired by his work. We’ll focus on simple lines and shading to capture the energy of a football game, introducing kids to the idea of illustrating movement and emotion. Using earthy fall colors, they’ll create their own playful tribute to Thanksgiving football.

2. Pilgrims and Native Americans Inspired by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe

Jennie Brownscombe was an American painter best known for her historical scenes depicting early America. Her gentle, warm portrayals of pilgrims and Native Americans create a thoughtful and respectful look at Thanksgiving traditions. Students will create simplified versions of pilgrims and Native Americans inspired by Brownscombe’s work, exploring how artists can tell stories through portraits and settings.

3. Impressionist Turkeys Inspired by Claude Monet

Claude Monet’s beautiful impressionist style is perfect for capturing the natural colors and textures of a turkey’s feathers. Inspired by his soft brushstrokes and blending techniques, our students will create fluffy, colorful turkeys. We’ll emphasize color blending to recreate the shimmering feathers of a turkey in autumn colors, letting them practice their fine motor skills and explore different ways of creating texture.

4. Floating Thanksgiving Food with Color-Block Backgrounds Inspired by Ellsworth Kelly

For a fun, modern twist, we’ll introduce students to the colorful, minimalistic style of American artist Ellsworth Kelly. Using a color-block background inspired by Kelly’s bold, geometric work, students will create “floating” Thanksgiving foods! This project will introduce them to color blocking and simplicity in design.

Goals for November:

Art History and Cultural Appreciation: Students will get a taste of American art history while learning about Thanksgiving traditions through classic and contemporary artists.
Skills in Texture and Color: Projects inspired by Monet and Kelly will introduce blending and color blocking, helping students learn about texture and shapes.
Storytelling Through Art: Through Brownscombe’s historical scenes and Leyendecker’s vintage portraits, children will explore how art can tell a story and evoke emotions.

This month promises to be full of fun, creativity, and learning as we combine art history with Thanksgiving themes. We look forward to seeing the unique masterpieces our Lil' Picasso's will bring to life. Thank you for joining us on this artistic journey through Thanksgiving!