“Expressive Self Portraits”

EQ: How do artists use the elements of art to create or emphasis an emotion in a work of art? Why do artists create self-portraits?

MEANING AND CREATIVE THINKING VAHSVAMC.1 Engages in the creative process, imagines new ideas by using mental and visual imagery, conceptualizes these ideas by using artistic language and contextual understandings in assessing learning, and develops a personal artistic voice that gives unique form to these concepts. a. Identifies artistic voice in a range of contemporary and past artists. b. Reflects on emerging personal artistic preferences. c. Recognizes personal motivations and interests. d. Establishes personal viewpoint. e. Selects self-assessment standards, themes, and interests. f. Identifies preferred materials and working methods.

VA8PR.2 Creates artwork reflecting a range of concepts, ideas, subject matter. Uses selected sources for artworks (e.g., direct observation, personal experience, selfperception, memory, imagination, fantasy, traditional events and/or pop culture). Produces increasingly complex original works of art reflecting personal choices and increased technical skill. Develops and uses original visual metaphors in artwork to convey meaning.

Works directly with materials in a variety of ways (e.g., intuitive, spontaneous and free, thoughtfully from sketchbook ideas or carefully considered plans).

Overview and Purpose: It is important for art students to begin to express themselves in meaningful ways. This art lesson is great way to introduce students to self expression. Students will revisit the portratits and self portraits by creating an introspective and expressive self portrait that either communicates something about themselves or sheds some light into their personality.

Materials: Pencils, sketchbooks, erasers, oil pastels, paint, brushes, 11X14 white drawing paper. Students must incorporate at least 2 different materials/ media

Objectives: The student will learn that expression in artworks can sometimes be found in the presentation of the subject matter.  In this case the expression should be communicated through a self portrait.   

Delivery of info:  Students will be presented with various versions of self portraits throughout art history.  The teacher should lead in a discussion evaluating the aspects of expression present in the artworks.  The teacher should encourage the students to think about how they can be expressive in their artworks, specifically self portraits.  The students will then create expressive self portraits using a mirror.  The emphasis of expression should be placed on how the subject matter is presented in the finished self portrait. 

Guided Practice: Students will work in their sketchbooks while the teacher walks around and monitors progress. Students will sketch 2-3 quick drawings of themselves.

Video ResourcesFacial FeaturesHow to Draw an EyeHow to Draw an EarHow to Draw a MouthHow to Draw a Nose

PROCEDURES:DAY 1: Review what portraits and self-portraits are and why artist through time have created them (History of self-portraits power point). Explain that the project that they are going to be making is an abstract expressionistic self-portrait, and that they will have to try to draw themselves the best they can using a mirror or photograph. In sketch books practice drawing eyes, noses, mouths, etc. Use the mirrors to create 3-4 small thumbnail sketches with different expressions. Decide on Composition, background and medium to be used.

DAY 2: Show finished works of self-portraits and discuss how the artists emphasized certain elements to create the visual impact of the image (Red face with mad expression, etc.) Today they will get the outline drawn of their face using the mirrors and the large white drawing paper.

DAY 3: Demonstrate how to Paint large areas and use oil pastels by layering and blending colors together. Remember to use colors that emphasize your emotion. Use line to increase visual impact as well (mad- make is scribbly, happy spiral lines).

DAY 4/5: Finish Coloring DAY 6: Self-Reflection/ Critique ASSESSMENT:Students will be assessed by “Expressive Self-Portrait” Rubric