Student Self Portrait

Students have a picture taken and write 3 to 5 important things about themselves to share with the class and their teachers. The photos are available for students to learn about each other, add to their information and or share with their parents.

Art appreciation slides of self portraits from various artists are analyzed from a Powerpoint Slide show (images taken from Google, copied and pasted into a presentation). Matisse's Green Stripe, Picasso Self Portrait, Van Gogh and other self portraits are studied. Students compare and contrast the styles of impressionism, expressionism and realism. Emphasis placed on the history of photography and how that changed the artists at that time.

Science lesson in color mixing and paint mediums to become familiar with the different materials available. Opaque and tranparent qualities, overlapping and mixing colors in all mediums and in the different art styles are investigated using the Scientific Process. (Asking questions, predicting results, testing and gathering data or results).

Students use art and mathematical vocabulary to describe the portraits and styles depicted. Vocabulary: Symmetry and assymetry, cubism, impressionism, expressionism, primary, secondary and tertiary colors, blending, outlines, shadows, shading and contrasting colors.

The digital pictures are enlarged on the photocopier to an 8 1/2 x 11 inch format. Placing overhead cellophane sheets over the picture, students use oil pastels, tempora and watercolors to create a self portrait in the impressionistic, expressionistic and realistic styles.

The cellophane portraits are adhered to the glass windows and students meet speaking requirements by explaining their choices in colors, textures and background details and the style of painting.