Lesson #4
Studio Activity:
Observational Drawings of Self
DOWNLOAD all Art lessons in Word format

Objectives
Students will:
•Draw from the face and review observational drawing techniques
such as blind contour line.
•Increase skills in drawing the face through the introduction of
other drawing techniques based on observation.

Materials: Drawing pencils and paper 8” X 11”

Vocabulary: rendering, value, contrast, and style

Descriptions/questions/activity:
Brainstorm ideas about other ways artists use to depict the face.

Creating portraits: Warm-up with two five minute drawing exercises of
students looking at their faces in a mirror. Use different observational
drawing techniques such as blind contour line, non-dominant hand and
direct observation for an extended period of time.

Assessment
*The following types of work are done to create a mid-process work
to be used for a comparative analysis to measure the students’
individual progress from the initial baseline drawing collection.

(Quiz #2)

• MID-PROCESS DRAWING: Use the mirror draw your face using
Blind Contour Line in the space provided.

• MID-PROCESS DRAWING: Look in the mirror. Draw your face
using your non-dominant hand. For example, if you are a
right-handed use your left hand and vice versa.

• MID-PROCESS DRAWING: Using the mirror spend 20- 25
minutes on the final drawing of a self-portrait. Use value, color and
rendering techniques a.k.a. shading, include your head and
shoulders. Please consider gaze, facial expression, orientation
and costume.

• Create an artist’s statement to include: Who are you?
What are you thinking and feeling? How did you show that
through materials and style choices? Write about what you
found most challenging.

Grading Rubric # 2

Conclusion:
Students reflect on their drawings.
Students share out about the experience.
How do the sketches differ from the previous set of drawings you did?
Select some students to show their final drawings. Ask students to
describe their work. What makes you say that…?
Can anyone tell me how the practice of these techniques might improve
our drawing skills?