Lesson #6
Studio Activity: Final Self Portrait
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Objectives
Students will:
• Understand how the choice of techniques and materials
impact form, style and content in a work of art.
• Create a final self-portrait in a chosen medium that best
reflects their identity.

Materials: 12”x 12” drawing paper, watercolor paper #140,
or illustration board
Drawing: pencils, charcoal, erasers, markers, pen, or ink
Collage: scissors, X-Acto knife, glue, rubber cement,
construction paper
Painting: watercolor, tempera, or acrylic
Mixed media- fabric, beads, and/or textures

Vocabulary: form, style, and content

Descriptions/questions/activity:
Students will synthesize what they have learned about modern
portraits, specifically self-portraits in a work of art. Students will
select materials for chosen medium.

Activity: Brainstorm ideas about how to begin the final self-portrait
on a 12” 12” surface. Take a look at all the drawings you have
done up to this point. Analyze the choices you have made.
Decide which techniques will work best for you in terms of what
you have to say: blind contour line, observational drawing
techniques, grid method, symbolic etc.

Creating portraits: Select a medium that best represents your idea.
Take risks. Consider the elements of portraiture: costume, gaze,
facial expression, orientation etc.

Conclusion: Share out. Ask students to discuss the choices they
have made and why.