Self-Portrait Drawings - Studio in a School

Overview

In this unit, students will learn how to use observation and understanding of proportion to draw self-portraits. Students will explore the medium of oil pastels and create an expressive self-portrait, focusing on exaggeration or facial expression to convey emotion and personality

Grade Level

6-12

Media

Drawing

Lessons In Unit

Unit & Lessons

Lessons

Lesson 1: Self-Portrait – Basic Features

Lesson 2: Self-Portrait – Editing Eyes, Nose, and Mouth

Lesson 3: Self-Portrait – Finishing your Self-Portrait

Lesson 4: Self-Portrait – Oil Pastel Exploration

Lesson 5: Self-Portrait – Oil Pastel Facial Features

Lesson 6: Self-Portrait – Oil Pastel Adjusting Features

Lesson 7: Self-Portrait – Oil Pastel Adding Color & Value

Lesson 8: Self-Portrait – Oil Pastel Details & Background

Materials and Tools

Pencil
12 x 18” white paper
Eraser—kneaded, vinyl, and/or gum
Mirror
Oil pastels
12 x 18” black or colored paper

Objectives

Students will understand that:

A self-portrait is an artwork that depicts the artist who made it.
Artists can convey emotion through their self-portrait.
Artists work from direct observation to accurately draw what they see.
Artists use basic facial proportions to help draw features in the correct places.
Artists can make an expressive self-portrait by exaggerating their use of color, shape, line, texture, or details.

Students will be able to:

Use their understanding of facial anatomy to accurately place their facial features in their drawing.
Draw a facial expression that conveys a specific emotion in their self-portrait.
Use exaggerated color, shape, line, texture, and detail to make an expressive self-portrait.

Credits

Written By:
Matthew Mahler

Based on Lessons By:
Katherine Huala, Jamie Powell, and Matthew Mahler

Lesson Development:
Andrea Burgay, Director of Digital Learning