Wild Self-Portraits
7th grade students created a large-scale self-portrait using oil pastel. They looked at the work of contemporary artist, Chuck Close, to create a gridded scale drawing. Then the students analyzed the use of color in Fauvist paintings and Arcmanoro Niles’s portraits to create complex color mixtures that express emotions. Throughout this lesson they the technical skill of color mixing and its role as an emotional signifier.
The students utilized language objectives to analyze the meaning of color in masterworks and in each other’s work. They analyzed the way various hues work together to convey a breadth of emotion. By the end of the project, students developed a broad range of vocabulary to describe the technical and emotional dimensions of color. They observed the work of others and noticed the way artwork can elicit emotions from a viewer. This process helped them distinguish their personal interpretation of an artwork from the artist's intent. By making and viewing self-portraits, the students fostered greater emotional awareness and empathy.
See full lesson here.
7th Grade, Oil Pastel on Paper or Acrylic on Board, 18” x 24” or 9” x 12”
