Abstract Paper Self-Portraits

I love teaching students self-portraits because I feel that learning how to draw a portrait of yourself and studying your own face, can give you a better insight on yourself and your personality/identity. When I was teaching this lesson, before we delved into the abstract paper portraits, I taught them how to draw a proportionate face with pencil. I think that learning how to draw a realistic face can give more depth into how they can abstract the final piece.

My Inspiration:  

http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/2009/02/09/abstract-paper-portraits/

Visual Art Standards:

27.B.2

25.B.2

Objectives: 

Students will be able to understand how the different elements and principles of art can combine to create an abstract piece of art. 

Students will be able to identify how the arts can communicate different ideas and emotions. 

Students will be able to discuss the expressive colors and lines that they used to convey themselves in their portrait.

Materials: 
Paper Scraps
Construction Paper
Glue Sticks
Scissors
Pencils
Scratch Paper

Step 1: I showed the students a powerpoint on different artists who use abstraction in self-portraits such as Chuck Close, Vincent Van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso.

Step 2: The students started by cutting out a big shape for the head. This could be a realistic shape or an abstract shape. I showed them the ways in which color and line can be expressive.

Step 3: The students then went ahead cutting out the different features.

Step 4: While they were working I showed them the artist's abstract self-portraits again and encouraged them to make some abstraction in their faces.

Step 5: If there was a lot of empty space around the heads I encouraged the students to add some expressive shapes such as thought bubbles or music notes

Step 6: Write your name and show it off!

These were so fun and the students really grasped the idea of abstraction. I felt that it was necessary to show them the correct realistic facial proportions before diving into the abstract. I loved this lesson and so did the students!