Middle School Work On Scratch Design portrait

Beginning  with their completed self-portraits, the middle school students copied their work onto heavy paper, outlined the faces and backgrounds with Sharpie and added intense oil pastel color in unusual combinations, covering the entire composition. They were then painted over with black tempera paint and intricate designs were scratched into the surface revealing the face underneath the scratched surface.

Adding unrealistic colors

Going over the lines in Sharpie

Working on the background

Beginning to scratch into the ink

Patterns across the top

Check out the face!

Finished work

Another with lots of texture variety

Lots of color and texture in this one

Great variety of possibilities here

K/1 and 2/3 Self-Portraits

The K/1s began their self-portraits, some attempting this for the first time. Most of the 2/3 class has had some exposure with this assignment and are making use of the previous experience. The students looked in mirrors, thought about the shape of their faces and tried and capture their features. Working with pencils and then tempera paint, they made an attempt to create an image that is recognizable as them. This focused time is a great exercise in being in the moment, really being aware of where they are and what they are trying to accomplish. This is a skill that is useful in many aspects of life, apart form drawing self-portraits. 

Focused attention

Early attempt

Mixing the right skin color

Thoughtful painting

Checking the progress

Striping the background

Consultation

Painting the plaid shirt

4/5 Self-Portraits

The 4/5s worked from mirrors, thinking about the shape of their face and trying to accurately locate and capture their features. Working with colored pencils they tried to put all these elements together to create an image that is recognizable as them.

First sketch

Just beginning

The sketch is taking form

Checking the mirror