Andy Warhol Influenced Self-Portraits

Jasmine M

We used coloured highlighters to colour B&W photocopied photographs in the manner of Andy Warhol.
We created the background with rectangles of coloured paper glued onto a larger A4 coloured sheet.
The kids experimented with colour combinations, creating 6 different pictures of which they chose their favourite 4 to mount onto their backgrounds.

These were such a lot of fun to do - the kids love using the flourescent highlighters, and I love gently encouraging them away from the idea that colours have to be realistic!

Warhol: 'Marilyn' 1967

Going Cubist

Lily L (Yr 3)

Last week we traced photos onto acetate to create a semi-abstract self-portrait. This week we've used the same photos, but this time working directly onto the surface of the photo to abstract it using a cubist perspective.

We looked at some examples by Picasso, noticing how he sometimes shows the front and profile view of the subject within the one picture. We also talked about using color to express feelings rather than in a realistic way, and we discussed how various colors can be interpreted differently. Blue, for example, can be used to express sadness ("feeling blue"), but it is also the color of the ocean and the sky, and can be a very peaceful, calming color.

Working with black permanent markers, we drew a curved line through the center of our faces to create a profile view within the front view. We then went on to outline the main shapes of our portraits, and to add pattern to the background. Many of the kids chose to incorporate symbols that express their interests or personality in some way.

Finally we added color in a non-realistic way, again choosing colors that express something about ourselves. Some children decided to choose different colors for each side of their face to show different sides to their personalities. I love the way Lily, whose work I have displayed here, has used color and line to show that usually she is happy, but sometimes she feels sad.

We used wax crayons for this step as the colors are vibrant and luminous, while also being translucent enough to allow the black marker lines, and the shades within the photos, to show through.

I am so impressed with the finished result! The concept of abstract art can be quite a challenge for kids, but I think they have outdone themselves this week!

Amazing Self-Portraits on Acetate

Thomas T (Yr 3)

I found this fantastic idea using a painted paper background and black marker drawings on acetate at Field Elementary Art Blog through Pinterest, and have seen it a number of times since. I just love the way it allows young kids to create a self portrait (that really does look a little bit like them!) while also exploring the concept of semi-abstract art.

Before beginning we looked at examples and discussed the difference between realism (life-like) and semi-abstract (altered, but the original subject is still recognizable). We visualized a realism-abstract continuum - on one end is art as realistic as we can make it, on the far end is the abstract - so changed or totally divorced from the original inspiration that it is no longer recognizable. And in between are infinite levels of the semi-abstract.

This week we are using photos of ourselves as the starting point for a semi-abstract self portrait.

The kids had an absolutely free hand in how they designed and painted their backgrounds, using a metallic glitter paint. This paint is quite translucent, with a subtle glittery finish which is bright and colorful, but still allows the drawing overlay to stand out. 

After completing the backgrounds we laid a sheet of acetate over photographs (taken a week or two ago, which I photo-shopped to remove the background) and traced over them with black permanent markers. The process of eliminating shading and reducing the photograph to a purely linear drawing creates enough changes to subtly alter the picture to the semi-abstract, while still maintaining the essence and personality of the original.

We put our photos at the realistic end of the realism-abstract continuum. The photo-shopped images came next, close to the realistic end of the continuum, and our line tracings a little further along the line leading towards abstract. 

I love these pictures, they are so full of life and interesting line work!

Next week we are going to use the same photos to create a completely different self portrait .... these pictures will go much further along the continuum towards abstract, although they will still be recognizably based on the human face.

Don't you just love digital technology? The creative possibilities are endless!

Fantasy Self-Portrait

Fantasy Silhouette

Alex AS (Year 2)

Catherine B (Year 3)

Ella H (Year 2)

Hannah Y (Year 2)

Joe C (Year 5)

Lilly H (Year 4)

Lucy S (Year 3)

Maddy W (Year 4)

Oscar N (Year 2)

Savannah F (Year 3)

Zoe O (Year 6)

 
I took silhouette photos of the children, then photo-shopped out the face details. The kids covered their pages solidly with oil pastel, then placed their photo print-outs over the top. After a demonstration of After a demonstration of stylization, they first traced heavily over the outline of their face and hair, then added any details they wanted to on the face… we had everything from fairy queens and elves to ravening zombies! They loved seeing how their lines picked up the oil pastel on the opposite side of the page to give them a multi-coloured print of their drawing. We then cut them out and glued them onto the oil pastel background. Very effective and lots of fun!