2 D and 3 D Self Portraits

 I'm pretty sure all of us art teachers have had our students doing a self portrait at some point in elementary school. I actually read of one teacher who has her students do one every year. I think that is a great idea! As it turns out, these self portraits are from 2011/12 and were part of the first exhibit I had displayed at The Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art.

Had students do some really cute ones last year with parrots on their shoulders for the pirate thing we have going on at school-but didn't take any photos........next time.

   

 

The wonderful portraits above were made by my kindergarten through to 3rd grade students. I had 2 different oval tracers for them to use. We discussed how much of ourselves should be in the portrait. Just the head, head and torso, what else could we include as part of the portrait. Are we standing in front of examples of our art? Are we outside? A favorite place?

The lesson always starts out with talking about the shape of our head. Then, how our EYES are half way between the top of our head and our chin.  Our NOSE is half way between our eyes and our chin AND our MOUTH is half way between our nose and our chin. EARS are located on the side of our head between our eyes and our nose. I touch my face as I explain this and encourage them to locate all of this on their faces. And NO EYES on our foreheads........ please!

 

I had the students paint their portraits and I really loved how they came out.

My 4th and 5th graders did 3 D portraits. I had found out about this project at one of my district planning days where we do a meet and share.

 

Very simple: use a 12"x18" piece of construction paper folded into thirds for the head. Demonstrate different ways for the students to manipulate the paper- tearing, curling, fringing, folding for the details AND before you know it you have these really cool 3 D portraits!

 It is really fun when you have "Crazy Hat Day" during the week you teach this!!

Yes, I really have a flamingo hat!

As I mentioned, last week was hectic! I now have a new grand daughter, that I had the opportunity to see as she was being born. A big THANK YOU to my son-in-law for giving me this incredible memory.

Thanks for reading! I would love to know about the self portraits you do with your students!!