This fun self-portrait 3 day lesson combines art exploration in abstract art and color theory.
I’ve done this a few years now and it’s definitely one of my favorite lessons for 2nd grade!
More details on how they were created below students artwork!
Students could pose anyway they wanted for their photos— I Love the variety! Some fun and silly, some serious and contemplative, and some just happy and smiling!
DID SOMEONE SAY HEAVY ON THE PHOTOS PLEASE?!!
YOU GOT IT!
DAY 1
On the first day of the lesson, I showed students my examples, students artwork from previous years, as well as just the abstract drawings before paint was applied. I asked students what they thought abstract artwork might be while looking at all the examples. Students noticed that the drawings and paintings were basically lines and shapes! We discussed how abstract art focuses mainly on lines, shapes, and colors and didn’t show a “picture” of anything (a person, a dog, a tree etc.)
Students then looked at a fun, quick slideshow of artwork by various abstract painters (Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, Joan Miro, Jackson Pollock and William de Cooning).
Students drew various lines and shapes on 12×18” tagboard in pencil, then went over all the lines with crayons being sure to press super hard (later on we would do a crayon wax-resist). They then filled out a short questionnaire with questions asking about their favorite things and questions about themselves.
DAY 2
On day 2 of the lesson, they painted their drawings with watercolors creating a crayon wax-resist.
While students worked, I took each students photo (which I later printed as a high-contrast black & white photo on printer paper).
DAY 3
In the following art class, students added additional color using NEON oil pastels by drawing shapes and lines on their dry paintings. I LOVE the addition of neon to their paintings!! Adds a nice layer of texture and so much color! This step was a new one this year, and kids and myself are happy of this new edition to the process!
LOOK AT ALL THIS FABULOUS LAYERING OF BRIGHT FUN COLOR!!
They then glued their black and white self-portrait onto their painting as well as their printed sentences that were cut into strips ahead of time.
ET VOILA!
I hope you enjoy these awesome abstract self-portraits as much as I do!!
MORE ON THIS LESSON FROM PREVIOUS YEARS HERE!
THANKS SO MUCH FOR CHECKING OUT MY BLOG! MORE ARTWORK (ALONG WITH SOMETHING EXCITING AND NEW IN THE WORKS FOR 5TH GRADE!!) ALL COMING VERY VERY SOOOOOON!!!!!!
STAY TUUUUNED!!!! : )