every year i teach kindergarteners how to draw a self-portrait. we first look at some portraits, then some self-portraits of artists who they know. it seems like each year i do something a little different with this lesson. this year, i gave the students a template for the "upside down egg shaped" head. then step by step we added the football shaped eyes, the long number two shaped eyebrow and nose, and the three lines for the mouth. then we draw the neck and shoulders. I teach a general "boys" hair and "girls" hair, and we talk about how to modify it. this year i gave each student a cup of crayons and a large scrap paper in the middle of the table.
i had them dig out all of the brown crayons. i showed them how some really light colors of brown are actually tan and peachy colored. they had to decide which shade of brown their skin is. then i had them sit up front with me while they told me what parts are skin colored. we colored the skin, clothes, and hair. the next class period we painted a background paper. they learned different paint techniques while adding line, shape and texture to their paper.
the final week, we glued the portrait to a black piece of construction paper, cut a shadow around it, and then glued it to the background paper.
These are fantastic!!! You are truely amazing with kids!!! I love them all, but the one on the right is amazingly whimsical and quirky. LOVE!
Posted by: Elizabeth | 01/29/2011 at 06:31 AM
They followed your directions well! You've boosted them a step higher towards being a real artist! Haha! It might sound exaggerated, but most artists start that way. Who knows? Maybe one of the kids you've taught will be a great artist some day. Kudos!
Posted by: Kathryn McDwell | 07/12/2011 at 11:33 AM