Elementary

The Essential Question
What can be considered a portrait?

Objective
Students will create numerous portraits using a variety of drawing methods to create one continuous drawing of different types of faces.

Materials
sketchbooks, color media, pencils, reference images

Procedures
1. Students look at portraits throughout history and reflect on the process of what a portrait is. Why do artists choose to create them? They also look at portraits and self-portraits created using a variety of drawing methods and compare realistic and abstract portraits.
2. Students practice using various drawing techniques in their sketchbooks and explore what they consider to be a face. These could be faces on inanimate objects, actual human faces, animal faces, etc. Students can use their imaginations or reference images for their illustrations.
3. Using their choice of media, students then proceed to the Fifty Face challenge and draw faces (or complete characters) in different styles and at various angles until they fill their page completely.

Assessment
Students write a reflective artist statement on their process, explaining their piece and their process of creating. They are also asked to reflect on their peersʼ drawings and provide them with feedback.

Leigh Drake is an art teacher at Old Donation School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.