Materials:
- 3+ pieces of white drawing paper
- head/shoulders portrait template to trace
- markers
- color pencils
- patterned paper
- scissors
- glue
What is a portrait?
A portrait is an artwork that captures an individual or person. Based on the artist’s decisions, portraits may share different kinds of information like the subject’s appearance, personality, mood, or history. Traditional portraits often feature an individual’s head, face, and shoulders.
Steps:
- Choose an artwork and try out the “A New Friend” Looking Card with a partner.
- What colors or shapes does this artwork make you think about? Take a look at the Kuba cloth artwork card for extra inspiration!
- Use these ideas to create your own pattern of repeating shapes and colors. Optional: use a straight edge to create a grid to guide you.
- Color in your pattern with markers and color pencils.
- Flip your paper over. Trace the portrait template to create an outline of a head and shoulders.
- Cut out the portrait outline in one continuous line.
- Glue both pieces onto 2 new pieces of paper. You will have a pair of portraits that are opposite of one another: a patterned person shape on white paper and a blank white person shape against a patterned background!
- Add collage and drawn details to create two companion portraits!