small objects gathered from around your home (toys, cars, plastic forks/spoons, school supplies, game pieces, recycled objects, etc.)
two pieces of paper in different colors
pencil
scissors
camera (optional)
Academic Vocabulary and Pre-Art Activities:
VOCABULARY portrait: A portrait is a work of art that shows a face.
expressive:When something is expressive, like the image of a face, it communicates a feeling or expression (silly, happy, sad, surprised, funny, hungry, mean, sleepy, shocked, etc.)
found objects:Many artists use things they find, that they already have, things that are given to them, and/or recycled objects to create works of art. When working with found objects, you use your imagination to think about what they could be used for.
THINK and DO Activity: You will need to take a walk around your home for this activity in order to gather some found objects.
Think about the size, form, and color of the objects.
How might the size, form and color of the objects you choose contribute to creating meaning as eyes, a nose, hair, etc.? How can these objects be used to create expressions?
Make Art:
Note: You will not be gluing anything together for this project.
Step #1:Create a face.
First, draw a simple oval and ears for the shape of the face.
Next, cut out the shape of the face.
Place the face cut out on another sheet of paper in a different color from the face. Trace around the face.
Step #2:Create the hair.
#1 - Draw a line from the top of where one ear meets the head to the other. This line should describe what the hairline looks like below the top outline of the head.
#2 - Complete the shape of the hair by starting and finishing the shape at the same two points where the ears meet the head.
#3 - Trace around the shape of the hair dark enough so you can clearly see the shape of the hair above and below the top of the head shape.
#4 - Cut out the hair. You should only have one complete hair shape when you are done.
Step #3:Assemble the face and hair.
Lay out the head/face and hair pencil side up.
Now flip both the hair and head/face over so you don't see the pencil.
Place the hair on the head/face.
Step #4:Use your found objects to create eyes, nose, and mouth.
What expressions can you create with different objects?
Use a camera to take pictures of the expressive portraits as you work!
Step #5:You might use your hair, face and objects to create an entirely new face with different expressions.
Remove the hair from the face.
Give the hair a trim!
Use the objects to create a face in a new way!
Step #6:Reuse the face to create a new style of hair in a different color!
Trace the head on a new color of paper. Create a new hair style. Cut it out. You can also revisit the directions in Step #3.
Place the new hair style on the face.
Use your found objects to create an expressive portrait.
Follow-up Questions:
What was your favorite expressive portrait you created and why? How would you use this process to create an expressive self-portrait, a portrait of your own face?