www.artmuseums.com
Portrait Drawing
In this project children will learn facial proportions, drawing and observation skills. Students will gain confidence in their ability to render a simple yet professional final drawing.
Art Materials Needed:
Drawing Paper
#2 Pencil
Q-tip
Soft Eraser
Glue
Black Construction Paper
Optional: Matted
Frame
Suggested Art History Prints: Mona Lisa-Leonardo da Vinci
Internet Sources:
Leonardo da Vinci "Webmuseum"
From Sketches to Paintings
http://metalab.unc.edu/wm/paint/auth/vinci/sketch/
Why is the Mona Lisa Smiling?
Encarta Schoolhouse Line
http://encarta.msn.com/alexandria/templates/lessonFull.asp?page=1225
Mona Lisa Paintinghttp://metalab.unc.edu/wm/paint/auth/vinci/joconde/joconde.jpg
Suggested Reading Materials: Drawing On The Right Side Of The Brain by Edwards, Betty
ISBN:0006381146 Paperback
Grafton Books Harpercollins
Portait Drawing Exercise
Ask students to draw the person seated next to them. Assure the students that it doesn't matter what their drawing abilities are, the object of the exercise is to have fun, learn to observe, and improve drawing skills. After they have completed the exercise, ask them to include the name of the model, their name, and the date of the exercise. Lay the drawings aside-these are the "Before" drawings.
Students should not spend too much time on this initial drawing nor use overuse the eraser. Assure them they will have the opportunity to improve their drawing.
Next ask the students to
observe their model once again. Ask them to draw an oval, and then
to draw a vertical line through the center of the oval. Instruct them to
observe their model. Notice that there is equal weight distribution
on both sides of the face. When they draw the features of the model,
they will want to be sure that the drawing is balanced. Next, ask
them to notice the eye level of their model. Draw a line on their
drawing that corresponds to the placement of the eye level in their model.
Ask the students where the eye level is located. Many will respond
"in the middle of the oval". Ask them to really observe their model
and they will see that the placement is not quite l/2 but more than l/3.
Draw accordingly. Now ask them to observe their model again, and
to indicate on their drawing where the nose of the model would be placed,
and draw a line to indicate it. It is about l/2 way between the eye
level and chine level of the model. The mouth is l/2 way between
the nose and chin. Indicate this line. Divide the eye level
line into 5 equal parts. Tell your students that you can place 1
eye in-between the two and l on each side (spatially that is). Next
draw the pupils of the eyes, and the lines to form the eye sockets, and
lids. Ask your students to observe their modeled at the pupil.
If they made an imaginary line going from the pupil down the face, where
would the line "line-up" or end? At the corners of the mouth.
Yes. Now drop a line from the inside corner of the eye. Where
does it end? At the edge of the nose-Yes! Ask students to practice
drawing the eyes, ears, and mouths on the hand-outs. Then ask them
to make a new drawing using the new information. Use Q-tips to blend
and tone drawings. Encourage students to use short brisk lines for
the facial hairs such as the eyebrows and lashes. One of the common
mistakes of beginning portrait artists is that they make too many eyelashes.
If your model's eyes look more like spiders than human eyes it is a good
indication that you are overdoing the eyelashes.
Compare the Before drawings
to the After. Glue the After drawing to a black piece of construction
paper, or mat and hang in the classroom or school library.
Chinese Landscape Painting
Art of Many Lands Series
Visit various cultures through art projects related to those countries.
Visit
Hawaii
Visit
France
Visit
the United States
Visit
Africa
Visit
Russia
Chinese Landscape Painting
Art History
Analysis of Francisco
de Goya's Painting The Third of May, 1808
Renoir Sample
Art History Lesson Worksheets
Art Lesson Plan Links
From Other Websites
Color Wheel Lesson from Saumag University
Earthday Lessons from this Wilderness Organization
Wyland Website Outstanding Environmental Website for Kid's Projects & Other Sea Life Sources
Bernie Poole's Art Links-Outstanding
Art & Technology
