Lesson Plan : Proportional Portraits
Teacher Name: | Miss Sward |
Grade: | Grade 7-8 |
Subject: | Arts and Crafts |
Topic: | Proportional Portraits: Creating Realistic Faces |
Content: | Vocabulary portrait/self-portrait proportion model realistic/abstract |
Goals: | Many artists make realistic portraits to show a likeness of their subject. To create realistic faces, artists study live models, use mathematics to understand correct proportion, and practice by making sketches. Students will explore these ideas by studying their classmates' faces, developing a proportion reference sketch, and creating a final portrait of a classmate or a self-portrait. |
Objectives: | Students will: a) explore and analyze how the human face is proportioned b) explore ways artists use mathematics to make art c) understand that artists draw from life using models d) demonstrate their understanding of basic face proportion by creating a reference sketch e) create a portrait using correct proportion |
Materials: | � scratch paper � ruler � pencil � erasers � unbreakable mirror (if drawing self-portraits) � 9" x12" (23 x30 cm) drawing paper markers, watercolor paints and erasable colored pencils |
Introduction: | 1. Gather and display examples of realistic and abstract portraits. 2. Gather teacher and student studio materials. Arrange classroom furniture to create a discussion area to ensure maximum participation and ability to see visuals and models. Introduction: Group discussion Introduce or review portraiture as an art form. Brainstorm with your class the reasons artists create portraits. Show them examples of abstract and realistic portraits. Discuss why some artists developed a realistic style for portraits while others favored abstraction. Focus on a realistic example and have the students explain what makes it look real. Introduce the idea of proportion. Proportion is one of the principles of art and design. Proportion is the relation of one object to another in size, amount, number or degree. In other words, artists wanting to create a realistic portrait must figure out how big to make each facial feature in relation to the others. They must also place each face shape in the proper place. How do artists do this? |
Development: | Artists carefully observe the real world. Many artists study live models. Choose a model from the class to come forward and sit. For this lesson, be sure students have a level front view of the model's face. Large group demonstration You will draw a front view face on the whiteboard/chalkboard/easel as a demonstration of how to use observation. Use a ruler to determine correct proportion. Encourage class input at every step�ask rather than tell! If you can erase, make purposeful mistakes to encourage them to look critically at the results. Build the face step-by-step and make notes about measurements (your end result should resemble the "Teacher Guide to Proportion"). Draw large. |
Practice: | Have students go to their work places. Distribute sketch paper, pencils, erasers and rulers. Walk them through the construction of a similar drawing. Have them take notes on their sketches about the general proportion guidelines. Their end results should resemble your "Teacher Guide to Proportion." Drawing from Life Partner students to draw sketches of a peer (or pass out mirrors for self-portraits). Encourage them to continue using the proportion guidelines and their reference sketches as they draw. Have them observe and draw individual variations of proportion of their model's features. |
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Checking For Understanding: | Have students do an individual, partnered or group critique. Display the artworks. Pin or tape them to a board so you can get a good look. Be sure everyone has a good view. � What really caught my eye was ________. � That artwork shows ______ really well. � I think _______ would improve that artwork. � I'd like to see more of __________. � That artist is really skilled at _________. I am a little confused by ________. |
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