Lesson 3: Cutout Color Portraits

Grades 6–8

In this lesson, students will learn about facial abstractions, and will create 3D cut-out portraits using geometric shapes and vibrant colors.

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OBJECTIVE
Students will learn about how artist use abstractions in portraiture, and will create their own abstracted portraits using geometric shapes and bold color.

MATERIALS
Canvas (for the base of the portraits), various sizes of cardboard (for the cutout shapes), acrylic or tempura paint, paintbrushes, scissors, pencils, markers, construction paper, glue.

SET UP AND PREPARE
Students are more likely to attempt a range of expressions, coloring, and backgrounds if they consider all the possibilities before they begin to work. You will begin by demonstrating a range of portraits, then you will guide students to consider the elements of expressive portraits to help support them in the creation of their own self-portraits.

1. At the beginning of class ask students "what is a portrait?" Explain that a portrait is an artistic representation of a person, an animal, or a group. Discuss different portraits students may have seen. Display a few portraits so that students can discuss various elements of portraits.
2. Ask students if they have ever seen abstract representations of human faces. Ask them where they have seen those abstractions. Explain that when artists represent faces abstractly, they don't always look human. The facial features take on different shapes and sizes. Even the shape of the face itself can change depending on the artist's intention.
3. Show students images of African masks. Use the masks to demonstrate how abstracted faces can use geometric shapes to represent facial features. Point out the elongated, widened, and distorted faces. Have students discuss the shapes they observe being used to represent eyes, noses, and mouths. Ask students to identify the different shapes they see being used to represent the faces.

DIRECTIONS

1. Tell students they will create their own abstract portraits using cardboard cutouts. Pass out the canvas, pencils, and scissors. Instruct students to choose a distorted shape for the shape of their face. Have them draw the shape in pencil and cut it out.
2. Once students have their base shapes, explain that they will be cutting out the shapes for each of the facial features they are creating. All faces need to have eyes, nose and a mouth. Other features, such as eyebrows, are optional. Pass out the varied sizes of cardboard and have students begin to draw their abstracted facial features.
3. When students have cut out the facial features, have the students glue them to the cardboard cutout of the face. Have them consider symmetry as they are affixing the facial features to the cardboard cut-out.
4. When all students have completed assembly of their portraits, explain that they are going to draw on a traditional style of textile making to guide the coloring of the portraits. Show students that geometric shapes are not only used on African masks, they are also used in traditional Mola textiles with vibrant colors: http://www.molaartandcraft.com/links.php?27219#.T_JB5Hb7lc8
5. If possible, display some examples of Mola textile in the classroom. Encourage students to think about how they can use bright colors and geometric patterns to enhance their portraits. Allow students to select markers or paint to use to color their cardboard cut out portraits. Circulate around the room to make sure students are integrating the Mola techniques in their coloring of their portraits and to dispense advice as needed.
6. Allow students to present their masks to the rest of the class. Have them explain the choices they made and allow the other students to give the student presenting feedback on what they thought worked really well on the portrait.