Chuck Close Self-Portraits

Kids in 5th grade created self-portraits using Chuck Close's grid photorealism technique.

Chuck Close is known for creating huge portraits of people. At the beginning of his career, he created very realistic portraits (photo-realism). Later in life, after an illness, he found himself confined to a wheelchair. He still continues to create fabulous artwork square by square. Now his artwork is more abstract and colorful in nature.

We started this project with a photograph that we outlined with colored pencil. Next we worked square by square to enlarge the photograph onto large paper using a grid.

Learning Goals: I can...
- Simplify a photograph by outlining facial features
- Use a grid to enlarge a photo
- Tell about Chuck Close
- Express myself through color choice

An Eagle with Many Colors

Every year the Forest Grove 5th grade class creates a piece of collaborative art to leave behind at our school. This year the 5^th grade class of 2013 created a piece in the style of artist Chuck Close.  Chuck Close is an artist that uses a grid technique to enlarge and paint portraits.  Using the same technique, 5^th graders enlarged the Hudsonville eagle logo and added colorful circles around the eagle.  

Chuck Close is an inspirational artist who has overcome exceptional difficulties in his life.  He was born with a neurological disorder called face blindness.  This disorder makes it so that he does not recognize faces, not even the faces of family members.  He also struggled with dyslexia in school.  Later in life, after becoming an artist, he lost the use of his legs and much of the movement in his arms.  In spite of it all, Chuck Close has become a hugely successful artist whose style has been borrowed and adapted by many artists.  Here is a video link about Chuck Close if you want to learn more!