Andy Warhol Self-Portraits

Kids in 4th grade created these awesome Pop Art self-portraits! We learned about Andy Warhol for this project. Warhol enjoyed repetition and color! He often drew the same every day (POPular) objects, people and animals over and over again and colored them differently each time. 

You might recognize this famous Warhol artwork!

Here are some great books that we looked at!

First, students outlined their facial features on an 8.5 x 11 photograph. Then they colored the back of the photo with pencil.  The pencil on the back of the paper worked like carbon paper and helped the kids transfer their outlines onto large paper. We taped the photo to each corner of the large paper and traced the photo outlines in each corner. The kids were very impressed with this reprinting trick!

We also talked about complementary colors (opposites) and how they make each other POP when placed side by side!

Learning Goals: I can...

- Tell about Andy Warhol and Pop Art

- Simplify a photograph by outlining facial features

- Create a graphite transfer

- Create a self-portrait in the style of Andy Warhol

- Use complementary colors to make the artwork pop

- Explain what complementary colors are and how they can be used

Wanted Posters

Second grade kids created wanted posters inspired by the wanted posters of the Old West.  We learned a little about the history surrounding the pioneers of the Old West.  We talked about some major events during that time such as: the gold rush, railroad building and outlaws.  I explained that because there weren't enough police to help out during the westward movement everyday people were asked to try and help capture outlaws who were stealing cattle, robbing banks and holding up trains.

In order to make this project more personal we created self-portraits as outlaws from the old west.  I couldn't stand the thought of my students as criminals so our wanted posters are filled with reasons that the kids are wanted by friends and family... GOOD reasons! Some kids were wanted for doing super helpful things like feeding the cat or taking their shoes off by the door 1,000 times.  Others were wanted because of how they act: caring, kind, funny, etc.  The kids had a blast with this one!

Learning Goals: I can...

- Tell about the Old West

- Create a self-portrait

- Give 3 positive reasons that I am wanted by my friends and family

- Use good craftsmanship when coloring, cutting and gluing

Lego Self-Portraits

Third graders had fun creating lego self-portraits! This was a project I kept seeing all over Pinterest and couldn't help but want to do it with the kids.  Each year I try to come up with a self-portrait project and this one in particular, leaves plenty of room for each student to express his or her personality. It also helps kids show off their creativity!

Here is a window into the job of a lego designer!  Now this is a job where art meets creativity, persistence and engineering! Take a look!

I think it's also important for kids who don't like all the art mess to see that a lot of creative jobs are on the computer these days!

Learning Goals: I can...
- Create my own unique lego self-portrait
- Explain what it's like to be a lego designer (environment, process etc.)
- Explain what a self-portrait is
- Add a background that fits my personality and interests
- Color and paint carefully

Heather Galler Self-Portraits

Fourth graders made these neat Heather Galler self-portraits.

We learned about Etsy, a website were artists can sell their artwork and keep a better percentage of the profits than selling some of the same art in an art gallery.  Buying art on Etsy is a great way to support artists directly. Here is Heather Galler's popular Etsy page!  We talked about the characteristics and subject matter that Galler uses.

Here is some of her art:



  

In order to create our own Galler style self-portraits, we first traced the outlines of our facial features onto a photograph with colored pencil.  We talked about more realistic ways to draw facial features.

Next, we sharpied the outlines onto a plastic transparency.  Finally, students were encouraged to color their artwork in the style of Galler including many colors and shapes.  Students used a color scheme of warm colors and cool colors. In order to create contrast, students planned were to put groups of warm or cool colors. Enjoy!

Goals: I can...
- Explain what Etsy is
- Tell about Heather Galler's artwork
- Create a self-portrait in the style of Heather Galler
- Explain what a self-portrait is

Superheroes

The second grade kids created superhero self-portraits!  I have been itching to do this project since last year.  In fact, I have had my example project ready to go for a year now!  Students were encouraged to invent their own characters but some students were so excited about superheroes like Batman and Captain America that they chose to become them!

We began by talking about how cartoonists create stylized versions of people.  Cartoons are often simplified (three fingers instead of five) and facial features are often exaggerated (eyes that are too big for the face and heads that are too big for the body).  The kids were asked to draw self-portraits but use cartoon versions of facial features instead of using a realistic style.

The next time we came to art class we looked at example pictures of well known superheroes and came up with a list of costume common characteristics: cape, mask, boots, gloves, belt, logo/symbol.  I asked the kids to use at least some of the common costume characteristics in their own work.

When we painted our backgrounds, the children were asked to choose a color scheme that would contrast with their capes and costumes.  I showed students how a blue costume is harder to see on a blue background than a red background.  

Background Color Schemes:

- Sunset: red, orange, yellow, pink

- Daylight: light blue, dark blue, purple.

We added salt to create a textured effect in the sky.

Great job second grade! You amaze me!

Learning Goals: I can...
- Explain what a self-portrait is
- Describe common characteristics of superhero costumes
- Work as a cartoonist (careers) to create my own unique superhero
- Use salt to create texture in my watercolor painting
- Used good craftsmanship when coloring, painting and cutting.