ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
What is the purpose of a self-portrait?
How can you simplify a complex image?
What is the purpose of a self-portrait?
How can you simplify a complex image?
Objective: Students will use the grid method to create a work of art.
Level 1:
Students will create a portrait or self-portrait using graphite. Students should get extra points for providing their own resource photo.
Level 2:
Students will create a self-portrait or portrait of someone they know (using their own reference photo). Students will create a complex, related background that ehances the art and explains more about the person. Alternatively, students can use the grid method to create a complex composition of their choice (i.e. not a portrait). Students should adhere to compositional tools, and elements and principles of art to create a dynamic composition. Students can choose their own medium to work with (charcoal, graphite, watercolor, paint, colored pencil, printmaking, etc.)
Level 1:
Students will create a portrait or self-portrait using graphite. Students should get extra points for providing their own resource photo.
Level 2:
Students will create a self-portrait or portrait of someone they know (using their own reference photo). Students will create a complex, related background that ehances the art and explains more about the person. Alternatively, students can use the grid method to create a complex composition of their choice (i.e. not a portrait). Students should adhere to compositional tools, and elements and principles of art to create a dynamic composition. Students can choose their own medium to work with (charcoal, graphite, watercolor, paint, colored pencil, printmaking, etc.)
STUDENT EXAMPLES:
ARTIST FEATURE: Kehinde Wiley
ARTIST FEATURE: Frida Khalo
ARTIST FEATURE: Kris Lewis
EXAMPLES
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Using the grid method, you will create a portrait or self-portrait. Your portrait should feature carefully a chosen pose, outfit, expression, background, and any additional objects or accessories. You drawing can be realistic or surrealist or anywhere in between. Your viewer should be able to learn something about you/your sitter by looking at your art.
STEPS:
Prep
Packet: You completed the questions in the packet.
Thumbnails: You completed three thumbnail sketches.
Value Scale: You have at least one successful value scale.
Gridding practice: You completed the Tigger Grid practice sheet.
Photo: You brought in and printed a well-light photo of yourself/the person you are drawing. (You can edit your photo on your phone or in Microsoft Word or Photoshop.) Print.
Gridding photo: You correctly gridded your photo (can use gridding app).
Gridding final: You correctly gridded (and slightly enlarged) your final.
Drawing
Method: You used the grid method to complete your portrait.
Materials: You used graphite pencil. You showed a range of values (highlights to dark darks).
Subject: Your portrait features you showcasing a carefully chosen pose, expression, clothing/accessories, background and any objects
Resources: You should have a resource for every additional object/accessory you add to your portrait. For example, if you’re adding flowers, find and draw from a quality flower resource.
Background: Your background is well thought out and has appropriate shading, highlights/darks/lights/color.
Craftsmanship
Neatness: Your artwork showcases your neatest work. You drew lightly first, and gradually went darker. You have no unintended marks, smudges, folds in your paper, etc.
Textures: Your textures are realistic and carefully created.
Possible Extra Points:
20 extra points for well executed unusual or interesting portrait poses.
10 extra points for any well drawn objects (non-wearable) included in your portrait.
10 extra points for extra fancy backgrounds.
Using the grid method, you will create a portrait or self-portrait. Your portrait should feature carefully a chosen pose, outfit, expression, background, and any additional objects or accessories. You drawing can be realistic or surrealist or anywhere in between. Your viewer should be able to learn something about you/your sitter by looking at your art.
STEPS:
Prep
Packet: You completed the questions in the packet.
Thumbnails: You completed three thumbnail sketches.
Value Scale: You have at least one successful value scale.
Gridding practice: You completed the Tigger Grid practice sheet.
Photo: You brought in and printed a well-light photo of yourself/the person you are drawing. (You can edit your photo on your phone or in Microsoft Word or Photoshop.) Print.
Gridding photo: You correctly gridded your photo (can use gridding app).
Gridding final: You correctly gridded (and slightly enlarged) your final.
Drawing
Method: You used the grid method to complete your portrait.
Materials: You used graphite pencil. You showed a range of values (highlights to dark darks).
Subject: Your portrait features you showcasing a carefully chosen pose, expression, clothing/accessories, background and any objects
Resources: You should have a resource for every additional object/accessory you add to your portrait. For example, if you’re adding flowers, find and draw from a quality flower resource.
Background: Your background is well thought out and has appropriate shading, highlights/darks/lights/color.
Craftsmanship
Neatness: Your artwork showcases your neatest work. You drew lightly first, and gradually went darker. You have no unintended marks, smudges, folds in your paper, etc.
Textures: Your textures are realistic and carefully created.
Possible Extra Points:
20 extra points for well executed unusual or interesting portrait poses.
10 extra points for any well drawn objects (non-wearable) included in your portrait.
10 extra points for extra fancy backgrounds.
HOW TO SIMPLIFY YOUR IMAGE USING MICROSOFT WORD
Below are examples of simplifying and gridding an image:
- Import/paste your photo to Word. Click on the picture then click the pink “Picture Tools” tab.
- Under “Color,” make it black and white.
- Under “Artistic Effects,” click “Cutout,” (usually the lowest left-hand option).
- Go back to “Artistic Effects” and click “Artistic Effects Options” (very bottom).
- Play with “Transparency” and “Number of Shades” until you come to a picture that looks manageable to you. It should not look like too much like a stencil, nor should it look exactly like the original photograph. It should be somewhere in between.
- Save to your H-drive and also print out, please.
Below are examples of simplifying and gridding an image:
How to Get Measure for Your Final Paper:
ADVICE FROM STUDENTS
- "I learned patience and detail work. I also learned how to shade."
- "The grid allows you to break things down in order to add complex detail."
- "I found that measuring correctly helped me to place lines in the correct spots."
- "Working from a grid makes your drawing looks real."
