Submitted by Michael Gerrish
UNIT: Portrait - Cultural Heritage
Grade Level: Middle School and up

Michael began this unit by taking digital photos of the students. Then the photos were posterized in photo editing software (Photoshop can be purchased at the Adobe Education Store). Student used a grid to enlarge the posterized image (see Grid Drawing lesson). This taught math skills, too. He gave the students the choice of using Scissors, X-acto Knives, or just tearing (or any combination of the techniques). The backgrounds were based upon the flag colors of each student's heritage, as we had a salute to our heritages event at our school. Students could follow up with some research about their native country and perhaps and artist from their country. Students with mixed ancestry could select one country to research.

         

Click images for larger views                     Germany                                                                                   Holland

Cut Paper Self Portrait by Marvin Bartel ©2004 More lessons from Marvin Bartel If you try Marvin's lesson, please send in a student sample

From Marvin's Getty TeacherArtExchange post (8/9/2004): Goals and Actions in this lesson helps students to: Practice self observation Compose shapes, lines, and colors Develop creative independent work habits Change habits of work with many required variations, without showing examples and without doing demonstrations Practice choice making and assessment Learn about an important art style (a way of seeing and expressing) Learn art history, art criticism, and aesthetics Learn to use drama to present art history

Book: Photoshop CS4 All-in-One For Dummies- Your one-stop Photoshop reference, filled with the latest tips and techniques

Helpful Portrait Links:

Drawing the Portrait by J. R. Dunster -This is a good site for anyone teaching portraiture right
from the beginning

Arty Factory - the third section is on drawing pencil portraits (good for
younger students- has tips on proportion).

Here is a handout (not exceptional - but you get the idea)

Sanford can help with how -to's - but again, you will want to do your own
drawings to go with the text

Some standard proportions - you'll want to do a drawing:
http://painting.about.com/od/figuresportraits/ss/figure_class_2.htm
http://www2.evansville.edu/drawinglab/face.html

Think Quest site: An Artistic Exploration into the Human Face and Figure

http://library.thinkquest.org/C005470F/technique/index.html

Brenda Hoddinott has two free tutorials in pdf format (intermediate):
http://www.finearteducation.com/ Also download a great pdf on face proportions. Another pdf on face proportions is located there too.