Multi-Media Piece in Two Styles Grade 8 : Self Portrait Multi-Media Piece in Two Styles

Portraits It has been said that portrait painting is humanity’s eternal effort to capture the essence of itself. The same has been said about art in general. In this way, portrait painting is the art of art, and the portrait painter is the artist of artists.

A brief History of Portraits Ancient portraiture was usually focused on religious figures, the rulers, and depictions of the wealthy. It was also important to tell stories and pass down traditions.

The Dark Ages and Medieval Times Portraits and Paintings mainly for religious purposes and the very wealthy. Materials expensive and hard to get. The purpose was to tell a story, and relay information to the public.

The Renaissance 1450`s – 1600`s With the ``rebirth`` of science and an age of thinking, as well as developments in painting materials (egg temperas and pigments), portraits become more common and life like. Mona Lisa – Da Vinci

1700-1870 –Coronation of Napoleon – Jacque Louis David 1807 With the common use of oil paints, artists are more free to paint about events happening and portraits of regular people becomes more popular. Portraits still play an important role in portraying the character of the subject.

Abstractions and Expressionism At the end of the 1800`s and early 1900`s, art began to change. Artists like Van Gogh and Gauguin and Picasso, began to experiment with abstractions. Van Gogh in particular began to paint expressively – About his feelings more so than to capture the look of the person.

Photograph of Vincent Van Gogh at 19 and a later portrait painting.

Pablo Picasso Trained as a classical painter, Picasso soon felt that there was much more to be done. He began to experiment with abstraction and painting things as he saw them not just with his eyes but what he knew them to be. Cubism was a paint style developed in about 1910..he painted an object from all views at once. By 1912 he was using collage as well.

An example of Picasso`s early painting.

Cubist Portrait Later Picasso`s paintings become more abstract as he continues to experiment with cubism.

Picasso Abstract Portrait with Collage

Crying Woman – Picasso 1937

Last Self-Portrait by Picasso 1972

Pop Art and Andy Warhol 1960-1970`s In the 1960s, Andy Warhol began to make paintings of famous American products such as Campbell's soup cans and Coca-Cola. He switched to silkscreen prints, seeking not only to make art of mass produced items, but to mass produce the art itself.

What is Pop Art The term first appeared in Britain during the 1950s and referred to the interest of a number of artists in the images of mass media, advertising, comics and consumer products. The word pop refers to Popular or popular culture. The appeal of the art lies in it`s easy to understand images and bright colours.

ANDY WARHOL (1928-1988)

Marilyn and Michael

In the 1960s, Warhol began to make paintings of famous American products such as Campbell's soup cans and Coca-Cola. He switched to silkscreen prints, seeking not only to make art of mass produced items, but to mass produce the art itself.

Campbell`s Soup

What we are going to do Using the portrait that you will get from the printer (we will use photo booth to create a high contrast portrait), draw it twice on a half sheet of cartridge paper. Use the grid system to transfer the image. Draw only the major shapes you see. You may eliminate any strange lights and darks you would not like to be in your final pieces. The first portrait will be an Andy Warhol style portrait. He once said ``I am highly superficial``. The first portrait will be in this style as it will be a simplified painting of you and what you look like from the outside.

Using VALUE in your painting Use the acrylic paint to create lights and darks and paint your first drawing portrait. Choose either lights and darks of one colour or up to three colours. Paint each section of the drawing differently. Paint the background in a complementary colour to one of the main colours you used. Refer to the colour wheel.

Student Examples

The Second Portrait The second portrait will be about you on the inside. You may be as abstract as you want but use your drawing as a guide . You may use collage, paint, pastels, charcoal, conte, fabric, other pieces of paper, pencils, markers, pencil crayons and any collage materials you can find. Words may also be used. Consider what would describe you best. You have complete artistic freedom with this side. You may consider limiting you colour choices or not. Make sure you know WHY you are doing what you are doing. It IS NOT about making it as funny as possible...

Important Things to Consider Make sure to use the WHOLE PAGE Make sure the work is balanced. This means if you have used very strong contrasts or colours on one side, make sure there is something on the other side to balance it. Make sure you know WHY YOU ARE DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING. The answer `because it is funny``, is not an answer. THINK about what best shows your personality.

Some examples as inspiration

Susan Morrison Sims

Warhol Style Collage

Leenum Smith

Monochromatic Expressive

Full Collage Self -Portrait

Another Two Collages

Final Student Example

Grade 8 : Self Portrait Rubric You have made effect use of values (lights and darks) of either one or several colours in the first portrait. Use of several materials in the second piece to express the artist`s personality The second portrait is balanced and the full page has been used. The artist statement – the artist is able to EXPLAIN the use of materials, images, symbols, and or colour use in the second portrait. Presentation and use of studio time.

Grade 8 Self Portrait Artist Statement Explain your colour choices for the first portrait. How did you make the second portrait balanced Explain your use of materials and your artist choices in the second portrait.