Curated OER
What Portraits Reveal
Students examine how portraits can tell us more about people of the past than just what they looked like. They compare three portraits of U.S. Presidents, analyze portraits of Americans from the Revolutionary War, and write a report on...
Curated OER
Make a Van Gogh-Style Self-Portrait
Learn by doing! Young artists try their hand at creating their own self-portraits in the style of Vincent van Gogh. This learning exercise contains a brief explanation of the essential qualities of van Gogh's art: complementary colors...
Curated OER
I've Just Seen a Face: Portraits
Students examine portraits for different images they project, cite three purposes a portrait can serve, analyze portraits of historical figures, and relate biographical research to portraits.
Curated OER
"The Beaches of Agnes": Planning a Video Self Portrait
Agnes Varda’s autobiographical “The Beaches of Agnes,” models for young filmmakers the cinematic self-portrait. Far from “old and plump,” Varda is a giant of filmmaking and will inspire your pupils. After watching a clip of this famous...
New Class Museum
Lesson: Elizabeth Peyton: Portraits: Androgyny in Contemporary Culture
Portraiture, artistic expression, romanticism, and androgyny are discussed in a thought-provoking lesson. Upper graders first discuss and examine the history of portraiture and the elements common to the Romantic style. Then they turn...
National Gallery of Art
Van Gogh’s Self-Portraits
Scholars get to know famous Dutch painter, Vincent van Gogh, as an artist as well as a person. After reading personal letters and analyzing paintings, participants paint two self-portraits that represent their personality. Then, write a...
Curated OER
Self Portraits
Students examine Charles-Antoine Coypel’s Self-Portrait and discover what he shows in that piece of artwork. In this self portrait lesson plan, students will study a self portrait and discuss what they notice about it and what they...
J. Paul Getty Trust
Portraits That Capture Character
One of the great things about technology is that it lets youngsters visit museums that may be many miles away. With this resource, middle and high schoolers can visit the portrait galleries at J. Paul Getty Museum, located in Los...
Curated OER
Expressive Self Portrait Montage
Students create self portraits similar to the Andy Warhol Marilyn Monroe portraits using digital images.
Curated OER
Metaphoric Self Portrait
Learners create 3D self-portraits using various sculpture materials that convey different meanings and emotions.
Curated OER
Self Portrait Jars: Labeling Ourselves
Seventh graders create an alternative self-portrait. In this art lesson students study the artwork of Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. Students use her work as inspiration for a self-portrait in a jar form.
Curated OER
Lesson Plans for Portrait of the Young Countess Schouvalof
Students analyze the art for the Young Countess of Schouvalof and also practice recognizing the work of Le Brun, Leonardo da Vinci, and Andy Warhol. In this portrait art lesson, students analyze copies of the artists work and mark on the...
Curated OER
Looking at Portraits: Literary Monuments
Examine artwork, research literature, and create art pieces for a monument to a literary figure. Young scholars analyze the sculpture Model for a Monument to Alexandre Dumas père and compare it to other well-known monuments. They...
National Gallery of Canada
Who Are You?
What can a self-portrait reveal about an artist? Discuss various self-portraits before tasking your pupils with creating their own. Learners research artists, develop an idea of their own individuality, and create photo collages with...
Curated OER
Looking at Portraits: Looking at One's Self
Students observe the painting Self Portrait by Charles-Antoine and discuss what the artist is trying to say in his self portrait. In this self portrait lesson plan, students discuss the portrait, and create their own self portrait.
Curated OER
Portrait of Nadine Dumas
Students explore a portrait and then create their own portrait as a gift. In this bust art lesson, students use model techniques to create a three dimensional bust portrait. Students analyze the elements of the design and write about...
Curated OER
Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits: Grades 3-5
Students explore the contributions of African Americans of the 20th century. In this African American history lesson, students examine portraits of Muhammad Ali, Romare Bearden, Lorraine Hansberry, Judith Jamison, and Leontyne Price in...
Curated OER
Self-Portrait of the Artist
Students analyze the self-portraits by Pablo Picasso. In this art analysis lesson, students explore Picasso's direct self-portraits and symbolic self-portraits. Students complete image based discussion. Students create an alter ego and...
Curated OER
Self-portrait Projects
Teacher discusses drawing of facial features with students. They then research facial features of famous artists and children's illustrators on the Internet. Students then will create a self-portrait using paper and pencil.
Curated OER
Lesson: Elizabeth Peyton: Pictures of Rock Stars: The Imagined
Youth, fame, and beauty are marks of modern society. Artist Elizabeth Peyton has captured all three in her series of imagined rock star portraits. The class analyzes her use of technique, emotion, and imagination in each of six pieces,...
Curated OER
Family Portraits
Students discuss, analyze, and interpret "Portrait of a Dutch Family" by Fans Hals and then create subject specific projects for assessment. This cross-curricular lesson is well-suited for Language Arts or Visual Arts classrooms and...
Curated OER
Portraits as Keys to History: Nathaniel Hurd, portraiture, identity
Students view portraits of Nathanial Hurd. They complete a worksheet and identify differences between the portraits. This lesson finishes with a visit to the "About Face" exhibit in the Memorial Art Gallery.
Curated OER
The Stranger Redeemed: A Portrait of a Black Poet
Read and analyze poems by African-American authors. Using the text, they identify the various patterns, subjects, language and dialects used. Then team up to compare and contrast the various authors and define new vocabulary. The lesson...
Curated OER
Picturing Hemingway: A Writer in His Time
Students analyze portraits of Ernest Hemingway to see how his private and public personalities are revealed through them. In this "Picturing Hemingway" lesson, students complete a variety of activities to investigate public and private...