The art lesson introduces students to self-portraits by having them create 3D portraits out of paper mache and paint to explore their identities. Students will consider what defines them by discussing likes and dislikes. They will refer to artist Marc Chagall's self-portrait "Me and My Village" for inspiration. Students will follow video instructions to construct paper mache heads over two days and paint their faces to depict themselves. Upon completing their portraits, students will present them and explain how their work represents their identities.
2. Objectives
Students will be able to explore their identities through
expressing themselves, while creating a self-portrait
out of paper mache and paint.
Students will be able to identify who they are as a
person through prioritizing their likes and dislikes
before starting their art project.
Students will be able to create three-dimensional self-
portraits while referring to artist, Marc Chagall’s “Me
and My Village”.
4. Self-Portrait
a person’s portrait or description of him or herself. In
this case a self-portrait is a three dimensional model
depicting characteristics of a persons interests.
5. Hook
Read Thumbelina and define identity.
Discuss artist Marc Chagall and his self portrait, “Me
and My Village.”
Writing workshop.
6. Instructional Input
A self-portrait is a representation of an artist, which
can be painted, photographed, drawn or sculpted by
that very same artist. It is believed that artists created
self-portraits of themselves since the earliest
times, but it was not until the fifteenth century that we
could recognize and document artists being the focal
point or a main character in their work. This is
because of the use or invention of mirrors in that time
period.
“Me and My Village was created in 1911
7. Guided Practice
Students will create their own three dimensional self-
portrait.
Students will use their writing workshops to help create
ideas as to what they would like in their self-portrait.
The students will watch part one of the video in order to
create their paper mache head, and will use the second
part of the video in order to create the painted face.
This will be a two day activity. The first part of the activity
will take an hour and a half, and the second activity will
take an hour.
8. Independent Practice
Once the students finish their projects, they will allow
them to dry overnight in the classroom.
After they are fully dried the students will present their
work to the class and explain why they did what they
did.
This exercise allows the students to see that everyone
has their own identity and everyone is unique.
9. Closure
Once the students are finished presenting their work I
will give them all positive feedback and ask them what
they learned through this activity.
I will once again explain identity and have the students
recall Marc Chagall and Thumbelina.
