My Sixth grade classes are working on self portraits that will eventually turn out something like this one that was done by one of my students last year. We are currently in the drawing phase.
It is interesting to watch their struggles and triumphs with this assignment. It is the most intense drawing lesson they have ever, and will ever, receive from me. I am relentless with this one.
We start with a photo shoot. Each student poses for a head shot. They get to choose whether to do a serious or silly face. That night I print each student's photo 9 cm. X 12 cm. in black and white on plain paper.
The students draw a centimeter grid on the photo, then draw a 9"X12" grid on white drawing paper. You would be surprised at how difficult this is for many student to do!
Turning the photo upside down, the student then renders the image one grid square at a time. The goal is to focus on shapes and lines in each box rather than focusing on drawing eyes, nose, mouth. The students who 'get it' become extremely excited with their first truly successful self portrait. The students who don't 'get it' spend their time telling me they are having trouble with the teeth or some other body part; or simply give up completely and end up with a squashed head! The point I tell them is that if they focus on shapes and lines instead of thinking about teeth, the image will resolve itself and will look better! The struggling students don't seem to get it.
I hope to post some pictures of this year's batch of successful portraits.
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