Simple Self-Portraits
Self-portraits are such a wonderful way to record your child’s growth throughout the years. In the classroom, we try to do one self-portrait at the beginning of the year, and one at the end. Parents and caregivers love to see how their child has developed their skills and their sense of self.
These portraits don’t need to be complicated. You just need to set out a mirror, some paper, and some drawing tools. On this day, we chose to use nicer watercolor paper and set out palette watercolors for the children to color in their drawings.
Supplies Needed
~ Mirror
~ Black Sharpie (permanent marker won’t run with the watercolors)
~ Watercolor paper in a larger format, like 9” x 12” or 11” x 14”
~ Dry watercolors (we used Crayola here)
~ Paintbrush
~ Glass of water
~ Paper towel for blotting brush in between colors
Set-up and Process
1. Set your materials out on a covered table, or a table you’re ok getting a little paint on. Watercolors are not very messy and easy to clean.
2. If you have a group of children, you can begin the lesson by sitting in a circle on the floor (if you have space) and telling them about the art experience. You can talk about facial features in detail (like eyebrows, eyelashes, and don’t forget your ears!). The children can even share something about themselves that they might want to include (a lost tooth, a new hair accessory, or a special color that they are wearing.)
3. Invite the children over to the table. They can start by drawing a circle with their Sharpie for the face shape, and then fill in their features.
4. Once they have finished their drawing, they can take out their paints and add color.
Children are remarkably observant and their self-portraits always blow us away. These portraits are so very special and most likely will deserve a frame and a prominent spot to hang in the house!
Don’t forget to tag us in Instagram @the.creativityproject if you try this one!
Do you need help reimagining your classroom as a hub of creativity where children share ideas and feel seen, known, and celebrated? Learn more about our Materials Matters course and Professional Learning Workshops and transform your creative practice today.