Thursday, October 12, 2017

Picasso Portrait Inspired Art Lesson Using Folded Paper and Watercolor



There are so many ways to teach Picasso portraits, 
I'm working with 3rd grade so I wanted to keep it simple.
I'll show them some of Picasso's Portraits and then go into the project - demonstrating each step.



I'm going to ask them to create diagonal folds, not even folds that create squares on their page, but more random folds.
They should make about 5 folds and then using a ruler go over the fold lines with a sharpie.
Looking at the lines on their page and turning it around from different sides they should see the suggestion of a face and they can begin sketching.
I'm going to show them how to use the lines to begin the eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, chin etc...



When they have a face they like they should go over it with sharpie.
Now they can use watercolor to finish the portrait.  
I am going to emphasize complementary colors which is another way to force them to be more abstract, but also something Picasso did in his paintings.


Student Work











I passed out a copy of this worksheet to help them think of different ways to make the features.

Romero Britto Pond Life or Frog Watercolor Art Project

  My 2nd grade students are studying Pond Life and Romero Britto is so much fun I thought they would enjoy making a bright and colorful frog...