Forth Grade Portrait Drawings: Part 1 and 2

Visual Arts Grade Four

Develop Visual Arts Vocabulary

1.4 Describe the concept of proportion (in face, figure) as used in works of art.

Skills, Processes, Materials, and Tools

2.2 Use the conventions of facial and figure proportions in a figure study.

Communication and Expression Through Original Works of Art

2.5 Use accurate proportions to create an expressive portrait or a figure drawing or painting.

This lesson had many goals I wanted the Fourth graders to accomplish:

1. Learn how to cooperatively work with partners to create a work of art

2. learn proper pencil drawing techniques

3. learn how to use proportion to create a portrait

4. Hone their ability to draw what they see, rather than what they think

5. learn to use shapes to draw a human figure rather than directly to details

Below you will see an example of the worksheet I handed out to the class

in order to help them understand how to evenly balance the facial features.

The bottom two portraits were initially empty so students could practice

drawing the portrait looking straight ahead and a portrait looking to the side.

Stay tuned... eventually we will be creating some very colorful backgrounds

to fill behind the portraits!

I handed out pieces of cardboard to the students so they could prop up their paper,

so they would not have to be limited to drawing flat on the table.

One at a time, students drew each other's portraits using proper proportion.

Some students really began to understand that you do not have to draw

a line using one deep, dark definitive line, rather you can use many different

sketch style lines to create a drawing.

When it was their turn to draw, the "artist" discussed with the "model" what

pose or position they were seeking. As you can see here, this is the "lounge" style.

Some students began to draw the body, head and eyes looking into a

specific direction.