Layers and symbols: surface, texture and identity

Art and design

Painting a portrait with colour and feeling

Patterns in medieval art

Raised portraits: representation through dots and relief

Made in collaboration with October Gallery, in this unit pupils express personal identity through portraiture, material, memory and imagination. Pupils create textured paintings, symbolic surfaces, close-up feature portraits, and expressive self-maps that combine journey and face.

Charting self: exploring portrait and identity

What can thick texture in an artwork help to show?

using thick paint to make a bumpy surface

They can still express ideas, feelings, or stories, even without clear details.

They are just random shapes with no purpose.

What does it mean if shapes in an artwork look abstract?

Which technique is best for creating a soft background that doesn't distract from the portrait?

What is the coloured substance in paint that gives it its hue?

using fewer details or colours to keep the focus clear

Match the keyword to its correct meaning.

Apply layers of colour to build tone and feeling.

Add layers of colour to build tone and feeling.

Put these steps in the correct order when painting a layered portrait.

What word describes the lightness or darkness of a colour?

Which word means holding back or using less for effect in portrait?

Starter Quiz

Which technique is best for creating a soft background that doesn't distract from the portrait?