Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you today? I hope you're feeling really good.

My name's Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

Today's lesson is called, What is a Portrait? Yes, we are investigating, we are questioning, we are looking into what is a portrait, and it comes from the unit of work, Identity: Exploring Portraiture.

So, we are gonna get right into portraits in this lesson.

If you're ready, we'll begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explain how artists use a range of creative tools to represent themselves and other people.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

Portrait, represent, gestural.

Let's find out what they mean.

Portrait is a representation of a person usually focusing on their face, expression, and identity.

Represent means to show or stand for something, often in a visual or symbolic way.

And gestural is the application of media in free sweeping gestures.

So, here are our keywords, portrait, represent, and gestural.

Our lesson is called What is a Portrait? Our lesson consists of two learning cycles, different types of portraiture and a portrait tells a story.

Let's begin with different types of portraiture.

Portraying people has always been important to artists, and we can see some people being portrayed in these three works of art.

Why do you think these portraits were created? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Wonder what you came up with.

Perhaps the tapestry on the left was recording some historical events The cave paintings in the middle perhaps we're just showing that we are here.

People were here recording themselves and their lives.

And on the right, these statues at Easter Island were perhaps created to honour ancestors.

Maybe you said something like this.

Portraits can tell us a lot more about the person than simply what they looked like.

Can you describe any portraits you have seen? Pause the video while you do this.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I got two portraits I can see right in front of me.

One is a portrait of my parents taken on a wedding day, and another portrait is of a writer called James Baldwin.

The wedding photo is quite serious, but very beautiful as well, quite formal.

And the portrait of James Baldwin really shows his character, and his personality, and his strength.

Hope you enjoyed describing the portraits that you've seen.

There are two main purposes of portraits.

To represent the physical likeness of a person, usually focusing on a face and expression.

And to represent something about the person's character such as their identity, mood, or status.

And we can see on these images on the screen how there are lots of different moods being conveyed in these images.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Complete these sentences.

There are two main purposes of portraits.

To represent the physical likeness of a person usually focusing on their.

And complete the second sentence, to represent something about the person's character, such as their.

Pause the video while you complete these sentences.

Perhaps you completed the sentences in this way.

There are two main purposes of portraits to represent the physical likeness of a person, usually focusing on their face and expression.

And to represent something about a person's character such as their identity, mood, or status.

Portraits don't always have to show the person directly.

A portraits can also include symbolic representations like objects that reflect the person's personality or even something as unique as a sample of their DNA.

Pause video here.

If you would have an object in a portrait that somehow represents your personality, what would that be? Share with someone nearby.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Check for understanding, true or false.

A portrait must always include a person's face.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now, I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Explain why.

You may have said something like this.

A portrait does not always have to include a person's face.

It can also represent a person through objects, symbols, or even abstract forms that reflect their identity.

Early portraits, like cave paintings and ancient sculptures, were created to represent people, their stories or significant events.

And we can see a sketch here of a Moai sculpture.

Sculpture had been created around 400 to 1650 AD.

Why do you think ancient Moai sculptures from Easter Island were created? Pause the video and share with someone.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Here's Jacob.

"To honour and represent their ancestors." Historically, portraits have been made for the wealthy and powerful.

This has meant that there's been a lack of representation or problematic representation within portraiture.

How do we share our stories through portraits today? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here's Andy.

"Using social media and smartphones." Yes, whole stories about people's lives and what's going on for them told through selfies, and portraits, and pictures on social media.

How might artists address these historical problems in their modern work? So, the lack of representation, for example.

Pause the video while you decide.

Some artists use portraits as a powerful tool for creating social or political change.

Perhaps that's something you shared.

And this image here uses an iconic portrait of the "Mona Lisa" and text to convey how historically art has been censored.

Portraits can be self-portraits or of anyone, not just important figures.

Portraits are found across art, craft, and design, representing the individuality of themselves, loved ones, everyday people.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Fill in the blanks.

Portraits can be, or of.

Portraits can represent people, their, or, events.

So, pause video and complete the sentences and adding in these four words, stories, self-portraits, anyone, significant.

Well done for having a go at that.

Perhaps you completed the sentences in these ways.

Portraits can be self-portraits or of anyone.

Portraits can represent people, their stories, or significant events.

Today, there are many UK local competitions that celebrate portraiture.

These include Portrait Artists of the Year and a Taylor Wessing Prize for Portraiture.

Portraits are created in art, craft, and design to tell personal stories.

Gluck was a British artist who painted portraits to express their identity, challenging gender roles.

Andrew Logan creates colourful portraits with mirrors and glass, celebrating individuality and the LGBTQ+ community.

Marcelinna Akpojotor's textile portraits highlight Black identity, culture, and self-expression.

Cephas Williams uses photography to challenge stereotypes and showcase Black men's diverse experiences.

There are many ways in which artists can use portraits to tell personal stories.

Portraits can represent a story through the pose of the subject, the composition of figures, the gaze or eye line of the subject, the symbols, clothes, objects, colours, and materials used.

Now thinking about yourself in portraiture, how would you like to be represented or like others to see you? What mood, personality, or emotion do you want to convey? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

One more question.

What story would you like to tell through your portrait? Pause the video and share.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Portrait photography can be a quick and effective way to express yourself.

How has this photographer arranged this portrait's background, distance, pose and expression? And what details can you see? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Perhaps you notice something like this.

The background is white, neutral.

It's a high quality image that allows you to see details in areas such as the hair.

There are gaze looking directly at the camera and their expression is smiling.

This is a closeup image cropped at the shoulders.

And now, it's time for your first task.

I would like you to find or take a photo of for your portrait.

This could be yourself, a loved one, an everyday person, or someone you admire.

So first of all, capture the photo.

Ensure it's a closeup portrait.

Use a neutral background, plain or simple, and then consider the pose and expression.

Choose a pose and expression that communicates something about the person such as their mood, personality, or emotion.

Pause the video while you have a go at finding or taking this portrait.

Great to be back with you.

Your photos may have looked like this.

Love these.

Beautiful expressions, poses, smiles.

So wonderful.

And now, it's time for the next learning cycle, a portrait tells a story.

Izzy and Alex are discussing why artists use different styles to create a portrait.

Artists use different, like smooth lines or rough marks, to create different feelings and portraits.

They use colour to make the emotion feel stronger and more focused.

Some portraits have lifelike recognisable subjects in them.

This is called figurative art.

Not all portraits are figurative.

Some are abstract.

Artists use a range of creative tools to represent themselves and other people.

Artists like Frank Auerbach, Maggi Hambling, Curtis Holder, Jennifer Packer blend figurative and abstract styles and colours.

How do you think the artist was feeling when they made this work? Pause the video while you share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Why do artists use different portrait styles to represent themselves and others? Pause the video and share your ideas.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Here's Jacob.

"By using different styles, artists can focus on feelings or ideas instead of just how someone looks." Check for understanding, true or false.

Artists often blend figurative and abstract styles, when creating a portrait.

Pause video and decide whether this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

And now, I'd let you to say a little more about your answer.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Artists often use a multidisciplinary approach when creating portraits to show different emotions or perspectives.

This mix helps make the portrait more creative and can give it deeper meaning.

Gestural is a term used to describe the application of marks in a free sweeping motion.

Gestural marks can show energy and action.

What types of gestural marks are used in this drawing? Pause the video and share with someone.

Perhaps you notice there was some zigzag blocks of colour, some scribbled areas, marks following the curve and shape of the nose, and varied thickness of lines.

Leaving gaps between gestural marks and avoiding heavy outlines can add depth and make a portrait more lifelike.

Why do you think heavy outlines can make a portrait look flat? Pause a video and share with someone.

Here's Izzy.

"Our faces have no lines.

It's about creating light and shade." Check for understanding.

Which of these portraits use gestural marks? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected portraits a and c.

Gestural marks can be made in many ways.

One method is to use oil pastels to create a wax transfer drawing.

First of all, you cover card or a plastic sheet to create a light and dark colour palette.

Then, you trace your portrait using gestural marks.

Use both palettes to transfer highlights and shadows.

Experimenting with colour in a portrait allows the artist to express what kind of person they are, how they may feel, and their artistic skills.

Watercolour paint can be layered over oil pastel to create a wax resist effect.

Wax resist happens when the oil pastel repels the watercolour, leaving texture and contrast in the drawing.

Why do you think this artist has used red for their watercolour wash? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here is Sophia.

"Red and Green are complimentary colours, making it stand out." And now, it's time for your next task.

I would like you to create your portrait using the image you selected in Task A.

So, use oil pastel wax transfer to apply highlights and shadows, creating depth.

Use gestural marks when tracing your image to add energy and movement.

Apply watercolour over the oil pastel to create a wax resist effect.

Consider your colour choices carefully to help convey the story and emotion of your portrait.

Think about how light, dark, and complimentary colours can enhance the mood.

Pause the video while you have a go at this task.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with creating your portrait using the image you selected in Task A? Your work may have looked like this.

Here's Laura.

"I learned about experimenting with gestural mark-making.

Layering hints of warm and cool colours really adds to the mood of my portrait." And here's Andeep.

"It was challenging to look carefully at where the highlights and shadows are on my portrait.

I had to keep checking to see if I had them in the right place." I think you did a great job, Andeep.

Love your portrait.

And now for the final part of your task, I'd like to evaluate your outcome.

What did you learn from your experiments? Did you discover any new techniques? What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them? Pause video while you evaluate your outcome by reflecting on these three questions.

Well done everyone for evaluating your outcome and reflecting on, and reflecting on your portraits.

In our lesson today, What is a portrait?, we've covered the following.

A portrait is a representation of a person, usually focusing on their face, expression, and identity.

Portraits are found across art, craft, and design, celebrating individuality.

Artists use different styles like gestural marks to create different feelings and portraits.

Artists often use a multidisciplinary approach when creating portraits.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore portraits with you, what are portraits, what do they express, how do they do this.

And I especially enjoyed how you got involved with creating your own portraits, using just your marks, using wax resist and experimentation.

I hope you've enjoyed this lesson and creating your portraits.

And I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

In the meantime, stay creative.