Lesson video

Hello everyone, how are you today? I hope you're feeling great.

My name is Ms. Afzal and I will be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling pretty excited about that because today's lesson is all about words and portraits.

I love both of those things.

I love words, I love portraiture.

Our lesson is called "Words in Portraits" and it comes from the unit of identity, exploring portraiture.

So we're going to be getting into words, what they mean, the impact of them, how they can be used to help us explore identity and portraiture.

Are you ready? So we'll begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can understand the power of typography in art, and how it can be used to tell our stories and form the design of a portrait.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

Typography, meaning and conceptual.

What do these words mean? Let's find out.

Typography is the purposeful arrangement of type to enhance readability, communication and visual impact.

Meaning is the message or idea that is communicated by something, whether it's words, images or actions.

Conceptual, art that is based on an idea or message, not just how it looks.

So these are our three keywords, typography, meaning and conceptual.

Let's be on the lookout for them, let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called Words in Portraits and it consists of two learning cycles.

First of all, discussing the power of words in art.

And next, designing a portrait using typography.

I'm really looking forward to that.

Let's begin with discussing the power of words in art.

Words are a powerful visual and conceptual tool in portraiture.

And remember, conceptual means based on an idea or message, not just about how it looks.

Traditional portraits rely on facial expression, gesture and setting to tell a story.

Words and language allows the subject or artist to speak.

Pause the video and share with someone your impression of this portrait that we can see on the screen.

Thanks for sharing your first impressions.

Words can include thoughts about identity, beliefs, emotions and experiences that aren't always visible in a face.

What words do you see in this work? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing the words you can see.

So we've got some that are really standing out, make change happen.

Smaller words before that are together, we can make change happen.

And another quote which is, "You're never too small to make a difference." Love these quotes and the portraits.

And another question for you, how do the words change or deepen the meaning of a portrait? Pause the video and share your ideas.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why do artists use words in art? A, it makes the artwork look more colourful and bright.

B, it allows the subject or artist to speak.

C, it adds decoration to the artwork.

Pause the video while you decide why artists use words in art.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, artists use words in art because it allows the subject or the artist to speak.

Barbara Kruger is famous for mixing images with words in bold text.

Her work looks like advertisements, but sends powerful messages about identity, power and society.

In "Your Body is a Battleground," 1989, she uses a photo of a woman's face and adds the title of the artwork across it.

The text gives the image a conceptual voice.

It turns a simple portrait into a statement about women's rights and control over their own bodies.

Portraits often show how someone looks on the outside, but words can help reveal what's inside.

It helps express invisible parts of identity, culture, race, gender, religion, trauma, joy, protest, dreams. Pause the video and share with someone your impressions of this artwork on the screen.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

For me, there's something very organic and uplifting about this.

I love the way the flowers are growing and peeking through this encouragement, living the dream.

Let's have a check for understanding, true or false? Words can help tell a story about who we are, beliefs, background, identity, emotions.

Pause the video while you decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

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

Pause the video while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Words can send a message which can be emotional, powerful, or even challenging to express deeper aspects of identity.

Words can connect us to real world contexts.

Bob and Roberta Smith combined sign writing, activism, and discarded materials to create campaign posters about important social issues.

They used text as a conceptual tool, making bold statements about what matters.

The use of words transforms the image into more than just art.

It becomes a visual expression about social issues and personal beliefs.

Pause the video and share with someone nearby, have you seen some art which makes a statement about a social issue or a personal belief? Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Words can add layers of meaning.

Words don't just say something, they are designed to look a certain way too.

This is called typography.

Typography refers to the font, the style of writing, size and placement, repetition, repeating words or phrases.

These choices change the feeling of the artwork and contribute to the concept of the piece.

Pause the video and share with someone, do you have a favourite font that you like to type in? Thanks for sharing.

Jade Montserrat uses typography in her artwork to explore themes like identity, heritage and emotion.

Her work blends words with images to express feelings that aren't always visible.

She uses typography to play with text, using different sizes and styles to create meaning.

She uses positive and negative space to highlight contrasts in her story.

Check for understanding.

Which of these are key features of communicating with words? A, the colour of the font's outline.

B, the font's style, size and repetition.

C, the amount of space between images.

D, the texture of the background image.

Pause the video while you decide which of these are a key feature of communicating with words.

Well done if you selected B, the font style, size and repetition.

Words make the viewer think.

Who wrote this? What are they trying to say? Why these words? The power of words in art is conceptual.

It encourages you to think beyond what the words say and explore how they make you feel.

Pause the video and share with someone a word that when you hear it, it makes you feel good.

I quite like the word puppies.

It makes me feel joyful thinking about cute little puppies.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to think and write for two minutes.

If someone created a portrait of you using only words, no images, what three words or short phrases would they use to describe you? Pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

Well done for coming up with those few words.

I'm so curious, I wonder what they are.

Next, I would like you to share and discuss with a partner for 3 to 5 minutes.

Do you have any words in common or any surprises? What style of typography would best communicate your words? Pause the video while you have a go at sharing with a partner your words, whether they're any in common, and what style of typography would best communicate your words.

And let's come back together now for a whole class reflection.

How do words help tell our story or identity? Pause the video while you explore this question in a larger group.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

So how did you get on with this task? First of all, thinking and writing.

If someone were to create a portrait of you using only words, no images, what would those three words or short phrases be to describe you? You may have said something like this, here's Aisha.

Creative, curious, ambitious, always exploring new ideas and pushing boundaries.

I would use curly lettering to represent curiosity.

I love that.

And here's Alex.

Funny, kind, adventurous, always making people laugh and up for new experiences.

I would use different bubble-shaped letters to represent my humour.

Oh, these are so great.

And now we're on to our next learning cycle, designing a portrait using typography.

Lucas and Izzy are discussing typography styles and where they have seen different styles in their local area.

I've noticed that the typography style on shop signs always feels bold and clear.

I think it makes the message stand out.

Good point.

And Izzy, I've seen murals expressing positive statements using bright bold fonts that create an uplifting feeling.

Oh, I love that.

I love it when I'd see such murals.

Take a look at these words, breathe, explore, radiate.

How does the use of typography complement the meaning of these words? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Perhaps you shared how with the word breathe, there's these swirls around a little bit like the breath, the movement of breath.

Explore gives us a path and a compass, around the O, very clever.

And radiate, it's giving us that sense of warmth, literally radiating out from the letters.

Oh wow, what a lot of A's and so much variety there.

Words have personality.

Depending on the typography used, they can be: Loud and bold, soft and flowing, sharp and jagged, messy, neat, playful or angry.

Pause the video and describe some of the letter A's that we can see on the screen to someone nearby.

How would you describe them? What kind of personality do they have? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I'm going to show a few that are on the right hand side, top right.

It looks like planks of wood, feels very solid to me, something very stable, solid.

One beneath that, with all the nature-y elements, feels like something very organic.

And the one beneath that, with the flowing lines, feels like something quite playful.

Think about how font sizes and layout change the mood.

Can words look like they sound? Can words look like they're meaning? Pause the video and share with someone your thoughts on these two questions.

Take a look at this.

Digital.

It's the word digital.

It says digital, it looks digital, it feels digital.

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what is named.

Examples are cuckoo or sizzle.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which text style would best represent the word power? A, hidden writing behind the image.

B, small neat writing in the corner.

C, big bold letters at the top of the page.

D, both styles feel the same.

Pause the video while you decide which text style would best represent the word power.

Well done if you selected C.

Big bold letters at the top of the page would represent the word power really well.

These artists use words visually to express ideas through text.

Mohammad Ehsai blends traditional calligraphy with modern techniques.

His vibrant Persian script goes beyond the meaning of the words, using visual style and expression to connect to his cultural heritage.

Jeffrey Gibson uses text in "People Like Us" to create a powerful statement about community and struggle.

His figure, made of materials like beads and fringes, combines Native American traditions with contemporary art, adding layers of meaning and expression to the work.

Words can be powerful, they can describe and inspire.

Here's a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Artists like Amber Goldhammer, use bold statements or quotes to motivate, protest, or uplift.

Do you know any quotes from people who have inspired change? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here's Lucas.

Malala Yousafzai said, "One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." This makes you think about how small actions can lead to big changes.

And Izzy, Marcus Rashford said, "I know what it feels like to be hungry." This was really powerful when he spoke up about child food poverty.

A quote that I love is from the author Maya Angelou who says, "People will forget what you said, people forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Great quote from Maya Angelou.

Check for understanding.

Which of these quotes might inspire action or change? A, I like sunny days and quiet mornings.

B, art makes children powerful.

C, cats are better than dogs.

D, education is the key to change.

Pause the video while you decide which of these quotes might inspire action or change.

Well done if you selected answers B and C.

Indeed, art makes children powerful and education is the key to change are really wonderful, inspiring quotes.

To form a word portrait, you might use typography to match the meaning and message of your portrait.

What expression or mood does your chosen portrait have? If you're creating a self-portrait, you might: Use words to describe you.

Choose a quote that speaks to you personally.

Consider the mood, it can be serious, funny, creative, or strong.

Pause the video and share with someone what expression or mood does your chosen portrait have.

Thanks for sharing.

And now decide how to compose the words in the space.

Will they be positioned over your face, around your face, inside of shapes? You could try dividing the page into four or five sections, top to bottom, left to right, with straight, wavy or free-flowing lines.

Experiment with varied typography, font, sizes and styles to match the meaning of the text.

This might include different styles, neat writing, I see scribbles, stencils, et cetera.

Being inspired by materials can spark new ideas.

You might try outlining your portrait, adding water to let the ink bleed and create tone.

Using mixed media, combine drawing, text, collage or colour to express your message.

My favourite part of this portrait is the words powerful on the collars of Andeep's shirt.

And now it's time for your task.

I would like you to use typography to match the meaning and message of your portrait.

So first of all, draw a simple line portrait of yourself using a mirror or from a photograph.

Use words from task A or a meaningful quote that reflects identity or emotion.

Divide the page into four sections.

You could divide it top to bottom, left to right, with straight, wavy or free-flowing lines.

And then use varied fonts, sizes and styles to match the meaning of the text.

These can be drawn freehand or traced from printed text.

Experiment with mixed media, drawing, text, collage or colour, inspired by artists.

So pause here while you have a go at this multi-stage task of using typography to match the meaning and message of your portrait.

Enjoy your task, I'll see you when you're finished.

How did you get on with using typography to match the meaning and message of your portrait? Your work may have looked like this.

Oh my, this is so stunning.

Here's Andeep.

I used words about myself and a quote, "Art makes us powerful" with mixed media and lettering inspired by the artists.

Oh, I'm loving the beads, the word of hope over Andeep's face, fun on the side and of course, those powerful collars.

In our lesson today, Words in Portraits, we've covered the following.

Artists use words in their artwork as a conceptual tool to convey thoughts, feelings and ideas.

Text doesn't just communicate what it says.

The typography also impacts how the meaning of the words is understood.

The expression in the style of words can communicate emotions or identities that aren't always visible in a face.

Text can transform an image into a statement or protest, using conceptual elements to challenge or comment on society.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

I loved exploring typography and conceptual elements with you and those portraits, wow, you did an amazing job of expressing yourself and who you are and your statement that you want to make using your image and text.

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

In the meantime, stay creative!.