New
New
Painting a portrait with colour and feeling
I can create a layered portrait to explore how colour and paint share emotion and identity.
Lesson 1 of 4
New
New
- Year 6
Painting a portrait with colour and feeling
I can create a layered portrait to explore how colour and paint share emotion and identity.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Paint can be used to explore place, memory or feeling.
- A colour wash can shape the mood of a portrait.
- Emotional tone can be suggested through restraint, layering and colour.
- Strong colours can suggest presence, emphasis or absence.
Keywords
Colour wash - a thin, watery layer of paint brushed over a surface to add soft colour or tone
Pigment - the colour part of paint that makes it bright or bold
Tone - how light or dark a colour is
Restraint - using a small amount of something on purpose
Common misconception
A portrait has to look real or neat to show who someone is.
Portraits can show feeling, memory, or mood without looking realistic. Artists use colour, texture and shape to tell a story about the person.
Using too much water can make the paper become soggy. This might make it wrinkle, tear, or stop the paint from spreading evenly. Encourage pupils to use a damp brush, not a dripping one.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Primed canvas or thick paper, watercolour, paint brushes, water, pencil or graphite stick
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a portrait usually a picture of?
What is a portrait usually a picture of?
a place
an object
a building
Q2.Which of these is not a painting material?
Which of these is not a painting material?
watercolour
acrylic
oil paint
Q3.Artists sometimes use __________ to show different feelings.
Artists sometimes use __________ to show different feelings.
paintbrushes
canvas
white
Q4.Which of these colours is a primary colour?
Which of these colours is a primary colour?
purple
green
orange
Q5.What do artists often use to mix paint colours?
What do artists often use to mix paint colours?
scissors
water
a pencil
Q6.What is a self-portrait?
What is a self-portrait?
a painting of someone famous
a drawing of your house
a picture of an animal
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Paint can be used to explore place, memory or ...
Paint can be used to explore place, memory or ...
Q2.What is a colour wash?
What is a colour wash?
A thick layer of paint to cover mistakes
A black outline to make features stand out
Q3.Using a colour wash can change how a portrait ...
Using a colour wash can change how a portrait ...
tone
sits
expression
Q4.What does the word “restraint” mean in art?
What does the word “restraint” mean in art?
Using every colour you have
Making your painting very fast
Painting inside the lines only
Q5.Which statement is true about portraits in art?
Which statement is true about portraits in art?
A portrait must look exactly like a real person to be meaningful.
A portrait is only good if it’s neat and realistic.
Portraits are just for showing famous people.
Q6.Which of these helps show emotional tone in a portrait?
Which of these helps show emotional tone in a portrait?
Drawing the nose first
Using rulers and measuring tools
Writing a title for the portrait
