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Lesson 1 of 6

What is a portrait?

I can explain how artists use a range of creative tools to represent themselves and other people.

View unit
Lesson 1 of 6
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What is a portrait?

I can explain how artists use a range of creative tools to represent themselves and other people.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A portrait is a representation of a person, usually focusing on their face, expression, and identity.
  2. Portraits are found across art, craft, and design celebrating individuality.
  3. Artists often use a multidisciplinary approach when creating portraits.

Keywords

  • Portrait - a representation of a person, usually focussing on their face, expression and identity

  • Represent - to show or stand for something, often in a visual or symbolic way

  • Gestural - the application of media in free sweeping gestures

Common misconception

Portraits must always show the person directly.

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

For Learning Cycle 1, you’ll need to find or take a photo for your portrait. This could be of yourself, a loved one, someone you admire, or an everyday person. This task can be pre-prepared or split across two lessons.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Portrait image. For wax transfer print: card or plastic sheet, oil pastels, pencil. For wax resist method: watercolours, brushes, water.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does a portrait typically aim to represent?

a landscape view
Correct answer: a person’s face or likeness
an abstract concept
anatural scene or object

Q2.
Match the term to its meaning.

Correct Answer:identity,the qualities or traits that make a person unique

the qualities or traits that make a person unique

Correct Answer:expression,showing feelings or emotions through art

showing feelings or emotions through art

Correct Answer:symbolic,representing something beyond its literal meaning

representing something beyond its literal meaning

Correct Answer:mood,the emotional atmosphere created by the artwork

the emotional atmosphere created by the artwork

Correct Answer:status,the social position or standing of a person

the social position or standing of a person

Q3.
Portraits are often used to explore , showing a person’s personality or how they want to be perceived.

Correct Answer: Identity, Character, Self image, Persona, Emotions

Q4.
Why might an artist use a portrait to express identity?

to show a random scene
Correct answer: to capture the person’s emotions and personality
to focus on the background details
to create abstract shapes and patterns

Q5.
Why were early portraits, like cave paintings and sculptures, created?

Correct answer: to represent people, their stories, or significant events
to create modern art styles
to focus only on the appearance of people
to make art for entertainment

Q6.
What is the main difference between figurative and abstract art in portraiture?

Correct answer: Figurative art shows realistic images; abstract art focuses on shapes and forms.
Figurative art uses only black and white, while abstract art uses colour.
Figurative art is only used for sculptures; abstract is used for paintings.
Figurative art is always made with paint, while abstract is digital.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What are the main purposes of a portrait?

background scenery
the person’s outfit
Correct answer: the person’s face and expression
bright colours used
Correct answer: to represent the person's character

Q2.
Which statement best shows how a portrait can represent someone without showing their face?

Correct answer: using symbols, objects, or places connected to the person
painting a celebrity’s photo from a magazine
drawing only the background behind a person
focusing only on the person’s clothes

Q3.
What is meant by a multidisciplinary approach in portraiture?

using pencils only
Correct answer: mixing different materials and methods
painting from memory
drawing in silence

Q4.
Match each keyword to its correct meaning.

Correct Answer:represent,to show or stand for something symbolically

to show or stand for something symbolically

Correct Answer:gestural,made with expressive, sweeping marks

made with expressive, sweeping marks

Correct Answer:figurative,art that clearly shows a recognisable subject

art that clearly shows a recognisable subject

Correct Answer:abstract,art that uses shapes/colours, not realistic

art that uses shapes/colours, not realistic

Q5.
Artists use marks to show movement and emotion in portraits.

Correct Answer: Gestural, Expressive, Dynamic

Q6.
In a wax resist technique, oil pastel watercolour, creating texture and contrast.

Correct Answer: repels, resists, stops, blocks

Lesson appears in

UnitArt and design / Identity: exploring portraiture

Art and design

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