Draw a profile portrait
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can draw a profile portrait.
Key learning points
- There are different proportions when drawing a face.
- A profile portrait can be drawn using different lines and shapes.
- Sketching using light lines helps mistakes to be corrected easily.
- Shading light and dark areas of the face makes a portrait look realistic.
Keywords
Proportion - how big or small parts of something is compared to each other
Sketching - making quick and simple drawings to show ideas or the things we see
Shading - drawn marks to show areas of light and dark
Common misconception
Pupils may think that the eyes are drawn towards the top of the face.
The eyes are halfway between the top of the head and the chin.
Teacher tip
A device is needed to take a photograph. When sketching you could model the difference between a pencil grip for writing and a pencil grip for sketching. Remind pupils that holding their pencil halfway down makes it easier to draw light, quick lines.
Equipment
tablet/camera
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of these tools would you use to add colour to a drawing?
Q2.When drawing a portrait, we start by drawing the shape of the before adding eyes, nose, and mouth.
Q3.When drawing a portrait, we use a to make light lines that can be erased if we need to change them.
Q4.What is a 'profile portrait'?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.When drawing a face, it’s important to remember that the eyes are usually in the of the face.
Q2.Which of these can help us make a portrait look more realistic?
Q3.Match each portrait technique to why we use it.
helps to fix mistakes easily
makes the drawing look realistic
to build up parts of a drawing
Q4.Put these steps for drawing a realistic profile portrait in the correct order.
To help you plan your 2 art and design lesson on: Draw a profile portrait, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 2 art and design lesson on: Draw a profile portrait, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 art and design lessons from the I am beautiful: drawing and mixed media unit, dive into the full primary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.