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      Use monoprinting to create a self-portrait

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can create a self-portrait concrete poem using monoprint

      Key learning points

      1. A monoprint results in only one distinct print, making it a unique work of art.
      2. Artists sometimes choose to use complementary opposite colours to draw the viewer's attention to their artwork.
      3. Artists may vary text sizes in a concrete poem to highlight specific words or phrases they wish to emphasise.

      Keywords

      • Concrete poem - a type of poem where the arrangement of words creates a visual image

      • Monoprint - a printing method to create a single, unique print

      • Complementary colours - pairs of colours positioned opposite each other on the colour wheel that, when used together, create strong contrast and visual impact

      Common misconception

      Complementary colours are located next to each other on the colour wheel.

      Remind children that complementary colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel, not next to each other. This opposite placement is what creates their high contrast and visual vibrancy when paired.

      Teacher tip

      For the following lesson, children will require their shoebox. In addition, children will need to gather text that they find meaningful (such as newspapers, images, favourite books) ready for the following lesson. Teachers may find this helpful to set as a home learning task.

      Equipment

      Oil pastels, photographs of children taken in previous lesson printed to approximate shoebox size, poems drafted in previous lesson, ballpoint pens, masking tape.

      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 monoprint?

      Making multiple copies of a print
      Correct answer: Creating a unique print from a single image
      Using only black ink for printing

      Q2.
      A concrete poem uses the arrangement of words to create a/an ...

      Correct Answer: image, picture, visual

      Q3.
      Match the keywords to their definitions:

      Correct Answer:Complementary colours,Colours opposite each other on the wheel

      Colours opposite each other on the wheel

      Correct Answer:Monoprint,A single unique print

      A single unique print

      Correct Answer:Concrete poem,A type of poem with a visual arrangement of the words

      A type of poem with a visual arrangement of the words

      Q4.
      A self-portrait concrete poem is a type of autobiographical poem. What does autobiographical refer to?

      The work is about somebody else
      Correct answer: The work is about yourself, the artist
      The work is about a theme, not a person

      Q5.
      A monoprint is different from other printmaking techniques because it produces only one print.

      Correct Answer: distinct, unique, original, single

      Q6.
      What should an artist consider when creating a self-portrait concrete poem?

      Correct answer: The size of the text
      The cost of materials
      The background noise

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Poetry can be presented as a text, but can also ...

      make beautiful colours when mixed
      explain a process
      Correct answer: create mental imagery

      Q2.
      Monoprinting means to make ...

      multiple copies of the same image
      Correct answer: a single unique print
      multiple prints in different colours

      Q3.
      Which of these things might the artist consider when making a self-portrait concrete poem?

      Correct answer: Colour of the text
      The size of their head
      Correct answer: The text style

      Q4.
      Why are complementary colours used in art?

      They make the artwork look dull.
      Correct answer: They enhance contrast and vibrancy.
      They are always placed next to each other.

      Q5.
      When creating a monoprint, the artist must cover the back of the image in an even layer of ...

      Correct Answer: oil pastel, pastel, oil pastels

      Q6.
      Complementary colours are located to each other on the colour wheel.

      Correct Answer: opposite

      To help you plan your 5 art and design lesson on: Use monoprinting to create a self-portrait, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...