Expressive Self-Portrait:
Facial Features
Alice Neel, ”A Spanish Boy”, 1955
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
An expressive self-portrait is an artwork where the artist depicts themselves to convey their emotions, inner thoughts, or personal experiences. Rather than a strictly realistic representation, an expressive self-portrait focuses on creating a connection to the artist's emotional state.
Artists can exaggerate the colors, lines, textures, features, or details of a self-portrait to express emotion.
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Chris Ofilli, No Woman No Cry
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Look closely…
How do you think the subject might feel? �Why?
Amy Sherald, They Call Me Redbone but I’d Rather Be Strawberry Shortcake, 2009, Oil on canvas
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
You will need:
Amoako Boafo, Joy Adenike, 2019
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Before starting, decide what type of expressive self-portrait you plan to make.
�Will you use exaggerated colors and features?
Will you draw yourself with a specific expression?
You can always combine these.
Frederick Hayes, Blue Eyes Green Hair, 2020
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Start with the basics.
What shape best represents your head?
Using light lines, draw a basic shape for your head with a light-colored oil pastel (white or yellow works well).
Be sure to fill as much of your page as possible.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Correct your mistakes.
There are no erasers when it comes to oil pastels, but you can always use your finger to rub out your mistake and try again!
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Add Guidelines
Lightly divide your face in half vertically and horizontally.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Draw shapes for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
What common shape do your eyes most resemble? Your nose? Your mouth?
Look in the mirror and decide where these features belong on your face.
Use the 'Self-Portrait' slides for reference if needed. (Hyperlink)
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Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Draw your eyebrows, ears, hairline, and neck.
Look in the mirror and decide where your eyebrows belong in relationship to your eyes.
Where do your ears belong?
Where does your hair belong on your head?
Decide where you neck should go.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Facial Features
Reflection:�
How was drawing your self-portrait in oil pastel different then drawing it with pencil?
�What’s one thing you plan to adjust on your self-portrait next time?