Expressive Self-Portrait:
Details & Background
Alice Neel, ”A Spanish Boy”, 1955
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
You will need:
Vocabulary:
Details: small elements that convey more information about a subject
Background: what’s behind the subject of a portrait
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
What is one detail this artist included in their self-portrait? �What does this detail tell you about the subject? ��Where do you think the artist is?
What do the details in the background tell you about this person?
�
Malvin Gray Johnson, Self Portrait, 1934
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
An artist can add details to tell us more about who they are.
An artist can make their self portrait feel more complete by adding color and value to their entire picture including in their background.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
Reflect on your self-portrait.
Take a few minutes to look at your drawing with fresh eyes.
Is there anything that needs adjustment—placement, color, or value?
Make any needed edits to the structure and features of your self-portrait before moving onto the details and background.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
Draw any important details.
What details make you look like you?
This artist has added glasses and adjusted the shadows and highlights to reflect how they look wearing them.
Add your own details to your self-portrait.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
Draw your shoulders and clothing.
Look into the mirror and notice the relationship between your head and your shoulders.
Use a light-colored oil pastel to draw your shoulders.
What color will you make your clothing?
�Will you wear something simple or detailed?
Will you include any jewelry?
Develop your clothing and include any highlights or shadows you see.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
Develop your background.
Adding a background will make your self-portrait appear complete. There are different approaches to making a background.
One option is to keep it simple, focusing on color and value.
Other options are to draw the actual place where you are or include things that might tell us something about you or your interests.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
You did it!
Give your expressive self-portrait a final review to make sure you’ve covered your entire page and included all the necessary details.
Remember, it’s OK if your drawing doesn’t look exactly like you—the goal was to express who you are and capture a feeling.
Expressive Self-Portrait: Details & Background
Looking at how other artists make expressive self-portraits can help you with your own.
Look at portraits by these artists for ideas:
How did these artist use “expression” in their artwork?
Frida Kahlo, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird, 1940