I have nearly completed the third self-portrait. Photos will be posted in the near future. This was an interesting experience. My family does not really have any cultural or ethnic traditions. So for this drawing, I decided to focus on my disabilities - unique characteristics. The folk art 'style' allowed freedom of expression and less worry about accuracy. However, I worked very hard at keeping human proportions as realistic as possible. For this particular portrait, pen, markers, and colored pencils were used as well as
a scanner, laptop, Adobe Photoshop design software, and smart phone digital camera.
Student implications:
Folk Art can allow students freedom of expression. Frida Kahlo is an excellent resource (artist exemplar) for this kind of art problem. For students that feel uneasy about their art skills, the primitive style can offer great freedom. Students can learn to work with different media and also gain structural knowledge of the body. This is a great way to lead into realism in later lessons.
Plus there are so many different approaches students can take when drawing their self-portraits, ethnicity, culture, interests, disabilities, strengths, struggles can all be incorporated into the narrative of their portraits.
The whole body can be introduced or students can choose to draw just the face. Color is an important aspect of folk art. Students can work with complimentary and analogous colors.
I didn't really experience much apprehension in the drawing or constructing my self-portrait. I felt confident with my choices. It felt good to share my personal struggles in a visual narrative. My disabilities are 'disabling' at times, but in other ways have made me very strong. Very positive experience. Key Code: *,*, :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment