Second Grade Self Portraits

Essential Question: What can we learn about an artist from their self-portrait?

Second Graders created these portraits using pencil, then Elmer's glue, on black paper. Finally, they added color with soft pastels. When the glue dries, it leaves clear, smooth lines that resist the chalk pastels- resulting in raised outlines that beautifully contrast with the vibrant colors. I love this project! It allows for such creativity and color choice, and of course they love mixing the colors with their hands. As an introduction to the project, we observed and discussed self-portraits by Andy Warhol and Vincent Van Gogh.