Submitted by: Megan Mattax
School:Henrico High School
Summary
How do we see ourselves and how do we present this idea of self to the world around us? In this project, students explore the idea of “self” and how this abstract concept can be illustrated in a piece of art work. Students investigate various media artist as a starting point for developing a project based on transparent layers. Students collaborate to research artists and their work and compare and contrast their findings about the artist’s historical life to the type of art that he or she was creating. Students then evaluate, analyze, and critique one specific piece of their chosen artists work. Through the study of these artists students develop a way of layering media in which one layer does not always obscure the layer before it, creating transparence in the work. Throughout the study, the students work towards developing a personal style that is reflected in their final image. Students create a self-portrait that shows an image of themselves, and imagery and symbolism that they see as relating to their ideas of “self.” The final product is a self-portrait in which the student must apply the techniques learned through artist research.
TIPC Ratings
This lesson falls in the approaching level of research and information fluency. Students research artists as a group through lectures and class discussions. Students then pick several artists that they feel relate to their study of “self” in the form of self-portraiture, imagery, media style and technique to research in more detail using teacher-modeled strategies. Students use the research to create a biography and an in-depth analysis of one piece of the artist’s work.
This lesson falls in the developing level of communication and collaboration. Students collaborate as a group when discussing artist and work in small peer teams to help each other understand or grasp a concept, skill or technique. Students form collaborative teams to design and create original works.
This lesson falls into the approaching level of critical thinking and problem solving. Students are presented with the following question: How do we see ourselves and how do we present this idea of self to the world around us? Through the research and study of how art techniques and materials are manipulated by other artists, students discover how the study of other artists can affect their own technique, skill level, and style. Students reflect and evaluate their final portrait image, working process, compositional plans, media experiments, and ideas related to the concept of “self.”
This lesson falls in the approaching level of creativity and innovation. Students choose a personally relevant artist from the group of artists researched and create a double page spread in which the student writes an artistic biography and critiques an image by the artist they researched. Students create a final image in which they incorporate multiple layers of transparent information to create a self-portrait image that reflects their own individual style. Students create thumbnail sketches which illustrate how they incorporate visual representation of themselves along with imagery and layers. Students also create media studies in order to develop the best technique for application of materials.
Student Artifact
Layers of Self Portrait from HCPS Instructional Technology on Vimeo.
