Grade 7: Portraits and Proportion

Grade 7 students learned about the principle of Proportion in portraiture and how Proportion describes the size, location or amount of one element to another (or to the whole) in a work.  
 
"Proportion in art is the comparative harmonious relationship between two or more elements in a composition with respect to size, color, quantity, degree, setting, etc.; i.e. ratio. A relationship is created when two or more elements are put together." 

Students observed several demonstrations on how to measure and place the features in the correct spot on the face and practiced drawing Proportion guidelines to obtain accurate relationships in size and placement with the features. Additionally, we viewed several videos on how to draw the nose, basic proportions of the face and how to use charcoal to create a variety of values and textures to make the face look 3-dimensional on a flat piece of paper. -->

Pivotal questions we will explore in class include:

What is a portrait?

Why do artists paint portraits?

What are the guidelines and measurements to achieve proportion when drawing the face and its features?

How can you create depth with value in your portrait?

Where are the significant highlights and shadows in the face?

What details and Elements of Art can you incorporate to make your work
more realistic?

What are different approaches and styles in portraits and self-portraits
throughout history?