I can create an abstract portrait using contour lines.
What is a portrait?
Watch this video, Arty Pants Portraiture, to see examples of portraits from famous artists.
A self portrait is a picture that an artist makes of him or herself.
Today you’re going to practice making a self portrait, but in an abstract way.
Abstract art is art that doesn’t try to look real. It is more about the color, shapes, lines, and ideas expressed than trying to look like a picture of something.
Look at the visual (Abstract Art Visual) below for some examples of abstract portraits.
Today you will practice making an abstract portrait using lines that never come off the page. It is called a “blind portrait,” because when you draw a picture of yourself (or of someone in your family!), you do it without looking at the page!
Watch the video to understand how to make a blind portrait.
Look at the Blind Portrait samples
Now it’s your turn! Here are the rules:
Don’t pick up your pencil. This is called contour drawing- drawing the shapes and curves of a subject with a line to create a kind of outline.
No erasing! Just draw without stopping.
Don’t look at your paper. For a self-portrait, look at yourself in a mirror or reflective surface, and draw what you see. If you’re drawing a family member, just look at him or her and draw the lines and shapes you see without picking up your pencil. See the attached example for a look at other people’s blind portraits! (Blind Portrait Sample)
Remember: it’s supposed to look strange! It will not look like you, so don’t be discouraged! The more you do it, the better you’ll get at it.
If you’d like to share your portraits with us, send a picture to your teacher’s email. We’d love to see your art!