How to Draw a Self-Portrait

*When you download this file you will be able to open it as a PDF, Google Slides Presentation, PowerPoint and more. The PDF will be downloaded first, then simply click on the link in slide #2 to see the presentation in a Google Slides Format. From there you can click File---> Download---> and convert it to PowerPoint or other desired formats.

This 140 slide Power-point presentation covers all aspects of how to successfully draw a self-portrait. This presentation was made for use at the high school and middle school levels, but can certainly be used in upper elementary and even the University level with simple modifications in your lecture. The Power-point begins by looking at the self-portraits of master artists throughout arts’ history. Artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, Frida Khalo, Norman Rockwell, Chuck Close, Rembrandt, Picasso, Jacob Lawrence, Escher, Warhol and more. Next the presentation takes a look at possible career opportunities for those who enjoy drawing portraits (Illustrators, commercial art, police sketches and courtroom artist, caricatures, and more). Colored pencils are explored as this is how I asked my own students to complete their self-portraits. Many colored pencils portrait examples are used to show blending techniques and the range of colors used to make skin tones. Next are the goals or “criteria” that I used to grade my own students work, complete with the elements and principles of design to be focused on. There are also links to YouTube videos which show (in high speed) how to draw a self-portrait in colored pencils. The presentation then transitions into a large section dealing with the proportioning of the facial features. Both a 1/3’s system and a ½ and ¼ system are shown as possible ways to proportion the face. How to get started and all of the steps necessary to correctly locate the facial featured are made easy to understand as I’ve included my worksheet “How to Draw a Face in 12 steps” (which is printable for your students…and also part of one of my popular items found in my store entitled: 50 Needed Worksheets for Art Students and Art Teachers). How to draw faces in ¾ view and profile are also addressed and include printable handouts as well. Next, the presentation takes an in-depth look at each feature and explains their parts & anatomy, as well as different methods for how to draw them. These topics include a full section on how to draw different types of eyes, noses, mouths, ears, and hair. Different genders, ages, and ethnicities are shown for diversity. The skull and head shape are also addressed as it relates to where the shadows must be placed in consideration for the light source. Dozens of actual student examples are shown. Some of these self-portraits are amazing; others are good, and some show mistakes which are used for discussion as well as to make this daunting task seem possible for those who may not excel in drawing. This is an all-encompassing look at self-portraits and I’m sure you will find it to be a wealth of information that will engage your students and get them excited about creating their own. I trust you and your students will enjoy this presentation and project as much as mine do. Enjoy!

-Bo (The Art Guru)