Self portraits as a barometer of student agency

It all started in 2014 with aesthetically pleasing and very much teacher directed Pop Art style portraits.  They were poster sized and when hung together they were stunning.  I even blogged about them. But after the big art exhibition was over, I was distressed to find many of them were left behind by the students.  After lots of reflection, the message was clear: this my art project, not theirs.  I had chosen the Pop Art style, the size, the media.  All the students needed to do was show up and follow instructions step by step. There was no emotional investment on their part, no trial and error and no ownership.  How much of the art was theirs and what did they really learn?

Fast forward to 2019-- and I feel like I am finally getting the hang of a choice based approach.  My favorite question to ask the students about their completed work is, "What inspired you?" If the artwork truly is theirs, they should light up as they explain the iterations that their piece took and where their ideas came from.  Since I have taught these children for the last 3 years, they have never had to create art to conform to someone else's aesthetic and their portraits are a testament to the confidence that a few years of a student centered approach can bring.

Central Idea: Self portraits communicate who we are or who we want to be

What materials did this year's 5th graders use?  Lots of mixed media, a fair bit of embroidery, various iPad apps, watercolor and colored pencil work.  These talented artists worked on these for 90 minute blocks for about 10 weeks from start to finish. So proud of what they were able to accomplish.



And now for the 2019 portraits...

Maya, Mixed Media

Rumaysah, Mixed Media

Emily, Watercolor pencil

Pranav, Adobe Draw

Konstantin, Colored Pencil

Tallon, emboirdery

Jishnu, Art Set Pro

Jana, Liquid watercolor

Youmna, Tempera paint

Hala, Mixed Media

Rouna, Adobe Draw

Haroon,  Adobe Draw, ArtSetPro, Baazart

Moire, Mixed Media

Celine, Adobe Draw



Comments

  1. Was this a classroom central idea? Or an Art standalone?

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  2. These portraits are amazing! I teach art to 5th-graders. Very creative use of multi-media! I need to try Adobe Draw. Embroidery is a very interesting and textural way to do a self-portrait. Fun stuff!!

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