Minds On
Let’s get started!
When you think about a portrait, what do you imagine?
In your idea of a portrait, what form(s) of art is represented?
Explore the following works of art. Determine if each of these could be considered a portrait and briefly explain why or why not.
Record your responses in a method of your choice.
This work was created by artist Augusta Savage
This is a work by artist Kehinde Wiley.
This work was created by Amrita Sher-Gil.
If possible, share your ideas.
Action
Get ready, get set…
The history of portraits
In the Minds On section, you explored works of art and considered whether each piece was considered a portrait.
What is a portrait?
A portrait, as an expression of art, can be a painting, sculpture, photograph, or other form of representation of a person. A portrait is intended to represent the likeness and personality of the person in the work.
Using the previous definition of a portrait, return to the works of art in the Minds On.
Would the three artworks you explored be considered portraits?
Press ‘Answer’ to check your response!
Yes, all three of the artworks in the Minds On section are portraits !
Portrait painting dates back 5000 years and has been said to have originate in ancient Egypt. Before this time, sculptures were created as early as 2044 BCE.
In the 1500s, only the very wealthy, and those with status were able to afford to purchase a portrait painting. The materials were difficult to find. Each small tool had to be hand crafted.
In the 1800s with the Industrial Revolution in areas of the world such as Europe, art supplies began to be mass produced which meant that more artists were able to create works of art, including portraits and more people were able to purchase them.
The purpose of portraits
When creating a portrait, in whatever form an artist has chosen, the artist’s intention is to capture the likeness and the personality of the subject of their art.
Whether capturing the likeness of a subject in a portrait or creating a self-portrait, the artist considers the following:
- positioning and the person’s pose
- facial expression
- the background (unless creating a three-dimensional model)
- choices of colour, texture and value
- sizing and where the subject appears in the artwork
- other elements included in the portrait such as objects
How does an artist capture the subject’s identity in a portrait?
Capturing identity in a portrait
Identity is the way that we understand and define ourselves through traits, beliefs, and experiences. Identity can contain a number of roles in a person’s life. Identity involves self-definition and expression of individuality and can also be used to make connections with others.
In a portrait or self-portrait, the artist intends to capture at least a portion of their subject’s identity.
Are you going to tell a story about your life, express emotions or communicate a personal message in your self-portrait?
Let's check!
Use your understanding of portraiture as an art to answer the following questions. Select the correct answer, then press ‘Check Answer’ to check how you did.
Let’s explore a few professional artists that create portraits.
Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley is a portrait artist. In one of his portrait series, Wiley predominantly painted young Black subjects as the focus of his art in traditional portrait backdrops. He positioned his subjects into poses that were used in paintings of white historical European royalty and people of power. In so doing, he is placing his subjects within the field of power.
The following portrait was introduced in the Minds On section. Carefully consider the following painting by Kehinde Wiley.
Arms of Nicolaas Ruterius, Bishop of Arras, by Kehinde Wiley, 2014
A painting created with stained glass. The colours are very vibrant with high contrast. The painting’s details are sharply defined by the crisp details of the stained glass. The model is a young Black man standing confidently in an archway. The man is wearing athletic gear and has a neutral expression. He is positioned with one arm at his side and one arm resting on top of his stomach. He appears close to the audience and takes up most of the painting. He is surrounded by an archway filled with priceless objects. Other design elements include a golden scroll at the base of the model and ornamental flourishes in the background, such as those that may be found in a castle.
Portfolio
Art analysis
What do you notice and wonder about the pose, position, and background in the portrait you previously explored that exhibits Wiley’s intentions?
What do we learn about Kehinde Wiley through his work? How?
Record your ideas in your art journal or using a method of your choice.
Press ‘Answer’ to check out a potential art analysis answer.
The pose of the young subject reminds me of the way British royalty would pose in their historical portraits. The walls, floor and decorations surrounding the door frame of the portrait represent the large castle homes that these figures lived in historically. Even the subject’s facial expression is an imitation of these traditional portraits.
Amrita Sher-Gil
Amrita Sher-Gil was considered one of the most famous painters and originator of modern art in India. In Sher-Gil’s later art, she began to depict more traditional Indian culture using traditional painting methods. Her later work focuses on portrait work, both by representing those people who were important in her life, as well as more self-portraiture.
Consider the following painting by Amrita Sher-Gil.
Self Portrait 7 by Amrita Sher-Gil, 1930
A self-portrait of Amrita Sher-Gil created with oil painting. The colour palette of the painting is muted. The texture of the oil painting appears to be softer and more expressive. Amrita Sher-Gil is sitting in a relaxed and confident pose, and is leaning towards the audience. She takes up most of the painting and is in the centre. She is dressed in vibrant beaded bracelets, a necklace, and a dress. Her expression appears to be happy and she is smiling. She is in front of a simple background that appears to be inside.
Portfolio
Art analysis
In what way does Amrita consider her pose, position, background, and sizing when she created the self-portrait you explored previously?
What might you learn about Amrita Sher-Gil through her piece?
Record your ideas in your art journal or using a method of your choice.
Press ‘Answer’ to check out a potential art analysis answer.
In her self-portrait, Sher-Gil is leaning toward the audience with a smile on her face. This makes her appear friendly and approachable. She is wearing many beaded bracelets and a thick necklace. This may be traditional Indian jewelry. Her likeness is taking up much of the frame of the portrait which allows the audience to feel close to her.
Reflection
Both Amrita Sher-Gil and Kehinde Wiley use paint as their medium for their portraits.
What do you notice as a similarity in their work? What is a difference you notice about these pieces?
Record your ideas in your art journal or using a method of your choice.
Press ‘Answer’ to consider a possible answer.
Their subjects are both the centrepiece of the work and appear very close to their audience. Both of these subjects appear comfortable as the centre of the work. The difference is in how the piece was painted. Sher-Gil’s self-portait is more muted in both background and colour while Wiley’s portrait uses a brighter and bolder colour palette.
Augusta Savage
During the 1930s, Augusta Savage was well known in Harlem, New York, as a sculptor, an art teacher, and the director of the community arts program in Harlem. During the 1920’s, Savage became known for her portrait sculptures of famous Black personalities during this time, which was known as the Harlem Renaissance. Her portrait sculptures were usually busts, which are three-dimensional sculptures of just the head and shoulders of a person.
Savage used plaster for her sculptures. Her subjects were often Black artists that she wanted to highlight. The following sculpture was introduced in the Minds On section. The sculpture is a portrait of Gweldolyn Knight, who was an American painter. Knight was also a part of the Harlem Renaissance.
Gwendolyn Knight by Augusta Savage, 1934-1935
A three-dimensional bronze sculpture. The portrait is a bust, meaning that only the person’s head, neck and shoulders are included. The bust is of Gwendolyn Knight, who was a significant African-American artist and who was part of the Harlem Renaissance. The bust’s facial expression is calm and neutral. The person’s face is gazing forward directly at the audience in a powerful pose.
Reflection
What is unique about a bust as a portrait?
Press ‘Answer’ to consider a possible answer.
There is something that feels special about having a bust created for a person. The artist has only their face to capture their essence and share their identity, which would be more difficult.
What might you learn about Augusta Savage if exploring her series of busts, such as Gwendolyn Knight’s?
Press ‘Hint’ to explore a guiding question.
Who did Savage tend to use as her subjects?
Portfolio
The power of portraits
Which of these portraits do you connect with the most? Why?
How do portraits help to tell a story about the subjects of the portrait?
Record your reflection in your art journal or using a method of your choice.
Lesson: Composition guide
When considering how to position and size a subject in a portrait, an artist has to consider the composition. One way to create a balance in a portrait, or any work of art, is by using the Rule of Thirds as a guideline.
The Rule of Thirds
Using the rule of thirds, if an artist divides their artwork into 3 even sections horizontally and vertically to create a grid of three by three squares. Their focal points will be where the lines intersect, which is in four places. This means that the four intersection places are the optimal places for the focal point.
Explore the following image to learn where the focal points are located.
An artist hopes that an audience spends time first at the focal point, then wandering around the piece, then returning back to the focal point.
Explore the following carousel of paintings that have been divided by the rule of thirds guidelines. Where does the focal point appear in each image?
The Fighting Temeraire by J.M.W. Turner, 1838
Self-portrait in front of pink background by Paul Cézanne, 1875
Let’s return to the portraits created by Kehinde Wiley and Amrita Sher-Gil.
Imagine that these portraits used the gridlines in the rule of thirds. Do the two portraits have important elements on any of the focal points?
Arms of Nicolaas Ruterius, Bishop of Arras by Kehinde Wiley, 2014
A painting created with stained glass. The model is a young Black man standing confidently in an archway. The man is wearing athletic gear and has a neutral expression. He is positioned with one arm at his side and one arm resting on top of his stomach. He appears close to the audience and takes up most of the painting. He is surrounded by an archway filled with priceless objects. Other design elements include a golden scroll at the base of the model and ornamental flourishes. The four focal points are located directly on the model.
Self Portrait 7 by Amrita Sher-Gil, 1930
A self-portrait of Amrita Sher-Gil created with oil painting. Amrita Sher-Gil is sitting in a relaxed and confident pose, and is leaning towards the audience. She takes up most of the painting and is in the centre. She is dressed in vibrant beaded bracelets, a necklace, and a dress. Her expression appears to be happy and she is smiling. She is in front of a simple background that appears to be inside. The model is located on all four of the focal points.
Press ‘Answer’ to learn if the previously explored portraits use a focal point.
Yes, the portraits by Kehinde Wiley and by Amrita Sher-Gil both have important information placed on a focal point !
Go!
A self-portrait
If you were going to create a self-portrait that represented your essence and identity, what choices would you make?
As you consider the questions, use the following interactive checklist to check that you have recorded an idea for each question.
Consolidation
Putting it all together
Creating your self-portrait
Now that you have considered the answers to the questions posed in the Action section and have planned your ideas for a self-portrait, it is now time to choose one of the following options to create your self-portrait.
Materials
Materials
Possible materials you might need for this learning activity:
- a blank sheet of paper or an art journal
- drawing materials such as pencils or crayons
- collage elements such as magazines, scissors and glue
- an electronic tablet for drawing
- any other art materials you like to use
Student Success
Exploring digital creation options
When you are considering digital creation options, explore the variety of digital applications available!
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Safety
Always be sure to do your safety checks before you do an activity.
Before you begin, check:
Now it’s your turn to create! Press the following tabs to check out a variety of methods to create your self-portrait. Choose one of the following options to try out!
Describe your self-portrait. How will you use design elements to express your essence and your identity? What important element will you place at a focal point? What is your plan for your artwork? Be as specific as possible. Share the details of your self-portrait that create a feeling or mood you would like to communicate.
Possible materials you might need for this learning activity:
- a blank sheet of paper or an art journal
- drawing materials such as pencils or crayons
- collage elements such as magazines, scissors and glue
- any other art materials you like to use
Plan and create your self-portrait. Start by planning what kind of art piece you will create. How will you express yourself in your self-portrait? Your artwork should include an important element on at least one focal point. Begin by planning how to include both of these design elements. You can create your self-portrait using paint, pencil, pencil crayon, magazines, or images, or any other medium.
Use a digital program to plan and create your self-portrait. Start by planning what kind of art piece you will create. How will you express yourself in your self-portrait? Your artwork should include an important element on at least one focal point. Begin by planning how to include both of these design elements.
Digitally create your self-portrait using your plan! Remember to include details that create the feeling or the message you would like to communicate.
Portfolio
Showing my learning
Answer the following reflection questions in your art journal or using a method of your choice.
- What strengths helped you complete this learning activity?
- What was the most interesting part of the creative process? Why?
- What area of this learning activity surprised you the most?
- What area of this learning activity would you enjoy discovering more about? Why?
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel…
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.