After studying the portraits of artist Kathe Kollwitz and photographer Dorthea Lange, art students created their own expressive self-portraits. Students began by photographing each other showing expressions characteristic of themselves on their iPads. They chose a photo and enlarged the image, using a grid, onto large scale paper prepared with a collage of newspaper and sheet music. The gray tone of the newspaper / sheet music allowed for students to use charcoal for shadowing and white chalk as highlights. A painted background set great contrast to their expressive selves.

Artists who provided inspiration for the portrait project

What emotion is being expressed? Is it anger? Joy? Utter exhaustion? 

Check out the video of our students' portraits and see what emotions you believe they are expressing!