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Abstract Picasso-ish Self Portraits

Understand the power of perspective and create a whimsical abstract self portrait in the style of cubist artist Pablo Picasso.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Mirror
  • White Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Introduce the class to works of cubist art by Picasso. Discuss how cubism breaks down and recreates objects abstractly and how this allows the viewer to examine images from different perspectives.

  • Step 2

    Read a book such as "Look Up!" by Jung Jin-Ho. Talk about how looking at something or someone from another perspective gives greater insight and creates deeper connections.

  • Step 3

    Have students create a self portrait in the style of Picasso where their facial features are rearranged. Which features would they choose to highlight and why? What other characteristics about themselves might they emphasize in their non-traditional portrait?

  • Step 4

    Have students present their portraits to the class and talk about why they chose this innovative assembly of features and representation of their characteristics.

Standards

ARTS: Apply criteria to explore and evaluate artistic work.

ARTS: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

LA: Integrate and evaluate information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.

SEL: Social Awareness: Understand the perspectives of and strengths of others.

Adaptations

Create new personal portraits by dividing a piece of paper in half and illustrating one side while adding words that describe their personality and interests on the other half.

Use a Picasso style to create an abstract portrait of any animal.