Lesson #7: Picasso Faces

(image source: http://images.artsonia.com/art/large/84938.jpg) 

For this lesson students will create faces emulating Picasso's Girl Before A Mirror. This activity is appropriate for a grade three class. 

Materials: 

• Large white paper
• Pencil
• Colouring Materials
• Black Markers
• Picasso's Girl Before A Mirror painting

Directions:

Step one: Show students Picasso's Girl Before A Mirror . Have students discuss what they see such as lines, shapes, colours etc. Have students discuss what they think the painting is about without telling them the name of the painting. 

(Image source: http://www.join2day.net/abc/P/picasso/picasso258.JPG)

Step two: Have students start by turning their paper horizontally. Have students draw what they want to be a face shape. Emphasize that the face shape can be any shape; it does not have to be oval. 

Step three: Have students draw a 'profile' line going down the middle of the face shape. This will make the face look like there are two profiles and a front view. 

Step four: Have students add facial characteristics using different shapes. Encourage them to take inspiration from the shapes and colours that they see in Girl Before A Mirror. Inform students that they do not have to have every facial feature, or they can have more than the common quantity (e.g. 2 ears). Students can also include more than one facial feature.

Step five: Have students outline shapes in black marker to add emphasis. 

Step six: Have students write a reflection about why they chose the colours, shapes, facial featuers, and lack of facial features. Have students reflect on what they thought about the experience; did they like drawing in this way? How did it make them feel?

This lesson plan has been adapted from the website:http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/elem/Jeanette-picasso.htm