Wild Side/Calm Side Self-Portraits

This lesson starts with a discussion about how lines and colors can show emotion. One of my favorite books to read first is "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" which shows a lot of emotion with simple line drawings.

1. Give the students a head and shoulder cardboard template to trace in pencil on a sheet of paper. Ask them to draw a line down the middle of the head.
2. After a discussion about how lines can show feelings, instruct the students to choose one side and draw face features and hair in a "wild" manner. Lots of zig-zags and energetic lines may be used. The remaining side of the face and neck are to be drawn with simple, smooth "calm" lines. When complete, all the pencil lines then are traced with a thick black marker.
3. After a discussion about how colors can show emotion, instruct the students to fill in the "wild" side with crazy colors (generally red and orange) and the "calm" side with peaceful colors. I think oil pastels produce the most vivid results, but crayons can work too.
4. Make sure the students also fill in the background. Remind them that the goal is for both sides to look different, much the way their feelings can be sometimes.

CA Visual Art Standard: Creative Expression, Grade One
2.4 Plan and use variations in line, shape/form, color, and texture to communicate ideas or feelings in works of art.