Dual Abstract Self Reflections

Grade Level or Age of Participant: Adults

School, Teacher, and Classroom: Avivo Artworks with Jes Reyes

MCAD Teaching Artist:  Emily Bigus

Number of Students: N/A

Overview of Project

Take a drawing or painting surface of your choosing and divide it in half using tape. On one half of the surface, paint or draw your outer self or what others see. On the other half of the surface, portray your inner self or what you feel like inside. Focus on portraying yourself with the colors you choose rather than your portrait looking like you physically.

“Big Ideas”/ Essential Question(s)

How can color be used to represent yourself?

How do you represent your inner self differently from your outer self?

Student Outcome Objectives 

Students will:

  1. Visually portray their inner and outer selves using color to represent aspects of how they identify themselves

  2. Compare how they present themselves to others to how they see themselves

  3. Reflect on why they are choosing the colors they do 


Assessment

  • How do the two sections compare? How are they different?

  • What colors make you feel certain ways? 

  • What colors do you feel fit with certain personality traits?



Materials

Drawing/Painting Surface: i.e. Stretched Canvas, Canvas Board, Paper

Acrylic Paint

Water Cup

Palette

Brushes

Artist Tape

Paper Towel

TEACHING ARTIST DEMO

LEARNING ACTIVITES

  1. Introduction to Dual Abstract Self-Reflections

    1. Explain that this involves painting your outer and inner selves

    2. Go over materials

  2. Paint or draw on one half of the surface depicting how you allow others to see you. If using paint, allow to dry and remove the tape. 

  3. Tape the edge of the first half off and on the second half of your surface, paint or draw what you feel like on the inside. Allow to dry and remove the tape.

  4. Reflection

    1. Group Reflection

      1. Use Descriptive review protocol  ( support statements with content form the paintings)

      2. Describe what you see or notice?

      3. How does the work make you feel? Why? 

    2. Personal reflection in sketchbooks

      1. What do you notice about the work?

      2. What is similar

      3. What is different

      4. What is a surprise to you?



Teaching Artist Reflection

  • Problem wise, I am worried people will be thrown off by the word “portrait” and get too caught up in trying to make something that physically looks like them.