Today we are going to use basic shapes to draw people more realistically, because realistically, our bodies arms and legs are not sticks! One way to draw a person, is to use basic geometric shapes such as circles, rectangles, ovals and triangles when drawing people.
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America, was the first African American president. On February 12, 2018, a portrait of Barack Obama, was installed in the The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.
(African blue lilies represent Kenya, his father’s birthplace; jasmine stands for Hawaii, where Mr. Obama was born; chrysanthemums, the official flower of Chicago, reference the city where Mr. Obama began his political career, and where he met his wife.)
Mr. Obama chose Nigerian-American Artist Kehinde Wiley to paint his portrait. Wiley is the first African American artist to paint a presidential portrait to hang in the National Portrait Gallery.
Wiley mostly paints portraits-pictures of people. He primarily paints pictures of black and brown young men dressed in their every day clothing, and poses them in a way that is like the people in classical European paintings of royalty and noblemen.
His paintings elevate everyday people to royalty.
In some of his work, he reimagines an entire classical painting, with an African American subject. This is one of his most iconic portraits, which he painted of pop superstar, Michael Jackson.
What do Kehinde Wiley's portraits have in common? How can a background make a portrait more interesting? -more meaningful? Draw a portrait video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXlO6ocidiY
Chinese painting is one of the oldest painting styles still used today.
The subject is usually nature:
Bamboo
Flowers
Birds
Fish
Panda Bears
The "Six Principles" for Chinese Brush Painting
1. Your state of mind in shown in each brush stroke.
If you are feeling calm and peaceful your brushstrokes will be calm and peaceful. If you are nervous or stressed your brushstrokes may look different.
2. Using your brush correctly is very important.
3. Look at your subject and only add the most important things. Not many details.
4. Colors don't need to be correct.
5. Keep most of your paper white so the picture is simple. Avoid symmetry. (Things being the same on both sides)
6. Look at and copy the work of the masters. (People who are experts at Chinese brush painting)
You can try Chinese Brush Painting. Children all over the world practice this style.
You can look at this painting and try to copy it.
Write your title vertically.
Add your initials (this is called your “chop”) at the bottom with a red marker.
After
students have completed their paintings, encourage them to discuss the
differences between copying to perfect your technique vs.
self-expression. Ask your students which method they prefer and why.
