Hey Friends!
Do you know what a Portrait is?
A portrait is made when an artist depicts a person, often focusing on only from the shoulder up. It can be a sculpture, a painting, a drawing or even a photo. You know that you are looking at a portrait when all that you can always see is the person’s head!
Portraits are exciting because you can get a closer look at a person’s facial expression. Someone can be smiling, laughing or even crying. Do you remember picture day at school? Those were portraits too!
Portraits are exciting because you can get a closer look at a person’s facial expression. Someone can be smiling, laughing or even crying. Do you remember picture day at school? Those were portraits too!
The Mona Lisa
This piece is called the Mona Lisa and it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. It is one of the most famous portraits in the entire world! Almost everyone has seen an image of it at least once. Take a couple of minutes and look at this picture. What do you see? Does it look like her eyes are looking right at you?
If you google this painting, you will find that a lot of people talking about her smile. Let’s take a closer look at it. Do you think she is smiling? Some people think that she is, but others don’t think so. What do you think? Talk about this painting with your siblings or your parents. What do you see? What is happening behind her? What colors are in the painting?
If you google this painting, you will find that a lot of people talking about her smile. Let’s take a closer look at it. Do you think she is smiling? Some people think that she is, but others don’t think so. What do you think? Talk about this painting with your siblings or your parents. What do you see? What is happening behind her? What colors are in the painting?
Egyptian Portraits
The Egyptians made portraits out of sculptures and drawings. The portrait that you see here is at the Neues Museum in Berlin and it is a portrait of Queen Nefertiti. She was royalty and was married to Pharaoh Akhenate.
This next portrait is at the National Gallery of Art. It was made by artist Giuseppe Croft. He lived in the 1800s, so this portrait is over 100 years old! This one is called The Veiled Nun. What do you see in this one that’s different from the one above? Can you see her face? Are the colors different?
Dean Mitchell’s Portraits
Dean Mitchell is an artist whose paintings are on display right now at the Albany Museum of Art! While he paints many urban landscapes, sometimes Mitchell takes time with his art to focus on portrait work. The colors he chooses to use and the people are posed make his portraits stand out . What do you notice about both of the painted portraits that you see below?
That is exactly right! both of these people are looking to the side. When you can only see the side of a person in the space, it is called a profile. Sometimes, artists choose to paint this way because they think it makes the art look more interesting.
That is exactly right! both of these people are looking to the side. When you can only see the side of a person in the space, it is called a profile. Sometimes, artists choose to paint this way because they think it makes the art look more interesting.
You can make your own Portraits at home!
Become a photographer for the afternoon and take portraits of your family. All you need is a well lighted space, a model, a blanket, and a camera. Don't have a camera? How about a smartphone?
1. Set up a chair next to a wall right next to a window or a place that has a really nice light, like a lamp.
2. Find a blanket or curtain and hang it up behind the chair. If you can’t do this, it’s fine. Your picture will still turn out amazing.
3. Have your model--maybe your mom, dad or sibling sit--in the chair. Take a picture of them from the shoulders up. You can even take a pet portrait if you can get your dog or cat to sit still! Have your model show you different emotions, like happiness, sadness, frustration, anger or peacefulness! Watch as their faces change. Can you feel their emotions in the photos?
1. Set up a chair next to a wall right next to a window or a place that has a really nice light, like a lamp.
2. Find a blanket or curtain and hang it up behind the chair. If you can’t do this, it’s fine. Your picture will still turn out amazing.
3. Have your model--maybe your mom, dad or sibling sit--in the chair. Take a picture of them from the shoulders up. You can even take a pet portrait if you can get your dog or cat to sit still! Have your model show you different emotions, like happiness, sadness, frustration, anger or peacefulness! Watch as their faces change. Can you feel their emotions in the photos?
