Drawing: Portraits and Self-Portraits — Year 2 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: Art and Design KS1 — To use drawing to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination; to develop a wide range of art and design techniques; to know about the work of a range of artists including painters.
Overview
Pupils investigate the proportions of the human face through careful observation, comparing their findings with the work of portrait artists including Frida Kahlo. They draw self-portraits using mirrors, developing skills in proportion, feature placement and expressive mark-making. The unit supports both artistic and personal development as pupils express identity through their artwork.
Drawing: Portraits and Self-Portraits learning objectives
- To identify the proportions and placement of features on a human face
- To draw a self-portrait from observation using a mirror with increasing accuracy
- To know about the work of Frida Kahlo and discuss how she expresses identity in her portraits
- To use a range of drawing media to develop tone and expression in portraiture
Success criteria
- I can place the eyes, nose and mouth in the right places on a face.
- I can draw my own face by looking carefully in a mirror.
- I can talk about how Frida Kahlo shows who she is in her self-portraits.
- I can use light and dark marks to show shape.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Show pupils several of Frida Kahlo's self-portraits. Discuss: what do you notice about how she has painted herself? What mood does it show? Introduce the half-face proportion sheet and discuss where features sit: eyes are in the middle, ears level with eyes, mouth in the lower quarter. Pupils practise on the sheet.
Teacher models starting a self-portrait using a mirror: draw the head shape first (oval, not circle), mark the halfway line for eyes, estimate nose and mouth positions. Demonstrate how to use a pencil to measure proportions by holding it at arm's length. Show how light hatching can suggest form and shadow around the nose and chin.
Pupils draw their own self-portrait from observation using a small mirror. Teacher circulates, encouraging pupils to look back at the mirror frequently rather than drawing from memory. Prompt with questions: where is your ear compared to your eye? How wide is your nose compared to your mouth?
Pupils add detail and expression to their portraits: eyebrows, eyelashes, hair texture and subtle shading around the nose, eyes and chin. They may choose to add colour using coloured pencils or pastels, making deliberate choices about skin tone and hair colour.
Pupils share portraits in small groups and identify one thing they did well and one they would do differently. Class reflection: how is Frida Kahlo's portrait similar to or different from ours? What can a portrait tell us about a person?
Support and extension for drawing: portraits and self-portraits
Support
- Give a face outline with faint guide lines halfway down for the eyes.
- Draw one feature at a time, looking in the mirror before each line.
- Use a soft pencil and a crayon only, to keep choices simple.
Extension
- Add objects or a background that say something about themselves, as Frida Kahlo did.
- Show expression by changing the shape of the eyebrows and mouth.
- Try tone with smudging and pressing harder or lighter.
Check for understanding
Quick questions for the plenary or an exit ticket. Tap a question to see the answer.
1. Where do the eyes go on a face?
Answer: About halfway down the head.
2. What is a self-portrait?
Answer: A picture an artist makes of themselves.
3. What do you notice about Frida Kahlo's self-portraits?
Answer: Any thoughtful answer, for example she includes animals, flowers and clothes that show her life and identity.
4. How can you make part of a drawing look darker?
Answer: Press harder, add more lines or use a softer pencil.
Resources you will need
- Hand mirrors
- Drawing pencils (B and 2B) and crayons
- Prints of Frida Kahlo self-portraits
- Face proportion guide
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils commonly draw eyes too high on the face — the proportion activity using a mirror and the halfway line helps correct this misconception through practical discovery
- Many pupils draw eyes as simple oval shapes rather than observing the specific shape of their own eye — encourage slow, careful looking with a mirror
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Drawing skills from the Year 1 Lines and Shapes unit
- Experience of drawing people and faces from EYFS and early Year 1
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