Self-Portrait Drawing on Kraft Paper

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students will create a self-portrait on kraft paper using black and white colored pencils . They will learn basic human head proportions and portrait construction techniques. Students will practice rendering shadows and highlights while using the natural tone of kraft paper as a mid-value.

Lesson Objectives

Understand the basic anatomy of the human head
Learn how to construct and draw the head using proportion guidelines
Develop shading and highlighting skills on toned paper
Complete a self-portrait that demonstrates attention to facial details and tonal values

The Human Head

Of all the individual parts of the human body, the head is the most important. The head communicates a lot of subtle information and characteristics about a person, so it must be drawn with the utmost attention to detail.

Drawing a self-portrait using a photo

When drawing a self-portrait from a photograph, one is copying from a static image — a snapshot of reality. The self-portrait may resemble you, but it will lack emotional depth, and look like a photo reproduction.

Drawing a self-portrait using a mirror

Drawing a self-portrait from a mirror is more challenging than drawing a portrait from a photograph, and it produces different results. When drawing a self-portrait from a mirror, the subject and environment are alive, and changing ever so slightly. The portrait is more of a depiction of how you view yourself rather than how others see you. The self-portrait will look like you to others, but seem a bit unusual, partly due to the reversed perspective. The self-portrait may also have a more serious tone because the artist is in deep concentration while drawing.

Drawing portraits well entails looking attentively at a persons face, noticing the features that make them look distinctive, and then conveying it in a drawing.

Discussion Brainstorm Questions

Have you ever tried drawing yourself or someone you know?
What makes a self-portrait different from a regular portrait?
What makes a person's face unique?
Do you think drawing from a mirror or a photograph would produce different results? Why?
What do you notice about shadows and highlights on a face?

Proportions of the Human Head

Regardless of the variety of appearances that people have, most human heads share similar proportions with the same basic underlying structure. Here we will study the basic structure of the human head and draw it from various angles.

The shape of the head is like an upside down egg. It is narrower at the bottom than at the top.
The head rests on the neck, which is a short cylinder.
The eyes are located at the halfway point of the head.
The base of the nose is located halfway from the eyes to the base of the chin.
The mouth is situated about one-thirds between the nose to the base of the chin.
The eyebrows are located just above the eyes.
The height of the ears line up with the eyebrows and the base of the nose.
The jaw angles down from the base of the ears.

Materials Needed

Kraft Paper
Sketchbook
Pencil and Eraser
White and Black Pencil Crayons
Photographs for Reference (Optional)
Mirror (for advanced students)

Cross-Contour Line Drawing Exercise

Before you begin drawing your self-portraits, practice a cross-contour line drawing on a photo of a person in a magazine. This will help you notice the subtle curvatures in your own face.

Lesson Steps

1. Understanding Human Head Proportions

Head Shape: Draw an egg shape with the narrower side at the bottom.
Guidelines: Add construction lines for the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears:
- Eyes are halfway down the head.
- Nose is halfway between the eyes and chin.
- Mouth is one-third of the way from the nose to the chin.
- Ears align with the eyebrows and base of the nose.
- The jaw angles down from the base of the ears.

2. Cross-Contour Line Drawing Exercise

Use a magazine photo and sketch cross-contour lines to observe the facial curvature.
Notice subtle changes in the face's surface and use these observations for your self-portrait.

3. Drawing a Self-Portrait

Step 1: Basic Shape

Lightly sketch the egg shape of the head and outline the neck and shoulders.

Step 2: Guidelines

Draw construction lines for the facial features.

Step 3: Outline Features

Carefully sketch the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Focus on making distinctive features prominent.

Step 4: Shading

Identify the light source and shade the face accordingly, leaving the kraft paper visible as the mid-tone.
Use dark pencil for shadows and white pencil for highlights.

Step 5: Refinement

Add subtle details such as wrinkles, freckles, or texture to enhance the likeness.
Carefully review and adjust the portrait for accuracy.

Tips for Successful Portraits

Look at your photograph or mirror closely to observe unique facial features.
Avoid simply copying; instead, aim to capture character and expression.
Keep checking proportions as you draw.
Use the paper's tone as part of your value system.

Terminology

Self-Portrait: A representation of an artist created by the artist themselves.
Contour Line: Lines that define the shape or form of an object, including its surface details.
Tonal Values: The lightness or darkness of a color or shade.
Highlight: The brightest area of a drawing where light hits the surface.
Shade: The darker area of a drawing where light is absent.
Cross-Contour Lines: Lines that travel across the form of an object to indicate its volume and shape.