Crazy Cool Creative Watercolor Self-Portraits

Yes...crazy cool creative.  Try saying that 5 times fast.   So, since I have been gone so long from the blog world (3 whole months!), I thought I would post some projects from my painting classes.  So here are their "crazy, cool and creative" self-portraits done in watercolor. 

Some close up ones:


I love this one because it totally fits his personality.....

And this one turned out pretty well:

To complete this project I took a high contrast picture of each student with my digital camera and then played around with it in my iphoto program to get the best contrasts.  I wanted the shadows to help define the students' faces.  Students then gridded their photographs and drew their faces on watercolor paper using the grid as a guide.  They then had to fracture their faces into different shapes and use at least 10 different watercolor techniques (rubbing alcohol, salt, wax resist, saran wrap, etc.)  I will have to post the watercolor technique chart in another blog post!  The students completed these portraits with my long-term sub while I was gone on maternity leave.  I was so lucky to have such a wonderful sub!

Well I hope you have a fantastic day today!  What are your plans?  This morning I have to take Little "I" in for her 6 month dr. appointment.  YUCK:(  She has to get another round of vaccines today.  Poor "I".  Other than that I think I am going to try and get some art done today and of course play with Little "I". 

Intro to Art Projects

Here are some of my Intro to Art students' early exam projects. At my school the art department is allowed to give a project to students for their exams. If the students finish the project they do not have to come in during the exam period. It works really well to motivate students to work!

For the early exam project students were to draw a collection of 7 items from observation. They could use their favorite medium or combination of media (we previously worked with all different kind of media such as paint, charcoal, pencil, pen, oil pastels and colored pencils on other projects.) I had in class a box of wooden shapes, a collection of glass bottles, a box of shoes and fake flowers. If they wanted to bring in their own collection they could. My main objective was to have students draw from observation and to shade the objects to make them appear 3-D. I will be posting this lesson to my educator page if you want to check back for it.



Shapes done with pencil


Shapes done in ink on a light gray painted background


There is always one really creative student! This was done with oil pastels on a painted background.


My bulletin board of shapes (this was a popular item to draw apparently!)


Art supplies done with ink on a painted background


Perfume bottles done with a charcoal pencil on a painted background

What is Beauty?

Here is my painting class's next project- I copied and pasted right from the handout I am giving them.

Some quick background info: We have been working with watercolors for the past month and our next big painting assignment is to create an artwork that illustrates what the student thinks is considered beautiful. I like to keep things pretty vague so that the student can really be creative and not have a ton of restrictions. I also showed students a powerpoint on Robert Rauschenberg a Pop artist who used a lot of transfer techniques, assemblage and collage in his art.

This assignment is to help in the brainstorm process for the “What is Beauty” painting assignment. It is also meant to be a unique work of art in it’s own right at the end of the process.

Steps to complete the collage:


1.Collect 10 (depending on size) images that relate to what you perceive beauty to be from magazines, newspapers, images printed from online or personal photographs. Give me at least one to photocopy for packing tape transfer method.

2. Stretch or tape your watercolor paper on your board. Alter your watercolor paper (backing for your collage) using at least one texture technique (sponging, salt, saran wrap, alcohol, stamping, scratching, spraying) Let DRY!

3. Illustrate at least one of your images with watercolor and ink on either tagboard, construction paper or newspaper. Make your illustration at least 4 x 4 inches or bigger. You may abstract this illustration from the original picture.

4. Alter 3 images by either a) cutting something out from the image b) painting on top of your image with watercolors or acrylic or c) drawing over the image with sharpie.

5. Complete at least one packing tape transfer with one of your photocopied images (remember step 1!) Remember to not do this in the sink-it will clog it!

6. Create your own what is beauty image. Draw from a photograph or observation on watercolor paper an object that represents beauty to you. Use watercolors and charcoal pencil. Make sure your image is at least 4 x 4 inches.

7. Once you have followed all of these directions begin to organize your new and improved images! Create an interesting composition on your watercolor paper. Include all of your images (at least 5). You may further cut and crop any pictures to make your collage flow.

8. When you are satisfied with your collage, glue images down onto the taped/stretched paper with matte medium. Add layers of acrylic or watercolor paint over some of your images to make them unified with the artwork.


9. You may add more collage items on top of your collage if you feel it needs it. Other options include adding 3d elements such as twine, string, little trinkets, ribbon to create an interesting textural effect.



I have been playing around with an example for this project to show students and this is what I have done so far...it is not finished but on its way!








My ideas of beauty include nature, innocence, wonder, hope, spirituality. I cut out images such as deer, a little boy and his dog looking out the window, trees, birds, etc. I used scrabble pieces and collaged a bird and an apple on them. I liked the 3-D elements they gave this piece. I am going to continue working on it today (if I ever get off the computer!) and will post more pictures later!

What are images/words that symbolize beauty to you?