8th Grade
Enduring Idea: Throughout time and across cultures people have sought to explore and express their identities and interests
Overview:
In this lesson students will look at, and respond to, artists who explore and express identity through portraiture in different ways. Taking inspiration from those artists, and spending time on self reflection, students will create a linocut portrait and a variety of different backgrounds to print that portrait on. Students will have the freedom to create their portrait using a photograph, or by drawing an abstract, stylized, or distorted portrait. In creating the backgrounds students will have the freedom to use any materials that are available to them, and that they can print on. However they will also be given a set of options to guide them, and will create several specific options throughout the lesson that can be used for their final prints or to test on. The focus on identity will be open for students to explore whatever aspects or interests are most important to them at the time of art making, but they will be encouraged to think about what brings them joy. After final printing students will choose the final print or prints that they feel best represent themselves and create a self reflection/artists statement.
