- Make a portrait of an individual from real life or fiction who inspires you.
- Use unexpected materials to assemble your portrait as a collage.
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Assemble a Portrait
Use what you’ve learned about materials to represent someone you admire

©Heather Weston Photographs.

Assemble a Portrait
Project Prompt:
Parameters:
- Work out your composition by making a series of simple sketches.
- Jot down notes about materials you might use.
- How can the materials support your ideas about the subject?
- Consider how difficult it might be to obtain and/or work with the materials before finalizing your design.
- Lightly sketch the outlines, identifying the main shapes.
- As you attach the materials, think about how you can use color, tonality, texture, and pattern to add visual interest.
Experiment at Home:
You might be surprised by the materials available at home. Look for dried beans or pasta in the pantry, nuts and bolts in the garage, or old magazines in the recycling bin.
Before you begin, check out these examples by Wook Choi and Justin Rhee’s students at Oogie Art in New York, New York!


Assemble a Portrait Hands-on Project
Students from Wook Choi and Justin Rhee’s classes at Oogie Art in New York, New York used found materials to portray people or fictional characters they admire in collages. Click through to see helpful tips and examples before creating your own portrait.
Lesson by and photographs courtesy of Wook Choi and Justin Rhee at Oogie Art.

Select materials to represent your subject in a collage. Consider which materials are readily available and which ones will be easiest to manipulate

Lightly sketch your design in pencil on a large sheet of paper or canvas. Use simple shapes.

Begin assembling your collage.

You might try juxtaposing materials with contrasting patterns . . .

textures . . .

and/or colors.

Eunice layers cut images to create texture.

How does Clara L. use symbols?

Why might Clara O. incorporate pages of a book to illustrate this fictional character?
Upcycled Art With a Message
Objectives:
Students will craft a message that is important to them and then create an artwork using upcycled materials to express their message.
Preparation:
Introduce students to the artist El Anatsui and discuss his artwork shown in On the World Stage. Explain that he uses upcycled materials to share a message about consumerism and its effects on the environment. Tell students that they will create their own upcycled artworks with a message using old compact discs. When they are finished, they will work together to create a class tapestry using all the CDs.
Before you begin, check out these examples by Cassondra Smith and Stacey Cramer’s students at Maple Grove Primary School in Battle Ground, Washington!


Upcycled Art With a Message Hands-On Project
Students from Maple Grove Primary School in Battle Ground, Washington, used compact discs and other upcycled materials to create artworks with a message. Click through to see helpful tips and inspiring examples before creating your own artwork.
Lesson by Cassondra Smith and Stacey Cramer. Photographs courtesy of Cassondra Smith and Stacey Cramer.

Trace a CD on paper several times. On each traced circle, make a sketch to develop your design.

Think about the materials you will incorporate in your design. Include notes about these materials in your sketches.

Begin making your favorite design on an old CD.

To add color, you might use paint . . .

. . . or paint pens.

Attach your materials to the CD with glue.

Take risks and have fun with your materials!

Remember to use materials that help express your message.

When you’re happy with your design, share it with classmates.

Write an artist statement. Discuss how you used upcycled materials to express your message.

This student uses ordinary materials, like cotton and a patch.

How do Kesla’s materials support her message?

What do you think this design conveys?

Now it’s your turn! How will you use what you’ve learned about materials to create an expressive work with a message?
Article Type
Teaching Resources

Use what you’ve learned about materials to represent someone you admire

Assemble a Portrait Hands-on Project
Students from Wook Choi and Justin Rhee’s classes at Oogie Art in New York, New York used found materials to portray people or fictional characters they admire in collages. Click through to see helpful tips and examples before creating your own portrait.
Lesson by and photographs courtesy of Wook Choi and Justin Rhee at Oogie Art.

Select materials to represent your subject in a collage. Consider which materials are readily available and which ones will be easiest to manipulate

Lightly sketch your design in pencil on a large sheet of paper or canvas. Use simple shapes.

Begin assembling your collage.

You might try juxtaposing materials with contrasting patterns . . .

textures . . .

and/or colors.

Eunice layers cut images to create texture.

How does Clara L. use symbols?

Why might Clara O. incorporate pages of a book to illustrate this fictional character?


Create an artwork using upcycled materials to express a message that is important to you.

Upcycled Art With a Message Hands-On Project
Students from Maple Grove Primary School in Battle Ground, Washington, used compact discs and other upcycled materials to create artworks with a message. Click through to see helpful tips and inspiring examples before creating your own artwork.
Lesson by Cassondra Smith and Stacey Cramer. Photographs courtesy of Cassondra Smith and Stacey Cramer.

Trace a CD on paper several times. On each traced circle, make a sketch to develop your design.

Think about the materials you will incorporate in your design. Include notes about these materials in your sketches.

Begin making your favorite design on an old CD.

To add color, you might use paint . . .

. . . or paint pens.

Attach your materials to the CD with glue.

Take risks and have fun with your materials!

Remember to use materials that help express your message.

When you’re happy with your design, share it with classmates.

Write an artist statement. Discuss how you used upcycled materials to express your message.

This student uses ordinary materials, like cotton and a patch.

How do Kesla’s materials support her message?

What do you think this design conveys?

Now it’s your turn! How will you use what you’ve learned about materials to create an expressive work with a message?
