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Fingerprint Portraits
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Contemporary American painter Chuck Close is one of my favorite artists. He created amazing massive portraits using a grid in unconventional ways. I saw his work at the Albright Knox in Buffalo, NY (Fall of 2006). The Show was a “Survey of Self-Portraits” and was amazing to experience with my family. If you have never seen his work, you better go Google some now! What’s even more remarkable is that he was suddenly paralyzed half way through his career and he continued to work.
I was inspired by his art to create a lesson for my 8th graders. He made these very fun portraits using his fingerprints rather than a brush. I presented his work and taught them how to use the grid to blow up their photograph. Painting with fingerprints is not easy. Since we used only black acrylic, you have to rely on pressure for lights and darks. Flaws are a natural part of this process and learning how to accept them and work with them is one reason I like this project.
I loved creating my class example, my Self-Portrait. I loved it so much, that I created another for Pale as a goofy gift (above). My first portrait of Pale! What’s wrong with me! He’s great and I’ll have to pay tribute to him again, maybe in oil paint next time. :P
Below are students' pieces.
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Topic(s): acrylic painting
portrait
self-portraits
middle school lessons
student art work
2007
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By
Heather on January 17, 2008 at 12:25pm EST |