This is a great project for older students, it combines photography, photo manipulation with a computer program such as Adobe Photo Shop Elements and painting.
To find inspiration, ideas and style we looked at the portraits that artist Andy Warhol made of famous people like Marilyn Monroe, Jackeline Kennedy, Mao and others. Students took photos of each other and then using Adobe Photo Shop, posterized the photos in grey scales and printed the photos in B/W.
Next task was to draw with charcoal a portrait on a 50 x 45 cm piece of primed brown paper. Students used the grey prints to draw from, and to copy all the tone areas on the face. The last stage of the project was to paint the portraits. When painting students were free to use any colour combination as long as they follow the shapes created by the grey tones on the prints.
Notes:
- Prime brown paper with white cheap house paint or gesso if available
- Spry the charcoal drawing with Pastel Fixative or Hair spray to avoid smudging
Visual References: Andy Warhol portraits
