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Lesson: Face in the Mirror - Watercolor
Submitted by: Jeryl Hollingsworth
Unit: Art/Technology - Portrait -Painting

Jeryl got this idea from Susan on Long Island (Getty TeacherArtExchange member) She did this unit for her exchange with a school in Japan. The project brings to mind the "slice of life" woodblock prints from the Edo period. Take digital photos of the students prior to this project (make a uniform size). It may be helpful to provide a template for the mirror (just to get size right).

Jeryl used Sharpies and watercolors but any drawing material may be substituted. Glue digital photo in mirror. Try Crayon for a Grandma Layton influence. See Grandma looking in mirror.

Susan on Long Island is "famous" on Getty TeacherArtExchange for her creative ideas. This is from one of her posts.

Part I: "The current lesson my 2nd grade is doing involves a self-portrait and a hand mirror. Although it has a different twist, you might be able to use it. The kids did self portraits of the BACK of their heads, neck and shoulders. Next they created a hand mirror (designed from paper), with shiny silver paper in middle. At this point, you can have them draw their self portrait and glue onto hand mirror. I, however, took a picture of each child's face with my digital camera, and glued it onto the paper mirror. Now each child created an arm and hand holding the mirror. Glue that next to the head so it looks like they are holding and looking into the mirror.

Part II of lesson: I showed them how to draw the inside of a room in simple perspective. They did their bedrooms and used Van Gogh's Bedroom at Arles as an inspiration. They glued their self portraits, hand holding mirror and all, to this bedroom drawing then painted (in water colors) background. They are really cool looking. Sounds complicated for 2nd grade, but it really wasn't, and everyone was successful.
~ Susan on Long Island

From Judy: You might try simplifying - by having students draw the portrait with outstretched hand holding mirror on quality drawing paper. Then draw the bedroom around it - this will cut down on the amount of cutting and gluing. Now I know why this reminded me of the Edo period prints. Van Gogh was greatly inspired by Japanese prints and this came across in his paintings of interiors.

David: You could give them instructions to put things in the room like Van Gogh did to transmit aspects of their personality.