Delfina Flores. Diego Rivera, 1927. © Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, México, D.F./ Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
MANY ARTISTS CREATE PICTURES OF PEOPLE. LOOK CLOSELY AT THE CHILDREN IN PAINTINGS SHOWN HERE. TRY TO TAKE THE SAME POSES AS THE ONES YOU SEE HERE. A POSE IS A SPECIAL WAY TO STAND OR SIT.
Lady Jean. George Wesley Bellows (1882–1925), New York, 1924–25; Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn., 1961.
Samella Lewis. Boy with Flute. 1968. Oil. 30″ x 15″.
Provincetown, 1977 25 x 20 inches Chromogenic print; printed later. Howard Greenberg Gallery.
NOW IMAGINE HOW IT FEELS TO BE POSING FOR AN ARTIST. TELL WHAT EACH CHILD MIGHT THINK AND FEEL. LOOK AT EACH PAINTING AGAIN. IMAGINE YOU ARE AN ARTIST. WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SHOW IN YOUR PICTURE? TRY EACH OF THE POSES YOURSELF. THEN TRY DRAWING SOMEONE WHO WILL POSE FOR YOUR CLASS.
EXTENSIONS:
PERCEPTUAL AWARENESS: LOOK AT ARTWORKS OR REPRODUCTIONS THAT PORTRAY PEOPLE. PRACTICE LOOKING AT THE ARTWORK FROM A VANTAGE POINT OF BOTH MODEL AND ARTIST.
SCIENCE: PROVIDE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CLASS TO DRAW FROM LIFE USING SUCH MODELS AS SMALL ANIMAL IN AQUARIUM WITH FISH OR POTTED PLANTS, STRESS OBSERVATION OF SHAPES, TEXTURES, VARIOUS POSITIONS, AND ATTENTION TO DETAILS.