Portrait of a Boy, Roman period, 2nd century. Egyptian. Encaustic on wood. (39 cm x 19 cm). Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1918 (18.9.2) www.metmuseum.org
Today you will practice drawing the head and face of a person.
Your drawing could be a portrait.
A portrait is a picture of a real person.
This portrait shows a boy from Egypt.
An artist painted this portrait almost 2000 years ago!
Artists learn how to draw people by making many practice drawings.
Luella. Portrait. 2017.
1. Fold a sheet of paper in half.
2. Then fold it in half again.
Your folds should be used as guidelines for drawing the front view of a head and face.
3. Begin your drawing with one main shape for the head.
The shapes of heads are not exactly alike.
Study (OR LOOK AT) the person you want to draw.
4. Draw a large shape for the head.
The shape should fill most of your paper.
Leave some space so you can draw the ears and neck.
5. Look closely at the shapes of the eyes, nose, lips and forehead of the person you will draw.
Then draw the eyes on the horizontal fold.
Draw the eyes on the horizontal line fold.
Draw the nose and lips on the vertical fold.
Can you use the folded guidelines in other ways? How?
Zach P. Portrait. 2013.
A student your age drew this portrait.
You can learn to draw portraits and self-portraits.
A self-portrait is a picture you draw yourself.
Ashlynn. Portrait. 2017.