Creating Self-Portrait

'A' loves creating self-portraits pretty much like any other child. Therefore, I try to help her out with different art techniques and mediums every now and then. So far she has drawn self & family portraits in regular pencil colour, picasso style, mixed medium and this time we tried out clay on canvas. Doesn't it sound very exciting? I was super thrilled, much before she got her hands on the task. Thus, I landed up documenting the entire process this time in a video format. 

Watch the video here 👇

I forgot to mention that, we also read a wonderful book before getting onto this art project of ours. 

1. Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Get your copy here)

I chose this book because it is collection of poetry with mini-engaging stories about girls of all kinds: girls who feel happy, sad, scared, powerful; girls who love their bodies and girls who don't; country girls, city girls; girls who love their mother and girls who wish they had a father. The vibrant portraits on canvas offers opportunity to the young readers to find themselves and each other in one of these portraits.

You must be wondering, what is a portrait or self-portrait? Why is it so important ?

All artists at any given point of time in their lives have created self-portraits. Self- portrait act as a medium both for children and even an artist, to express their identity beyond their physical appearance. 

Self-portraits can act as a very powerful tool for children to enhance their observational skills and be more aware of oneself. It also encourages them to devote time introspecting and asking themselves questions like:

• how they see themselves?

• how they want to present themselves?

• what they think they are or they would want to be?

• what's important to them?

• which art form best expresses their persona and much more.

The aforementioned explains why I spend time with 'A' trying out self-portraits at regular intervals. It also offers me opportunity for the following:

• helps me document her portrait over the years, with noticeable changes.
• we discuss history of arts and various artists.
• we read books about art and projects we can create at home with minimal supplies.
• we visit museums to appreciate art and explore.

Sharing some of our favourite ART Books, which we have read so far:

2. The Story of Painting by Abigail Wheatley (Get your copy here)

3. A Child's Introduction To Art: The World's Greatest Paintings and Sculptures (A Child's Introduction Series) by Heather Alexander (Get your copy here)

4. The Illustrated Story of Art: The Great Art Movements and the Paintings that Inspired them by DK (Get your copy here)

Get going, fetch yourself the 'Art Supplies' and start off with your self-portrait, do not miss to read some books too.  Hashtag me #mymotherhoodstudio and share your self-portraits.