Value Portrait Drawing with Pattern Background

In this unit, students will create a graphite OR colored pencil photo-realistic portrait with a pattern background.

The unit includes four exercises, one finished composition, a rubric and reflection.

Portrait Photo 

You need a photograph of a person you want to draw. This person should be one of the following:
  • ABOLITIONIST
  • PERSON KILLED BY POLICE, SHERIFF, OR PRISON SYSTEM
  • SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO IS OR HAS BEEN INCARCERATED 

Save the Photo - OR - Print it Out 

* Print it out in Black & White. The original could have been in color - that doesn't matter.

* You should have a good range of values in the face.

* You should be able to see two eyeballs.

* You didn't stretch or distort the face while trying to resize the image. 
If you are an abolitionist, you could draw a self-portrait.

Choosing the Right Person

Your portrait can be of someone from the following three categories:
SOMEONE WHO IS AN ABOLITIONIST
Picture
Patrisse Cullors
Picture
Ruth Wilson Gilmore
Picture
Melina Abdullah
Picture
Janaya Khan
PERSON KILLED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
Picture
Tamir Rice
Picture
Breonna Taylor
Picture
George Floyd
Picture
Korryn Gaines
PERSON YOU KNOW WHO HAS BEEN OR IS IN PRISON OR JAIL

Choosing a Good Photo

GOOD RANGE OF VALUES (HIGHLIGHTS AND SHADOWS)
Melina Abdullah
Picture
YES! GOOD RANGE OF VALUES
NOT THIS!
Picture
TOO WASHED OUT - NOT ENOUGH DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VALUES TO MAKE FACIAL FEATURES
Picture
TOO DARK - NOT ENOUGH MIDTONES TO MAKE A RANGE OF TONES
NOTHING LOST IN BLACK BACKGROUND - ALL FEATURES ARE CLEAR AND VISIBLE
Patrisse Cullors
Picture
YES! CLEAR, CONTRASTING BACKGROUND
NOT THIS!
Picture
NO! BACKGROUND BLENDS WITH FACE
Picture
NO! SHADOWS ON FACE OBSCURE FACIAL FEATURES
TWO VISIBLE EYEBALLS; FRONTAL OR 3/4 POSITION
Angela Davis
Picture
YES! FRONTAL POSITION
Picture
YES! 3/4 POSITION
NOT THIS!
Picture
NO! EYEBALLS NOT VISIBLE
Picture
NO! PROFILE VIEW

Saving Your Image

If you are going to PRINT and draw from paper

Use the Search Tools to select a LARGE IMAGE.

• Print the image in BLACK & WHITE

• The size of the print should fit the plastic grid you recieved, with the forehead to the chin measuring 3 to 3.5 inches

What? No printer?!

* You can email me the image and I will print it out for you. BUT, you have to pick it up at school, the next school day.
* Your email should have an image file attachment.
* Do not embed your image into a google document or a word document.
* Do not invite me to edit your google document.
* Attach the image you want printed to the email.
* Make sure the image is large enough to print. 

If you are going to draw from the computer

• First save the file to your computer

• Adjust the color saturation: turn it black & white or sepia-toned
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• Adjust the file size so that when it opens, it opens consistently at the size you need it to be (hold up the plastic grid to the picture)

•  Crop the image so that it fits properly underneath the grid

  • Place the image so that the face is the dominant element in the composition (big enough to hold the space, but not so big that there isn't room for background) Between C and I on the grid is good.

  • Using the rule of thirds, center the face on the thirds line. Around 5 - 6 on the grid is good.
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  • Desaturate the image - Use Grayscale.
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  • Place the grid on top of the image.