Painting - Self-Portrait Series

Learning objectives:
Students will demonstrate proper proportions of the face
Students will understand the link between the art and life of the artist

For this assignment, students will look at the art work of Frida Kahlo, a Mexican painter who lived from 1907-1954.  Ms. Kahlo produced a large number of self-portraits, in a variety of settings and with a lot of fantastical situations.  Ms. Kahlo's life was emotionally portrayed through her self-portraits.

Frida Kahlo has an interesting life - she was in a bus accident as a young woman, and suffered injuries in the accident that continued to trouble her all her life.  She spent large amounts of time in bed and in body casts for a number of internal injuries.  Ms. Kahlo was married to a famous Mexican artist, Diego Rivera, who was a larger-than-life character that overshadowed much of what she accomplished in her artwork.  Often in her self portraits, she includes her husband.  Frida Kahlo dressed in the traditional Mexican costume, and wore her hair in a traditional style, both of which are often reflected in her paintings.

Some good websites with information and paintings of Frida Kahlo

http://members.aol.com/fridanet/fridabio.htm
http://www.honmex.com/eros/frida/gallery.html
http://www.cascade.net/kahlo.html
http://www.worldbook.com/fun/whm/html/whm065.html
http://www.moma.org/collection/paintsculpt/kahlo.html
http://www.arts-history.mx/museos/mdo/kahlo2.html

After looking at the work of Frida Kahlo, students will execute a series of three paintings that express different aspects of their lives.  Students will work in one media, but each composition will be different.

Students will be instructed on the proper proportions of the face, and will strive to create realistic likenesses.  Students may work from photographs or from a mirror, or both.  Some suggestions for ideas might include: