Self Portraits

One of the major painting projects that my grade 8’s undertake is a self-portrait. This is a particularly challenging task even for the most experienced of artists, but every time we undertake this task I am always amazed by what they manage to achieve. As well as looking at a range of painters and their various techniques, we spend quite a bit of time investigating and considering both subject and composition. Through discussion and research the painting inevitably becomes more than just a self-portrait, but a visual statement about themselves and the various facets of their lives. We explore the theme of ‘Relationships’ by looking at aspects of context, cycles, culture and self that eventually become intertwined in the painting. Through this process students become increasingly aware of the significance of painting in creating an artifact of its time, which is carefully created by the very person who is the actual subject matter of the work. As a result this piece is probably the most valued piece of artwork created by the students during the year and always attracts great interest in the school when the collective portraits are displayed.