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Collage self Portrait

Youth creating with string and beads.

Collage self Portrait

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Community Builders
Materials

The following list of materials is optional. Feel free to select as many options as you are able to, including any additional arts and craft supplies you may have on hand.   

  • Construction paper in skin toned colors and precut into large ovals  
    • For younger youth, have a variety of precut shapes in different sizes, from construction paper such as circles, squares, ovals, rectangles, crescent moons, stars, etc.  
  • A variety of diverse facial features and hair precut from posters, magazines and pictures, such as eyes, noses, mouths, hair  
  • Origami paper, scrapbook paper and/or paper with various textures  
  • Various fabric scraps  
  • Scissors   
  • Glue sticks  
Instructions

Youth create a collage self portrait out of various material.

Step 1   

  • Say, “We’re going to explore creating collage artwork today to make a self-portrait. Collage art usually combines pieces of torn or cut paper to create a new image. You will have a chance to create a self-portrait using all the materials we have out. This picture of yourself can look however you want!    
  • Show youth all the materials they have to use.   
  • Say, “We’re going to start with just our faces. Pick out one of the ovals that reminds you of your skin color.”  
  • Help youth as needed with each step.  

 

Step 2  

  • Say, “Now pick out what you want for your eyes, nose and mouth. You can use whatever you want to make your face. You could use shapes cut from paper or some of the pictures we have cut out. For example, I might use two big blue ovals for my eyes, a triangle for my nose and this picture of a smiley for my mouth.”  
  • Allow youth time to gather their materials to their glue or tape them down to their oval face.  
  • Remind youth that they can cut, rip or tear paper to make up their face.   
  • Acknowledge what others are doing without using praise. For example: 
    • “I notice Dom is cutting strips of paper for his hair.”   
    • “Nora has selected different pieces of fabric to make her hair.”   
    • “Look at how Jesse stacked different pieces of black and brown paper together to make his hair.”   

 

Step 3   

  • Say, “Now look for the paper you want to use for your hair. Just like with our face, you can use paper or pictures to make your hair.”  
  • Allow youth time to gather their materials to glue or tape them down to their oval face.  
  • Remind youth they can cut, rip or tear paper to make up their face.   
  • Acknowledge what others are doing without using praise. For example:   
    • “I notice Cole is cutting strips of paper for his hair.”   
    • “Arica has selected different pieces of fabric to make her hair.”   
    • “Look at how Janell stacked different pieces of black and brown paper together to make her hair.”   
  • Allow youth to continue adding any additional elements they want for as long as time allows.    
  • Support youth as needed to create their portraits.   
  • Say, “Now take a step back and walk around the table to look at all the different portraits.”   

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