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Lessons

Commissioned Portraits

Explore portraiture and use collage to create a self-portrait.

Overview

Students apply an easy collage process to alter their self-portraits using photographic images. Using Andy Warhol’s photographic silkscreen portraits, students explore portraiture and why artists are paid to create portraits.

Grade Level

  • Elementary School
  • Middle School
  • High School

Subject

  • Arts
  • Art history
  • Social studies and history

Objectives

  • Students identify formal aspects of portraiture.
  • Students discuss the historical importance of portraits.
  • Students assess the importance of portraiture in culture.
  • Students compose portraits based on personality traits.
A screen printed portrait of Tina Chow against a silver background. Chow’s skin is pale peach, a stark contrast to the deep black of her hair and eyebrows, the lavender of her eyes, and the cherry red of her lips.

Andy Warhol, Tina Chow, 1985
The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh; Founding Collection, Contribution The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
© The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
1998.1.521

Materials