Self Portrait-How to Build Yourself on Paper?

Like we saw in children's painting last week, some of them were inspired by the mirror hanged next to the paper. I found that they noticed the characteristics among themselves or started to create a character on the paper. This time we provided a mirror, paper and a black marker for kids. We were going to draw a self-portrait!

It was good for them to start with a black marker that they could focus on drawing the forms and lines. Once children were almost finished the outline of their artwork, they put on some colors. I discovered some interesting point from their art.

A six-year-old boy put different colors in separately on the face he draw.  

This girl has great sense of color combinations. We found that she enjoyed creating character in a scene rather than building a self image.

See? some of them created not only themselves in art, but what they are "doing"  in a scene!

They have different way to express their own style in a self-portrait. I found it is not necessary for children to REALLY draw a face. Through a mirror, they see their mind and they are able to use art to represent the inner world of themselves. I imagined that if I were not here this week, I probably know who made which one!

From the first class of Art in the Afternoon, I saw their development in art. Judith Aron Rubin(2005) points out "the differential responses and associations stimulated by different media-tactile, kinesthetic, and visual, as well as verbal." I think material and environment settings are very important for promoting children's development in all aspects, thus we adults must see their progress in art in order to provide all they need!

References:

Rubin, J.A. (2005).  Child art therapy—25^th anniversary edition.  Hoboken, New Jersey:  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.