How to Draw a Self Portrait for Kids: Easy Directed Drawing Art Project
This easy art lesson teaches your kids how to draw a self portrait. Below you’ll find a free tutorial with step-by-step instructions and a complete video lesson.
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Got a Minute?
Great! Then you can see a preview of this lesson by clicking on this image.
It will take you to my one minute YouTube video that was made to show how easy this drawing is to do, when you take it one step at a time.
Sometimes you just need to see how a drawing happens, to take the mystery out of the process.
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If you would like to have your students practice drawing faces, and you’re tired of seeing them draw really small, this self portraits for kids project may be just what you are looking for. It instructs them to draw from the top to the bottom of their paper, and practice their facial proportions while creating their own self portrait.
Self portraits are great projects for students of all ages as they give them a unique chance to express themselves. And the more they learn about the fundamentals of drawing faces, the more freedom they will have in drawing their own.
Using Drawing Guides
The best way to get students off to a good start to any drawing is to give them a few guides to follow. Does that mean printing or drawing them first? Nope. The easiest way to get some quick guides is to just fold the paper so the creases can tell them where to start and stop their lines. All of the tutorials on this website have at least one horizontal and vertical dashed line to refer to, and they make quick and easy reference points that actually disappear as the art is colored in.
Why Make a Half Portrait with your Students?
Many students tend to obsess over making perfectly matching eyes, ears, etc. when they draw anyone’s face, especially their own. By drawing just half the face, they can concentrate on only one eye, and half the nose, and so one. It also takes a whole lot less time to draw half of a face, so they are free to make their name extra fancy, if desired.
This Half Portrait makes for a great back-to-school project as it will help everyone learn each other’s names, and doesn’t require fancy supplies or take a lot of time. Just imagine how great your classroom will look with lots of colorful faces up on display. Lots of teachers have shared their happy results with this project every year. It’s a keeper, as they say.
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Self Portrait Coloring Page
Materials for the Self Portrait Project
- Drawing Paper. This is the good stuff you can buy in bulk for a good price.
- Pencils. I like how this brand always makes nice dark lines.
- Black Marker. A permanent marker will give you a dark black color.
- Crayons. The larger packs are nice for more color choices.
- Note: All of the above are Amazon affiliate links.
Directions for a Self Portrait Project
Time needed: 1 hour
How to Draw a Portrait for Kids
- Fold to make guides. Start the head.
- Draw the neck.
- Add ear, nose and mouth.
- Plan eye with two dots.
- Draw the eye.
- Add eyebrow and hair.
- Draw the name in stick letters.
- Outline letters.
- Trace and color.
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