Submitted by: Geoff Snyder, a teacher at Harry Hoag Elementary in Fort Plain, NY

Objectives:

• Students will gain an understanding of Andy Warhol's work and the origins of "Pop Art".
• Students will also learn techniques in the correct placement of facial features.

Vocabulary:

What You Need:

• visuals of Andy Warhol's work
• 6x6 inch drawing paper
• pencils
• mirrors
• crayons
• glue
• 18x24 inch black construction paper
• black marker

What You Do:

1. Introduce Andy Warhol to the class. If possible have reproductions of "100 Soup Cans, 25 Marilyns and Green Coca-Cola Bottles, 1962. Explain the term "pop art" and how the term applies to Warhol's work. Also point out the use of repetition in Warhol's work and how he wanted to become a machine.

2. Explain to the students that they will be creating self-portraits, but using Warhol's sense of color and use of repetition. Show students the correct way of drawing the human head and placement of their facial features. Each student should have a mirror (a picture of them will work also) before working and remind them to use it. Give each student a sheet of 6x6 inch white drawing paper. Each student should then draw his or her face. Remind the students to keep it simple and not to add to much detail. When each student has finished, they are to go over their drawing in black marker.

3. Before the next class, photocopy each student's portrait 6 times. This is the repetition part of the lesson.

1. Begin class recapping the day before and talk about Warhol's use of repetition and wanting to be a machine. Hand each student their drawing and 6 photocopies. I have my students color each portrait using 3 colors. They are to color each section of the portrait (hair, face, shoulders and background) a solid color. My students can only use a color combination once. They can use the same colors again, but not the same combination. I also discourage the use of black, white and brown crayons. I tell my students to keep their portraits as bright and colorful as possible.

2. Once the students have finished coloring each portrait they are to cut them out. They should be cut out to their original 6x6 inch size. Give each student a sheet of 18x24 inch black construction paper. The students are to arrange and then glue their 6 portraits to the black paper. This should be done horizontally. Close the lesson by discussing Warhol and how his work related to the project. Have a small art show by hanging up all the works around the room and let the students walk around and look at each one. Have the students pick a favorite work and explain why they like it.

More Information:

About Art History
http://arthistory.about.com

Andy Warhol @ the NGA
http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pbio?32670

Andy Warhol Museum
http://www.warhol.org/

Recommended Books:

Biography: