Matisse Self-Portrait Paper Collage
Submitted by: Meghan Yarnell,
art teacher at Perrysburg Junior High
Meghan's website
Grade level: 5th-7th grade
Goals / Objectives:
1.) Students will learn about the artist Henri Matisse by completing a lesson on Moodle.
2.) Students will learn about organic and geometric shapes by completing a lesson on Moodle and group participation.
3.) Students will learn correct facial proportions through demonstrations and a worksheet.
4.) Students will learn how to exaggerate features for expressive purposes through demonstrations.
Materials Needed:
Construction Paper
Click on all the images for full size
Lesson Description:
Day one:
- Students will complete a sketch of their face and shoulders by the end of class. This sketch will express a personality trait (happy, athletic, creative.) They should show this personality trait in every part of the sketch (face, background and shirt).
Day two:
- Students will pick out two sheets of construction paper, one for their faces and necks and one for their shirts. Fold the skin-tone paper in half hamburger style. On one half of the paper, draw an oval for the head that takes up the entire paper. Open the paper and cut it out. Cut the scrap off of the paper. Fold the remaining half in half hamburger style. On one half, draw two lines that go from top corner to bottom and curve in a bit. Open the paper and cut it out. Put the remainder of the paper in art folders. Glue the head to the neck so the neck is extra long. Glue the head and neck to the paper one inch from the top of the paper.
Day three:
- Demonstrate how to make different kinds of shirts by putting a piece of paper over the neck and drawing a shirt neckline. Have the students work on their shirts and decorating them.
Day four:
- Show students how to make eyes by drawing a circle and adding two triangles to the ends. Have them fold the paper in half when they cut it out so they get two. Same with their eyebrows. Tell them that noses must be made with a different color than their skin color.
Day five:
- Demonstrate different types of mouths. Remind them that they are trying to express a personality trait with their expressions.
- Demonstrate how to make ears with the remaining skin tone they put in their art folders. Tell them that they don't need to make ears, but that they should if the ears would show.
Day six:
- Demonstrate how to create hair by putting a piece of construction paper over their heads and drawing a semi-circle that is bigger than their head. Show them how to fringe the paper to create more realistic hair. They can also cut out long strips and curve the tops.
Day seven:
- Talk about backgrounds, they should focus on portraying their personality traits.
Assessment(s):
See rubric 
1. Sketch: I tell the students that the goal of this project is to show a personality trait (athletic, artistic, musical, etc.) In the sketch, I have them think of ideas to show this trait in their background, shirt design and facial expression. We ONLY use cut paper for this project, no pencil lines or marker can show. The results are always great!
2. With one 18" x 24" sheet of skin tone paper, we create the head and neck (the extra is for ears). The students fold the paper in half and cut down the crease. They fold one of the halves in half and cut down that crease. They draw a head on the larger one and a neck on one of the smaller ones.
3. Glue the head and the neck together and then glue them to the background (leave room for the hair!)
4. Add a shirt, start with a basic t-shirt and decorate it. Some students make jerseys, tank tops, leotards, etc.
5. For the eyes, we fold a white paper in half and draw the eye shape. We trace the eye on the eye color paper and draw the iris to fill the shape. We use a hole punch for the pupils. The students have the option of adding eyelids, lashes, eye-black, glasses etc.
6. For the nose, I tell the students that any shape will work as long as it is a different color than the skin color paper. I draw some example nose shapes on the board.
7.) My advice for the mouth is to cut out all of the pieces (tongue, teeth, lips) before they glue! Use the remaining sheet of skin color for the ears.
8.) For the hair, I have the boys start with a semi-circle that is wider than their heads. They then cut triangles or their hairline out of the shape and add sideburns. They girls start with a gumdrop shape that is wider than their heads and as long as they want their hair to be. I have them cut it in half and then cut it into curved strips. I encourage them to add highlights, hair accessories, hats, etc.
9.) The last step is to decorate the background!
Books
Henri Matisse
Matisse the King of Color
Prints
