Project: Kehinde Wiley Animals

Grade: 5th

Standards: 2PE: identify and communicate how historical and cultural contexts influence ideas that inform artists,

2RE: Describe how personal experiences can influence artist’s preferences

1PR: integrate observational and technical skills to strengthen art making

Lesson Objectives:

Students will analyze the portrait style of Kehinde Wiley & how he is influenced by different cultures when making his portraits
Students will understand how pattern functions to enhance a work of art (background vs. foreground)
Students will create a portrait of an African animal, with a patterned background based on the portrait style of Kehinde Wiley

Procedures:

Day 1:

Introduce Kehinde Wiley; use PowerPoint / videos of interviews. Key points: The World Stage portrait project, models off the street, pattern included in the background is found from that area of the world.
Show photos, pass around A New Republic book
Introduce project: Portrait of an African Animal w/ African textile background
Show examples of different African patterns
Demonstrate drawing a patterned background
Discuss background vs. foreground & definition of pattern
Students will start drawing their own backgrounds, may begin coloring in if time permits with permanent markers

Day 2:

Review key topics
Students have time to finish coloring backgrounds
Introduce “animal” part of lesson
Students must choose an African animal (elephant, giraffe, hippo, lion, gazelle, zebra)
Begin drawing animals on watercolor paper. They will use crayons, watercolor crayons, and watercolor paint for animals
Reiterate that these are realism portraits