2/24 Art 6-8

 Hello Artists, 

In celebration of Black History Month we have been learning about and being inspired by the amazing artist, Kehinde Wiley. Last week you worked on your background for your Kehinde inspired portraits and this week you will add your photos. If you have not yet watched the video below please do so now before continuing to steps 3-5 in the instructions. 

About the Artist:

Kehinde Wiley is a contemporary African-American painter, best known for his realistic images of African-Americans, many posed like historic images of kings or other people of privilege and power. Sometimes his portraits feature famous people such as President Obama, but other times he uses models of strangers he meets on city streets from around the globe. Growing up in a challenging neighborhood in LA in the 1980’s, Kehinde developed an interest in art from a young age. He went on to get a MFA degree in Art from prestigious Yale University.

“In 2015 Wiley was the recipient of the 2014 National Medal of Arts. Two years later former president Barack Obama selected Wiley to paint his official portrait for the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The painting revealed a mixture of convention and invention when it was unveiled in 2018. Obama, wearing a traditional black suit, sits forward on a mahogany chair with a determined expression on his face and his elbows on his knees. The figure is set against a riotous pattern, but, unlike Wiley’s other portraits, the motif is more subdued with leafy greens and flowers symbolizing Kenya, Hawaii, and Chicago. The portrait was the first representation of an African American and first painting by an African American in the presidential portrait collection.” (Source: Encyclopedia Britannica)

Watch the video below to learn more about Kehinde Wiley.

Let’s express ourselves by creating a portrait in the style of American artist Kehinde Wiley. You will need a photo or print of a person (maybe yourself, maybe a family member, maybe a famous person from a magazine.) To get started study Kehinde's work below as you decide on a person to feature in your art.

Supplies:

• -a photo of yourself, a loved one, or someone from a magazine or newspaper.

• -scissors

• -school glue or glue stick

• -painting paper or card stock

• -markers or colored pencils

Instructions:

1. 1. After studying the art of Kehinde Wiley, decide on a pattern for the background. Think of this pattern as a sheet of symbolic wallpaper behind your portrait collage. For the presidential portrait, Wiley chose flowers representing the places Obama and his ancestors had lived.

2. 2. Draw then color your pattern using markers or colored pencils. Use repetition of shapes, bright color, and fill the entire paper. At this point you can set aside and complete steps 3-5 next week.

3. 3. Cut out the portrait photo as close to the edges as possible.

4. 4. Glue the photo onto the background using school glue or a glue stick. Carefully press it down to avoid any wrinkles.

5. 5. If you would like, use scrap pieces of paper to make small elements of the background pattern and shapes. Collage these over a few edges of the person’s photo.

This assignment is a two part lesson. Completed work is due on 3/3. Please email finished work to me at melissaallen@thecottonwoodschool.org.

I can't wait to see what you create!

💜

Melissa