Self Image
by Mr Sam Hebden
In your sketchbooks work through the following
PPT. remember that this is assessed work, so
presentation, neatness and detail are very
important.
If you have any questions about this work, please
email me : sam@heathfield.in.th
Looking carefully at pictures…
• The pictures you will see are all portraits. A
portrait can be a picture or a photograph.
• Look very carefully at the pictures that follow.
Look in the background…look at the details…what
do you see?
• Print each picture and stick them in your
sketchbooks.
• Answer the questions about each picture in your
sketchbooks.
• Remember to include as much detail as possible!
Who painted this famous portrait?
What can you tell me about the life of Mona Lisa?
Why is she smiling? This is one of Arts great mysteries. What do you think?
Which artist made this work?
This is a portrait of Marilyn Monroe. Who was
she?
Do you think its beautiful? Why?
What can you tell me about the colors the
artist has used?
This is a very famous photograph, can you tell me three things about this girls life? Use your
imaginations! Can you find out where in the world this was taken?
Self Portraits
Self portraits are different to portraits.
One reason is because the artist has the chance
to tell you something about their own life or
personality.
Nobody knows you better than you know
yourself!
What can you tell me about the life of this man?
Do you think he is rich or poor? Why?
What century do you think we are in? Why?
What do you think about the objects that he
decided to paint in the background?
Do you think he is happy or sad? Why?
This self-portrait is by Vincent Van Gogh.
Do you think the artist looks happy in this picture? Why? Write down 5 words that describe his mood.
What can you tell me about the brushstrokes?
What can you tell about the colours he has used? (Hint *think about the last unit to make your answer even better!!*)
This is a self portrait by an American artist called Chuck Close. It is a painting. In real life it is very big – over 2
metres high!
What kind of things do you think he likes to do for fun?
Find another self portrait by the same artist by looking online – pick one that is very different! Describe the
differences between the 2 paintings
How would you like to be seen by other
people?
What powerful messages would you
wish to communicate?
What makes you, you?
The next 2 slides contain poems by a
woman called Grace Nichols.
Grace Nichols is an immigrant from
the Caribbean, who now lives in
England.
Read the poems carefully. Think about
them as if you are an old, black lady,
living in a far away land.
If you don’t know any of the words,
ask your parents or look them up
online.
Tropical Death
The fat black woman want
a brilliant tropical death
not a cold sojourn
in some North Europe far/ forlorn
The fat black woman want
some heat/ hibiscus at her feet
blue sea dress
to wrap her neat
The fat black woman want
some bawl
no quiet tear jerk wiping
a polite hearse withdrawal
The fat black woman want
all her dead rights
first night
third night
nine night
all the sleepless droning
red-eyed wake nights
In the heart
of the mother’s sweetbreast
In the shade
of the sun leaf’s cool bless
In the bloom
of her people’s bloodrest
the fat black woman want
a brilliant tropical death yes
The Fat Black Woman Goes Shopping
Shopping in London winter
is a real drag for the fat black woman
going from store to store
in search of accommodating clothes
and de weather so cold
Look at the frozen thin mannequins
fixing her with grin
and de pretty face sales gals
exchanging slimming glances
thinking she don’t notice
Lord is aggravating
Nothing soft and bright and billowing
to flow like breezy sun light
when she walking
The fat black woman curses in Swahili/ Yoruba
and nation language under her breathing
all this journeying and journeying
The fat black woman could only conclude
that when it come to fashion
the choice is lean
Nothing much beyond size 14
Read the poems more than once. If you don’t
understand them, read through them with
your parents.
Don’t forget that the woman in the poems
comes from a different country, so some of the
words might be a bit funny.
When you have read them both. Pick one you
like the most. Print it out, and stick it in your
sketchbooks. On one full page of your books,
draw a full colour portrait of the woman in the
poem. What does she look like? What is she
feeling? What is in the background?