• Students will be able to write their name using objects that
represent their interests.
• Students will be able to use variety and creative problem
solving to create letters.
• Students will be able to apply effort and craftsmanship to
their work of art. Standard
Achieve artistic goals when prod •
A Visual Autobiography
Language
Elementary
By Leigh Drake, posted on Sep 11, 2023
We have all had to research and write biographies on different people throughout our educational journeys. For this project, I wanted students to research and reflect on the person they know best—themselves—in a visual artistic manner. A visual autobiography to me is a representation of symbols and characteristics that one uses to describe oneself. The challenge is to choose icons that can accurately express something about yourself while using a minimum of words.
What Is a Visual Autobiography? A visual autobiography to me is a representation of symbols and characteristics that one uses to describe oneself. The challenge is to choose icons that can accurately express something about yourself while using a minimum of words.
In creating their visual autobiographies, I asked students to use images or drawings for at least 80% of the artwork. I also asked them to incorporate the following components into their illustrations:
Full color or full value.
A self-portrait illus •
Autobiographical Still Life Drawings
Cupboard
Grade Level
9-10, 11-12
Duration
Six weeks, 47-minute periods meeting every day
Materials
Cardboard, glue guns, glue sticks, Elmer’s Glue, tape, mat knives, bull clips, erasures, sketch paper or sketchbooks
Any of the following can be used to execute the project: Graphite powder, pencil sets (the type that comes with a range of pencil hardness, such as 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 4H, and 6H, often comes in a tin case), or charcoal pencils.
Media
Drawing
Lesson Objectives
For the student to:
• Create an autobiographical still life utilizing objects and artifacts from the student’s life that hold personal and/or symbolic meaning.
• Develop a structure to house their objects and aid in creating a strong, balanced composition.
• Examine artists who use symbolism in their artwork. This might include Frida Kahlo, Janet Fish, David Bredga, etc.
• Display the following elements and principles of design: line, shape, value, balance, emphasis, and scale/proportion.
• Incorporate at least five different artifacts tha