Submitted by:
Geoff Snyder, a teacher at Harry Hoag Elementary in Fort Plain, NY
Objectives:
Students will gain an understanding of Andy Warhol's work and the origins of "Pop Art".
Students will also learn techniques in the correct placement of facial features.
Vocabulary:
Andy Warhol, pop art, portraits, color, bold, repetition
Andy Warhol
Green Marilyn, 1962
silkscreen on synthetic polymer paint on canvas, (20" x 16")
Gift of William C. Seitz and Irma S. Seitz, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Reprinted with Permission
What You Need:
visuals of Andy Warhol's work
6x6 inch drawing paper
pencils
mirrors
crayons
glue
18x24 inch black construction paper
black marker
What You Do:
Day One:
Introduce Andy Warhol to the class. If possible have reproductions of "100
Soup Cans, 25 Marilyns and Green Coca-Cola Bottles, 1962. Explain the term
"pop art" and how the term applies to Warhol's work. Also point out the use
of repetition in Warhol's work and how he wanted to become a machine.
Explain to the students that they will be creating self-portraits, but using
Warhol's sense of color and use of repetition. Show students the correct way
of drawing the human head and placement of their facial features. Each
student should have a mirror (a picture of them will work also) before working
and remind them to use it. Give each student a sheet of 6x6 inch white
drawing paper. Each student should then draw his or her face. Remind the
students to keep it simple and not to add to much detail. When each student
has finished, they are to go over their drawing in black marker.
Before the next class, photocopy each student's portrait 6 times. This is the
repetition part of the lesson.
Day Two and Three:
Begin class recapping the day before and talk about Warhol's use of
repetition and wanting to be a machine. Hand each student their drawing and
6 photocopies. I have my students color each portrait using 3 colors. They
are to color each section of the portrait (hair, face, shoulders and background)
a solid color. My students can only use a color combination once. They can
use the same colors again, but not the same combination. I also discourage
the use of black, white and brown crayons. I tell my students to keep their
portraits as bright and colorful as possible.
Once the students have finished coloring each portrait they are to cut
them out. They should be cut out to their original 6x6 inch size. Give each
student a sheet of 18x24 inch black construction paper. The students are to
arrange and then glue their 6 portraits to the black paper. This should be done
horizontally. Close the lesson by discussing Warhol and how his work related
to the project. Have a small art show by hanging up all the works around the
room and let the students walk around and look at each one. Have the
students pick a favorite work and explain why they like it.
KinderArt® Lesson/Activity 
