Our third grade unit began their self portrait unit by getting some inspiration from current African American Harlem based artist Kehinde Wiley. We analyzed his artwork and recognized how his figures often times are in a pose of power with elaborate patterns in the background. We looked at his paintings alone and then next to their counterpart. Students quickly realized the striking similarities. After watching a quick clip on you-tube shown below, students were amazed how large Kehinde Wiley works and the process behind his large scale paintings. Wiley often chooses his models from the streets of his neighborhood in New York City and gets his inspiration from portraits of powerful men and women from 17th-18th century master artists, such as Jacques Louis David and John Singer Sargent. We watched how his team of artists aided him through the art making process by recruiting models and setting up photo shoots to generate images for Wiley to use while painting.
Kehinde Wiley combined the theme of "Old" and "New" in his paintings, by taking a poses from powerful people and vibrant pattern from the past with men and women of today showing off current clothing trends. To start off their own portraits, students had to go home and draw a picture of a pattern that was from something "old" and "meaningful" to them. Next, students acted out various poses with each other and then decided on one to show in their own painting. Students chose clothing based on their pose and in addition to current fashion trends. The last part was incorporating their pattern into their painting. Students utilized patterns from baby blankets, passed down afghan from a great grandmother, clothing of an old doll, or fabric from a couch.
Napoleon Leading the Army Over the Alps, Kehinde Wiley
Napoleon
Crossing the Alps, Jaques-Louis
David,
1801-1805
Mrs. Waldorf Astor, Kehinde Wiley
Mrs. Waldorf Astor ,
John Singer Sargent, 1909
Video of Kehinde Wiley
Student Self Portraits
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