Creating a portrait in elementary school is a natural part of any art curriculum. Over my 13 years as an art teacher, I taught thousands of kids how to draw portraits--whether of themselves, a friend or an imaginary person.

It may surprise you that teaching a child how to draw a portrait is not just about eye-placement or looking into a mirror, it's also about how to create a piece of art that captures the likeness not just through drawing but with texture and color.

In this episode of Art Made Easy, I identify key learning objectives for each grade level, detail what art supplies I love best plus how I select just the right portrait project that engages students at every grade.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

SHOW NOTES

- Information about the Summer Art Workshop with Patty, Palmer, Cassie Stephens and Laura Lohmann

- Do You Have a Hat? by Eileen Spinelli

- Fred Babb Art Go to Your Studio and Make Stuff (This is one of my all-time most inspiring poster books for art-making)