SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS

2011

CREATIVE VACATION

Studio art classes for students entering grades 4-9. A two-week program available in half or full days.

July 5–15, 2011

SUMMER INTENSIVES

For students in grades 10-12, studio classes in specific disciplines. July 5–15, 2011

SUMMER STUDIO IN ART AND DESIGN A four-week, pre-college program for students entering junior and senior years in high school. Study art in the unique atmosphere of a college for the visual arts. On-campus housing is available. Students may apply for college credit. July 18–August 13, 2011

MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN Professional and Continuing Education T 617 879 7170 F 617 879 7171 E k12@massart.edu

MassArt.edu

Easy T access from the E Train Green Line or the #39 Bus

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How to Host a

Simplyput,aportraitparty happenswhenevertwoartists draweachother.DavidHock- neyandLucianFreudhad portrait parties. So did Pissarro and Gauguin.

RamaHughes Intheclassroom,portraitparties are a fun and versatile art game. They can be used to introduce students to a wide variety of artists and art skills. With practice, they are adjustable to any class period, and are appropriate for all ages.

All you need to start a portrait party is a clock with a second hand, drawing materials, paper, and an art problem. What are the proportions of the head and face? Gesture drawing? Blind contour? Sighting techniques? You teach it. Your students will listen in anticipation of the party. Set Up Teams

Organization is key. Be sure to explain what a portrait party is and what is expected from the participants. Students will take turns drawing each other. They can pair off for a portrait party lesson; but, in my experience, small groups work better. Teams of three students are better for short classes, teams of four or five for longer classes. A third student minimizes group conflict, motivates the model to stay still, and challenges the second artist to try harder. Get the Party Started

Start the party with a quick round of portraits. Thirty-second, one-minute, or two-minute portraits all work well. Adjust this round to your class time. The quick round ensures that every student gets a chance to draw and to model. It also gets students’ creativity going and shows everyone how easy or hard it is to draw and model. Give students a few seconds to share their portraits between poses. If you are teaching a specific art skill, now is a good time to quietly assess students’ work before individual teaching begins.

Continue the party with a series of five- to ten-minute poses depending on students’ ages and maturity level. Remind students of the skills they should be practicing while drawing. Start the timer. Tour the room and Continued on page 73.

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Continued from page 43.

offer individual instruction while students work.

Why Portrait Parties Work

A group portrait party is ideal for this kind of instruction because none of the portraits becomes too precious. Students can blame bad drawings on the time limit. Students will do several portraits in a short period, so you have that many opportunities to gauge their progress and adjust your instructions.

By the end of the portrait party, each student will have created a small series of portraits. Assessment varies, but the series itself offers students and teachers a wonderful evaluation. Did the portraits improve from beginning to end? Students enjoy a huge ego boost when you can put the portraits in order and prove their success to them.

Teachers can join the Portrait Party 2.0 on Art Education 2.0 (arted20. ning.com) if they want to share their students’ portraits online or to set up portrait parties between schools. Any way you use it, a portrait party is a fun way to practice art and to build friendships. Enjoy!