Technique Sheet-Picasso, Self Portraits with Clay

Photo of finished Picasso style self portrait

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) is considered the most influential artist of the 20th Century. He explored many styles and techniques in painting as well as sculpture, but he is most known as being co-founder of cubism. Cubism is an art style in which the subject is broken down into several facets with several views shown simultaneously.
A three-dimensional form is broken down and flattened so you can see all sides at once.

In this lesson students will create a cubist style self-portrait using clay slabs. They will develop an understanding and appreciation for the cubist period of art with an engaging hands-on experience. They will learn to texture the clay slabs, assemble the pieces, and how to use underglazes. This is a self-portrait which asks students to throw off the constraints of realism and to be creative. This lesson will surely be a memorable one.

Tools and Materials

Lesson Plan Goals and Objectives

Students will obtain a full understanding of the Cubist Artistic Movement
Students will learn about the artist Pablo Picasso and be able to recognize pieces and styles of his work
Each student will create their own Cubist style clay portrait
Student will learn how to use textures and color to create visual interest within a piece of work
Students will learn some basic clay manipulation skills

This lesson is suitable for students of all ages

National Visual Arts Standards

Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes.
Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.

Technique

1. Ask your students to sketch a cubist style self portrait of themselves on a piece of drawing paper. Remind them the key attributes of the cubist style and make sure that they are aware that the portrait should be an abstract representation of them and include multiple features from multiple viewpoints. When finished with their portrait sketch have them break up each feature into a separate drawing. Example: Shape of face, noise, eyes, ears, hair etc.

2. Using a slab roller or rolling pins roll out a slab of AMACO® 25M White Art Clay, into approximately an 8" x 8" square and approximately 1/4" thick.

3. Have the student lay the drawing, of the individual features, on top of the slab of clay and trace each shape onto the clay with a pencil. The pressure from the pencil will transfer the outline onto the slab. Next, have them remove the paper and cut out each individual shape with a clay knife.

4. Apply different textures to each piece/shape of clay. Use the AMACO® Textured Slab Molds to create intricate cultural patterns or simply apply textures using found objects or other clay tools.

Assemble all clay pieces to resemble original sketched portrait

5. Have the students reassemble all of the individual clay features back into the portrait design the student originally created in their sketch. Make sure that each piece is slipped and scored for proper attachment.

View of the sketch and assembled clay piece together

6. Once all of the pieces are reassembled, each student should have a cubist style portrait that resembles their original sketch on paper but now in 3-D made of clay.

7. Next, have the students begin applying AMACO® Velvet Underglazes to different areas or features. The underglazes can be applied directly onto the wet clay prior to bisque firing. Make sure that different features are different colors in order to make the portrait more visually interesting.

8. Once completely dry, bisque fire all of the portraits to a witness Cone 04.

9. Have the students coat the entire portrait with 3 coats of a transparent AMACO® LG glaze. The transparent glaze will allow the underglaze to show through on the different areas and features creating a unique and varying look.

10. Fire the glazed pieces to a witness Cone 05.

Glossary

Pablo Picasso: A Spanish painter (1881-1973) who is most recognized for starting the Cubism arts movement.

Cubism: Artistic movement where objects were broken up, analyzed, and reassembled in abstract form.

Slip and Score: Process of joining 2 pieces of clay by texturing each piece slightly with little cuts where they will be joined then applying slip (watered down clay) and pressing together to form a strong bond.

Underglaze: A special color that is put on ceramics before a glaze is applied. It has no flux (glass former3) therefore is stays exactly where you put it and does not flow. It is great for painting and decorating.

Glaze: A special clear or colored liquid mixture applied to ceramic surfaces that becomes hard and glass-like when fired to the correct temperature in a ceramic kiln.

3-Dimensional: Forms that have many sides and can be described in terms of depth, width and height.