Make a Self-Portrait

In this activity, you will:

• Identify visual clues and explore what they tell about a person’s identity.
• Create a self-portrait that holds clues about your identity.
• Reflect on, and describe your creative process when making your self-portrait.

• Multiple Parts

• Photo of yourself, selfie, or mirror (choose one)
• Large paper (at least 11” x 17”)
• Pencils
• Colored pencils, markers, or paint/brushes (choose one)
• Writing paper
• Collage materials and glue (optional)

Find Inspiration from an Ancient Portrait

Reflect on or discuss the following questions:

• Look at the mummy portrait of a woman. Zoom in to see the details. What do you think the artist wanted future generations to remember about her?
• How would you want to be remembered 500 or even 1,000 years from now? What parts of your personality, interests, or life would you want people to know about?
• What details could you include in a self-portrait to give clues about who you are?

Optional Activity

Read about the Mummy Portrait of Isidora to learn more about the details in her portrait and what they tell us about who she was.

Plan Your Project

• List three to five things about yourself that you want to show in your self-portrait.
• Decide how to show these characteristics through visual details. Jot down notes about what you’ll include.
• Choose your materials. Will you draw, paint, or create this digitally?

Ideas to Get You Started

Consider the following aspects of your identity and which ones you might want to represent in your self-portrait:

• A sport, instrument, or hobby you love
• An object from your culture or family traditions
• A book, game, movie, or show that means a lot to you
• A special pet, a place, or something from your neighborhood
• Something that represents a goal or dream you have

Create Your Self-Portrait

Use large paper (11” x 17” or bigger) to sketch your portrait outline. Look at a photo of yourself, selfie, or mirror as you create the outline. You can also make a digital sketch if you prefer.

Add color and details that give clues about who you are and how you want to be remembered. Use whatever materials work best—colored pencils, markers, or digital tools. Optional: Add collage materials such as beads to embellish.

Make sure your self-portrait includes the following elements:

• A drawing of yourself that includes your face and shoulders (at minimum)
• At least three symbols or objects that represent who you are
• A background that tells us something about your world
• Intentional color choices—be ready to explain why you chose each color

Write a Reflection About Your Self-Portrait

After you finish your portrait, answer these questions on a separate piece of paper. Write in complete sentences.

• What symbols did you include, and what does each one represent about you?
• What colors did you choose and why?
• If someone found this portrait 500 years from now, what would they know about you? What might they be confused about?
• What is one thing you noticed about the Egyptian portrait that influenced your own work?

A portrait of oneself, often an artist, done by oneself as a painting, drawing, sculpture, or other medium.