One of the goals for each grade is to create a self-portrait. This portrait will serve as a record of the student as they advance through school.

This year, in Grade 5, we are looking at patterns and surface design. We took inspiration from zen tangles, and looked at how these might be used to cover surfaces. Students then created their own repeating patterns based on their personality, and personal history. Students then struck a pose and we photographed it. Then, using the patterns they designed, students filled in the form of their hair and the background. We were working large, so these works took several lessons to complete. It was a good lesson for the students to learn about the importance of patience and time management. Such a fun project to do, and some really interesting results.

Some of the more successful designs were ones where the students design followed the folds of clothing and the form of their body. In future iterations, I think we'll look at this in more detail; more front-loading of different portraits would support this more.