I SNOWMAN

Almost any piece of art can be read as a self portrait of the artist if you are clever enough to see the resemblence. In fact a hallmark of great art is the highly individual personality of the artist.

This is an example of a simple lesson that is charming  and can also be revealing, if you know what you are looking for. 

Your class members or even a few children in your family paint a snowman based on the same easy lesson. The result can be  self portraits that offer insight to teachers and parents alike. 

The blue paper represents her small world and the snowman is herself.

Each picture can be a metaphor for that child's inner state. This would make a wonderful and original holiday card, if say, three children in a family each created a snowman and they were photographed together... maybe even the adults could get in on this!

Here you will see well balanced children centered in their world. Some who look at you and others who are too shy.

Another snowman who is holding on to the sides and wearing a big hat and struggling to maintain balance and yet is very happy. 

An unhappy snowman who doesn't seem to have enough ground to stand on. 

There is even one who seems to big for the space. 

Each of these snow men represents quite accurately the sense these children had of themselves in their immediate world as happy, sad, balanced or in need of boundaries. 

To try this lesson, first your beginners must know how  to draw circles and squares and lines and triangles, otherwise it will be the struggle with shapes that dominates the painting.

The make a sample. So they can see just what you are asking them to do. Don't worry this won't influence their individual expression.

When they have mastered the idea of basic  shapes, have them paint. 

First, the snow at the bottom and three stacked circles... bottom, middle and top and large medium and small. Then snow flakes all around.

Let dry.

Black paint for the hat, first a square then the brim. Then with a small brush sticks for arms and coal for eyes. Let dry.

Finally, orange craypas for the carrot nose.

Finally, you might  to ask your beginner to describe her painting. If it is by a family member write the description on the back for a memory.