Portraits
by 3rd Graders
As part of the MCPS 3rd Grade Art curriculum, students learn about how artists through time have made representations of the human face. 

First, artists realized that the face was symmetrical.  Do you know what that means?
Artists also realized that even though we all look different from one another, our eyes, noses, mouths, ears, and hair lines are in the same place on our heads.

This is a sketch by Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most famous artists in history.  The proportions he observed are the same we used in the 3rd grade!
Students could then decide if they wanted to paint their portrait realistically or with wild and crazy colors. 
Which do you like best?