Self-Portraits, Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)
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| Albrecht Durer {1471-1528} |
This week we looked at Durer himself. We knew from last week that Durer was a master at woodcuts but we learned this week that he was a multi-talented man as he made watercolors, tempera on linen, pen and ink, and drypoint (type of intaglio) printing in addition to his woodcuts. He, therefore, was an accomplished painter, printmaker, mathematician, engraver and theorist from Nuremberg. Nuremberg was then an important and prosperous city, a center for publishing and many luxury trades. It had strong links with Italy, especially Venice, a relatively short distance across the Alps. Dürer's godfather was Anton Koberge, a successful publisher in Germany, most famous for his publication of the Nuremberg Chronicle in 1493.
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| Self Portraits, 1500 & 1498 |
They added Durer on the history timeline and the older boys made a notebook page on him.
Since most head shapes are an oval, have your students draw an oval first. Tell them to keep the lines as light as they can so they can go back and tweak the shape of the edges later on.
Next have them draw a (vertical) line down the center of the oval. And then, a horizontal line across the center circle. The horizontal line will cross in the middle of the vertical line they just drew. You may have to remind them that the lines don’t have to perfect. Just get them as close to center as possible. Have them refer to the mirror for reference on how to modify the oval to be more like the shape of their own face.
Have them measure the halfway point of the oval and draw a horizontal line all the way across the outline. This will be the eye line. Draw another line at the halfway point between the eye line and the chin line. Then, draw another line halfway between the line you just drew and the chin line. You will now have 3 horizontal lines drawn across your outline. The first line will be the nose line, and the second line will be the lip line.
Sketch a horizontal line at the center point between the eye line and the crown of the head. Then, draw another horizontal line between the line you just drew and the middle eye line.
Self Portraits
To help your students make their own self-portraits, have them set up a mirror where it’s easy for them to see themselves. Or your students can use a photograph of themselves instead. It is sometimes easier.Since most head shapes are an oval, have your students draw an oval first. Tell them to keep the lines as light as they can so they can go back and tweak the shape of the edges later on.
Next have them draw a (vertical) line down the center of the oval. And then, a horizontal line across the center circle. The horizontal line will cross in the middle of the vertical line they just drew. You may have to remind them that the lines don’t have to perfect. Just get them as close to center as possible. Have them refer to the mirror for reference on how to modify the oval to be more like the shape of their own face.
Have them measure the halfway point of the oval and draw a horizontal line all the way across the outline. This will be the eye line. Draw another line at the halfway point between the eye line and the chin line. Then, draw another line halfway between the line you just drew and the chin line. You will now have 3 horizontal lines drawn across your outline. The first line will be the nose line, and the second line will be the lip line.
Sketch a horizontal line at the center point between the eye line and the crown of the head. Then, draw another horizontal line between the line you just drew and the middle eye line.
They can now draw the eyes and fill in the eyebrows directly above the eyes.
Now have them sketch a vertical line from the inner corner of the each eye to the nose line and then have them sketch the nose inside of these boundary lines, using the vertical line in the middle as reference to keep the nose as symmetrical as possible. He main thing is for them not to get discouraged as they may have trouble drawing what they see. Don't worry if it is not perfect. It is a first try.
Next have them make a vertical line from the middle of each eye down to the lip line. Draw the lips in between these boundary lines, with the bottom lip resting on the lip line. Use the middle vertical line as reference to draw the lips as symmetrically as possible.
Next have them draw the hairline and then fill in the rest of the hair.
Now it is time to erase all unnecessary lines from the portrait. Use light pressure when erasing the lines so you don't rip the paper. This includes the original vertical line, all of the horizontal lines, and the boundary lines you used for creating your proportions.
Next have them draw the hairline and then fill in the rest of the hair.
Now it is time to erase all unnecessary lines from the portrait. Use light pressure when erasing the lines so you don't rip the paper. This includes the original vertical line, all of the horizontal lines, and the boundary lines you used for creating your proportions.
Have them next fill in the ears, areas in the eyes, lips, and nose. Have them draw their ears roughly between the eye and nose line, then sketch out your neck. Go back and add any details you may have left out when sketching the outline of the main features.
