These are turning out FANTASTIC! Sixth grade social studies curriculum focuses on ancient Egypt, we couldn't resist collaborating in art class! Students began this project by studying hyroglyphics and creating their own cartouche, or name plate. They were taught how to transfer and carve the image onto a stryrofoam plate, so that it could be printed. After learning the basic technique of printing and having a day of practice, they were onto two-color prints. Their cartouche was printed multiple times, to serve as the background for their self portrait as an Eyptian.
Students then began to focus on drawing themselves wearing ancient Egyptian crowns and collars. They were given numerous resources from which to make sketches. We used photographs of the students to create accurate tracings of their profiles. Using this method allowed students to be less self conscious about drawing themselves correctly, and allowed them to focus on drawing the Egyptian costumes.
Once pencil drawings were complete, they were outlined with Sharpie and painted with tempra cakes. Students cut out the final portraits and layered them onto their printed cartouche background. Stunning!