February 1, 2024
Resources for Pop Art Mixed Media Portraits
NEW: a rotating group of artists and art educators will be bringing you high quality art projects and lessons at Outside the Box Creation! February's project is designed by Brandy O'Neill: Pop Art mixed media portraits!
DOWNLOAD YOUR PROJECT PLANSetting the Stage
Sleeping Girl by Roy Lichtenstein, 1964. Oil and Magna on canvas.
Modern Art I by Roy Lichtenstein, 1996.
Blam by Roy Lichtenstein, 1962. Oil on canvas.
This month, we're taking inspiration from the art movement known as Pop Art and artist Roy Lichtenstein to create multi-media self-portraits. We will use a few different mediums and materials to embellish the background of our portraits and then create prints over top.
What is Pop Art?
Did you know that pop art is an art movement that uses everyday objects and makes them shine?
Pop Art started in the mid-to-late 1950s. This art movement broke away from traditional art and used everyday items as subjects while drawing inspiration from popular culture. The TV was a big contributor as it had just become accessible to more people, making commercials and advertising a more common thing in the home. Pop Art artists also used comic books and newspapers to create from things people saw every day. Artists also used everyday objects, like food and furniture, and displayed them in a new way!
Artist Roy Lichtenstein created large, comic-book-like art. His art had tiny dots in it to resemble how older printers printed one dot at a time to create a whole image! Lichtenstein used bright, bold colors and often focused on the primary colors in his work.
Can you see the primary colors in LIchtenstein's work above?
What do you think about his works of art?
Do you enjoy looking at them? Why or why not?
Can you see the newspaper dots in those pictures?
Which ones look like comic book pictures, and why?
This month's book is Busy Betty by Reese Witherspoon, illustrated by Xindi Yan. We chose this fun, colorful story to go along with the bright and loud colors in pop art. Take note of Betty's silly faces--in our Taking it Further, you'll be playing with funny expressions of your own!
Download this month's project plan to get started. Happy creating!
Resources for Further Learning:
Tate Museum for Kids on Pop Art
Ducksters History: Pop Art for Kids
Supplies Needed for Insider's Club Members (or if you're a box subscriber & want to purchase additional supplies)
Strongly recommended: Busy Betty by Reese Witherspoon. You can purchase it or find it at your local library, or watch our Artist in Residence's read aloud below!
Watercolor paper like this
Copy paper like this
Watercolor paint (comes with 1 paintbrush) like this
Watercolor paintbrushes like these
Tempera paint in primary colors (red, yellow, blue) like these
Bubble wrap, 12x12 squares or smaller, like this
A permanent marker like this
*a non-permanent marker will not withstand applications of paint on top of it
Handheld mirror like so
How to Draw a Face Worksheet here
Something to cover your work surface such as an old shower curtain liner, cardboard, or even old rags and paper towels.
*The above Amazon links are affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of them we may earn a very small commission but it does not increase your price at all, so we hope you will!
Main Project Tutorial
Taking It Further
Read Together
About the Artist
Brandy O'Neill
Hi! I am a mural artist (so I like to transform spaces and walls) and an art teacher. I have my masters in art education and I am a big believer in art being a creative outlet and something for everyone! Art is all about the process and the journey, not the end result. Drawing is my passion. Using a variety of materials, imagination, and experimentation, art comes alive!
Printable Shapes Game & Answer Key
Our newly designed project instructions feature an activity just for fun!
The February game is a shape & color matching game found on page 11 of the printed insert.
Below is a printable version of the game for sharing and the answer key.
About the Insider’s Club
The Outside the Box Insider’s Club is a monthly digital membership that includes videos, downloadable curriculum/project plans, and tips to make it easy for parents to do art regularly with their kids! If you know someone who would enjoy this, please share the Outside the Box Insider's Club. If you have been a box subscriber for a year or more and have accumulated a large stash of art supplies, you may want to switch to the Insider's Club digital membership.
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