How do you teach a child to draw portraits?

Introduction to portrait painting for children

Drawing portraits is a fascinating form of creativity that develops children:
✔ Observation and attention to detail
✔ Spatial thinking
✔ Sense of proportion
✔ Artistic taste
✔ Emotional intelligence

This workshop is designed specifically to teach children ages 6-12 the basics of portrait drawing. We will cover simple techniques that will allow young artists to create recognizable images of people.

Preparing for the session: what you will need

For the first lesson, prepare:

• Soft pencils (HB, 2B)

• Eraser-claw

• Heavy paper A4 or scrapbook

• A simple stencil facial shape

• Mirror (for self-portraits)

• Examples of children's portraits

• Multimedia presentation (optional)

Tip: For preschoolers, it is better to use wax crayons or felt-tip pens.

Basic principles of children's portraiture

1. Simplified anatomy - learning to see basic shapes

2. Game approach - making learning fun

3. Graduality - simple to complex

4. Positive attitude - focus on successes rather than mistakes

Step-by-step teaching methodology

Step 1: Fundamentals of Composition

Let's start by explaining the basic proportions:

1. Drawing the oval - the base of the face

2. Split it horizontally in half - the eye line.

3. Between the eye line and the chin mark:

   • Nose line (in the middle)

   • Mouth line (1/3 from nose to chin)

4. Face width ≈ 5 eyes

5. The ears are located between the eyebrows and the nose

Exercise: Invite your child to measure these proportions on your face with their fingers.

Step 2: Draw individual features

Eyes:

1. Drawing an almond shape

2. Add the pupil and iris

3. Don't forget the highlights and lashes

Nose:

1. Draw a triangle

2. Draw the nostrils

3. Adding light shadows

Lips:

1. Upper lip - two waves

2. The lower lip is a smooth arch

3. Between them is the bow line

Exercise-Game: "Assemble a face" - draw different versions of eyes, noses and lips on separate cards, then combine them.

Step 3: Hair and individual characteristics

1. Determining the hairline

2. Drawing the overall mass of the hairstyle

3. Adding characteristic details:

   • Bangs

   • Bundles

   • Curls

4. Emphasizing Distinctive Features:

   • Freckles

   • Glasses

   • Dimples

Tip: Use pictures of family members - it will be more interesting for the child.

Typical errors and their solutions

1. Eyes too big - proportion

2. Improper ear placement - using the hint diagram

3. Flat face - add some light shading

4. Identical faces - look out for unique features

Age specifics of learning

Ages 5-7:

• Simplified schemes

• Emphasis on recognizability

• More game elements

Ages 8-10:

• More precise proportions

• The basics of light and shade

• Working with emotions

Ages 11-13:

• Anatomical features

• Different angles

• Stylization and experimentation

10 creative exercises

1. "Picasso Portrait of Mom."

2. "Self-portrait with emotion."

3. "Vegetable Man" (metaphorical portrait).

4. "Portrait by description."

5. "Drawing in the dark" (developing a sense of shape)

6. "A Portrait of the Future Self."

7. "Ridiculous proportions" (intentional misrepresentation).

8. "Portrait from memory."

9. "Making a face out of geometric shapes."

10. "Grattage Portrait."

How to motivate a child

1. Organize a home exhibition

2. Create a progress album

3. Draw together

4. Use different materials

5. Praise for effort, not just results

Additional resources

Recommended for training:

• Apps: "How to Draw Faces", "Portrait Drawing"

• YouTube channels: Drawing Together, Art for Kids Hub

• Books: "Drawing a Portrait for Children", "Anatomy for Artists"

Conclusion

Learning portrait painting is a fun process that develops not only artistic skills but also the child's emotional intelligence. Start with simple exercises, gradually increasing the complexity of the tasks. Remember - the main thing is not a perfect result, but the joy of creativity and the development of observation.

Pro Tip: Start a "Progress Diary" where you keep all of your child's work - after a few months, you'll see a noticeable increase in skill!

Create with gusto! 🎨✏️