How to Draw a Self-Portrait for Kids: A Fun & Easy Art Lesson

Discover a fun, step-by-step art lesson on how to draw a self-portrait for kids (ages 6-8). This simple guide teaches basic facial proportions, helping young artists create a unique and silly portrait with confidence. Using just paper, a pencil, and a mirror, this activity is perfect for boosting creativity at home or in the classroom. Get ready for a face drawing adventure!

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My Silly Self-Portrait: A Face Drawing Adventure

Materials Needed

  • Several sheets of plain paper
  • A pencil with a good eraser
  • A small mirror (hand-held or propped up on the table)
  • Coloring supplies (crayons, markers, or colored pencils)
  • Optional Fun Props: A silly hat, large sunglasses, a scarf, or a funny wig

Lesson Plan Details

  • Subject: Visual Arts
  • Topic: Portraiture and Facial Proportions
  • Age Level: 7 years old (approx. 1st-2nd Grade)
  • Time: 45-60 minutes

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

  • Identify the key features of a face (eyes, nose, mouth, ears, eyebrows).
  • Apply simple guidelines to place facial features in basic proportion.
  • Create a unique self-portrait that expresses an emotion or personality trait.
  • Use line, shape, and color to complete an original piece of artwork.

Lesson Procedure

Part 1: The Face Explorer (10 minutes)

  1. Introduce the Mirror: Sit with the student in front of the mirror. Say, "Today, we are going on an adventure to explore the most interesting face in the world... yours! This mirror is our map."
  2. Face Scavenger Hunt: Ask the student to find different things on their face.
    • "Can you find something you use to see? What shape are your eyes?"
    • "Find what you use to smell cookies baking. Let's trace the shape of our noses in the air."
    • "Now, show me your biggest, happiest smile! What shape does your mouth make?"
    • "Where are your ears hiding? Are they high or low on your head?"
  3. Make Funny Faces: Encourage the student to make different faces in the mirror: a surprised face, a sleepy face, a silly face. Talk about how the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth change shape to show feelings. This is a key step for creativity!

Part 2: Drawing the Face Map (15 minutes)

Guide the student through these simple, foundational steps on a piece of paper. Do it along with them on your own sheet of paper so they can follow your example.

  1. The Head Shape: "Let's start by drawing a big, upside-down egg shape for our head. It doesn’t have to be perfect!"
  2. The Eye Line: "Now for a magic trick! Most people think eyes are at the top of the head, but they're actually right in the middle! Let’s draw a very light line across the middle of our egg." This is the "eye line."
  3. Placing the Eyes: "On that line, draw two shapes for your eyes. They can be circles, ovals, or even lemon shapes. Leave a little space between them—about enough for one more eye."
  4. The Nose Line: "Let's find the middle point between the eye line and the bottom of your chin. Make a tiny, light mark there. This is where the bottom of the nose goes. You can draw a 'U' shape, a 'J' and a backwards 'J', or any simple nose shape."
  5. The Mouth Line: "Now find the middle point between your nose and your chin. That's where your mouth line will be. Draw a line for your mouth. Is it a happy smile or a little straight line?"
  6. Ears and Hair: "The ears usually start near the eye line and end near the nose line. Let's add them to the sides of the head. Now for the fun part—the hair! Look in the mirror. Does your hair go on top? On the sides? Draw the shape of your hair."
  7. Don't Forget!: Add eyebrows above the eyes and a neck coming down from the head. Erase your light guide lines.

Part 3: Creative Time - Make It YOU! (15-20 minutes)

This is where the student takes over and makes the art their own. The focus is on expression, not perfection.

  1. Add Personality: "Now it’s time to make this portrait look like you! Add your details. Do you have freckles? What color are your eyes? Add pupils (the black dots) to your eyes to make them look alive!"
  2. Add Emotion & Silliness: "Remember the silly faces we made? Let's make your portrait show a feeling. You could also put on the funny hat or sunglasses and add that to your drawing!"
  3. Color Your World: Let the student use the coloring supplies to bring their self-portrait to life. Encourage creative color choices. "Skin doesn't have to be 'skin-colored.' Your hair could be rainbow if you want! This is YOUR art."

Part 4: The Art Show (5 minutes)

This is the celebration of their work. There is no right or wrong.

  1. Share and Describe: Ask the student to present their self-portrait. Use open-ended questions to encourage them to talk about their art.
    • "Tell me about your amazing portrait!"
    • "What is your favorite part of your drawing?"
    • "What feeling were you trying to show?"
  2. Display with Pride: Hang the finished artwork on the wall or refrigerator. This validates their effort and builds confidence.

Differentiation and Extension

  • For Support: If the student is hesitant to draw the head shape, lightly draw an oval for them to start with. Focus on just one feature at a time and give lots of praise for every step. Remind them that the goal is to have fun, not to make it look exactly like a photograph.
  • For a Challenge (Extension): Encourage the student to add more details. Can they draw their shoulders and the shirt they are wearing? Can they add a background that shows a place they love, like a park or their room? They could also try drawing a family member's face next.

Assessment

Observe the student's process and final artwork. Success for this lesson is not a perfectly realistic portrait, but rather:

  • Enthusiastic participation in the activity.
  • The final drawing includes the main facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.).
  • The student can share something about the choices they made in their artwork.
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