ADV Art

Narrative Portrait

Paint a portrait of someone you know that tells a story. Think about the person you wish to portray. What do you want to say about him/her? You may also choose your pet as a subject.

Suggested Media: Acrylic or Oil on 16” x 20” Canvas

Give consideration to the following aspects as you create thumbnails in your sketchbook:

What is the setting for the portrait? Where is the person located? Why did you choose that location?

What is the person holding, if anything? How does this object(s) tell a story about the person who holds them?

What other objects are in the portrait? What do these objects represent?

Why did you choose a particular point of view (straight ahead, from the side, from above, from below, full body, head/shoulders, cropped…)

What is the person’s expression? Are they making eye contact with the viewer?

What is your palette? Are the colors you use intense and bold or dull and muted? What does your choice of palette say about your subject? You may limit your palette to a particular color scheme (monochromatic, analogous, etc).

What painting technique is most effective for this portrait? Will the portrait be realistic or abstract? Will the portrait be “tight and controlled” or “loose and expressive”?

Allow all of the above aspects of your painting to contribute to the Narrative quality of the piece. Remember, the work should tell a story about the subject to the viewer. At the same time, the portrait may raise as many questions as it answers.

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