Monster Spotlight Portraits

A different approach to portraits

I like how by using colored paper and adding a white circle to act as a spotlight on the face creates a whole new composition to a portrait.

For this project, students create a monster with black ink on colored paper with a white circle on the face to act as a spotlight. Students have two sketchbook assignments. One is drawing classic monsters and the other is practicing drawing faces. Then they do three rough drafts before starting the final.

Part 1: Classic Monsters

Part 2: Classic Monsters

Part 1 Classical Monsters.mp4

Part 1: Classic Monsters

Students practice drawing the werewolf, Frankenstein, and the Bride of Frankenstein

Part 2 Classical Monsters.mp4

Part 2: Classic Monsters

Students practice drawing the creature from the black lagoon and the wicked witch

Three Faces

Face Drawing Review and Rough Drafts for Main Assignment

Every year, we review the three basic face poses (front of face, side profile, and three-quarter). So, I have a second sketchbook assignment for students to draw these three poses. Then students draw three different rough drafts of their own monster design for the Spotlight Portrait. The portrait needs to have facial features redesigned as a new monster.

My other example