Exploring Identity Through Self-Portraits

Middle school art students at Rota Middle High School recently completed a self-portrait project that combined technical skill with personal expression. Students began by learning the fundamentals of facial proportions before experimenting with watercolor techniques to create vibrant, colorful portraits that reflect aspects of their personalities.

Advanced students took the challenge further by studying positive and negative space in portraiture. Their artwork contrasted different sides of their personalities through color, symbolism, and imagery.

Eighth grader Vanessa C. shared:
“I used a picture of my face to create a negative and positive space. I colored my two faces, one being colorful and the other one lacking those bright positive colors. My face being the negative space and my background being the positive space, I filled the positive space with things I often find myself doing or enjoying. Throughout my whole painting I colored everything with watercolor bright and dark colors then outlined all of the things in the background to make them more visible, including my face.”

Classmate Angelia R., also in 8th grade, explained her Side Profile artwork:
“My positive space has crocheting and knitting, which is my hobby and what makes me happy! It also includes hooks, scissors, a tablet playing a video of crocheting stuff, and a darning needle. In my negative space are the colors blue and purple, blue for chill, and purple for anxious, colors that express my different feelings.”

These projects not only showcase students’ artistic growth but also provide a meaningful outlet for them to explore and communicate their identities through visual storytelling.