Emotions in art

Look at the related works of art and use the following discussion prompts to explore emotion in art with your class:

• What are the different types of human emotions, and how can we tell which emotions a person is feeling?
• How can pictures or stories make us feel happy, sad or angry? How does each of these paintings make you feel? Why?
• Which emotions are reflected in the painting? What choices did the artist make to reflect that emotion?
  Think about colour, sound, line, textures, shapes, facial expressions, posture, symbolism and narrative.
• What similarities or differences can you see between the works of art?
• What could you change in each work of art to create a different emotion? For example, can you make Picasso’s Weeping woman into a Laughing lady?

• A4 sketching paper
• A3 cartridge paper
• Oil pastels
• Watercolour paint
• Paint brushes
• Grey lead pencil

Students design and create their work through the following steps:

1. Choose an emotion to represent in a portrait.
   It might be related to an experience that created a strong emotion, for example spending time with a friend or losing a favourite toy.
2. Sketch some ideas for what the portrait might look like.
   Utilise expressive features, shapes and lines which might express that emotion.
3. Draw the design onto A3 paper with pencil, dividing the background behind the figure into sections for different colours.
4. Colour the larger areas using watercolour paint.
   Think about colours that reflect the emotion you have chosen.
5. Allow the paint to dry.
6. Add lines, extra colour and further definition using oil pastel.

Students show their portrait to a partner:

• Which emotion did you choose to show in your work?
• What artistic choices did you make to reflect that emotion?