Life In The Arts
LONGTIMERS PRODUCTIONS AND THE MONTEREY COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
PRESENT
Self Protraits with Frida Kahlo
Synopsis of Show
Melissa Pickford, a local artist, actress and assistant director will impersonate the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, in authentic costume. "Frida" will help students draw oil pastel portraits of her face.
Melissa Pickford grew up watching her father dedicate his life to art. he was a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to explore all the arts, especially painting. Because art was the center of her family life, she often drew and painted as a child. Her family spent time in art museums, and she learned to be comfortable viewing and talking about art. For more information call 831 883-1331 or visit our website at www.lifeinthearts.com.
AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY, SHE NATURALLY GRAVITATED TOWARDS A DEGREE IN ART HISTORY. AFTER A RICH ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE IN NEW ENGLAND SHE MISSED CALIFORNIA WEATHER AND LANDSCAPE AND RETURNED TO LIVE ON THE CENTRAL COAST. SHE RECEIVED TEACHING CREDENTIALS AT UC SANTA CRUZ. HER DEEP LOVE FOR CHILDREN AND ART LED HER TO A CAREER IN ART EDUCATION. SHE HAS ALWAYS ENJOYED SHARING THE LIFE OF GREAT ARTISTS WITH HER STUDENTS, SOMETIMES DRESSING TO IMPERSONATE ARTISTS FROM HISTORY. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF TEACHING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS AN ART SPECIALIST, SHE IS CURRENTLY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AT THE MONTEREY MUSEUM OF ART. THERE SHE DIVIDES HER TIME BETWEEN TRAVELING TO SCHOOLS WITH THE MUSEUM ON WHEELS, AN INTERNATIONAL FOLK ART EXHIBIT, AND TEACHING ART CLASSES AT THE MUSEUM.
THIS PROGRAM IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE CULTURAL COUNCIL FOR MONTEREY COUNTY AND ARTISTIC HANGUPS
SUGGESTED READING LIST
BOOKS:
Frida Kahlo: The Paintings, by Hayden Herrera, Harper Collins Publishers
Frida Kahlo: I Painted My Own Reality, by Martha Zamora, Chronicle Books
The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self-Portrait, by Sarah M. Lowe, Harry N. Abrams, inc.
Frida Kahlo: Masterpieces, paperback, Norton (publisher)
Frida Kahlo: The Brush of Anguish, by Martha Zamora, Chronicle Books.
Inspirations: Stories about Women Artists (Frida Kahlo and others) by Leslie Sills. Albert Whitman, publisher
CAREER CORNER
SCHOOL TO WORK TRANSITION
Graphic Design (Production Artist, Designer, Art Director)
Web Site Design
Illustrator
Photography
Digital Imaging
Advertising
Publishing
Animation
Marketing
QUESTIONS FOR THE TELECONFERENCE GUESTS for Melissa Pickford
1. How would you describe Frida Kahlo's paintings (the colors, textures, design. moods, subjects, style, etc.)?
2. Why do you think Frida painted herself so often? How did painting help her?
3. What was Frida like as a person?
4. What does her example of a difficult but successful life teach us?
5. What other women artists do you know?
Student Project/ Lesson Plan
1. Show students several self-portraits by Frida Kahlo. Notice her bright colors and rich backgrounds, sometimes including plants, flowers, and animals. Tell students that hers were oil paintings but that they will be using oil pastels to draw her face. Students try to imitate Frida's style (bold, simple, much color).
2. Using a light color like a peach or tan, draw the basic shape of Frida's face. Then divide the face horizontally in thirds by VERY LIGHTLY sketching two lines across across the face shape, one at eye level, one at the mouth.
3. Plan out the composition, sketching VERY LIGHTLY the shapes for hair and clothing, adding plants or flowers or animals, or any designs of the student's choice to fill the background.
4. Begin filling in the colors for the face and hair, shading below the chin to show a neck, shading around the eyes, nose and mouth. Her skin was somewhat pale and her hair very dark. Try a ribbon or flower in her name. MAKE SURE TO DRAW VERY DRAMATIC EYEBROWS THAT MEET IN THE MIDDLE. Show a bit of clothing below her neck. Keep her expression quiet. Frida never smiled in her self-portraits.
5. Press hard and cover the surface with deep color. Experiment with layering and blending colors. Make sure to FILL THE WHOLE PAPER WITH COLOR AND DESIGNS.
6. Don't worry about drawing the perfect face, just try to capture the color and spirit of Frida's paintings!
MATERIALS NEEDED
9 x 12" manila paper
Oil pastels, assorted colors (crayons ok, too)
Kleenex tissues
Pencils (optional)
books or posters of Frida Kahlo's paintings-for inspiration!
Student Art
