1st- Rizzi Portraits

1st Grade: Rizzi Portraits

1st Graders explored some of James Rizzi's art. James Rizzi was a pop artist who lived in New York. He created lots of art with comical features. His art featured the life of New York, complete with crowds, taxi cabs, subways and, of course, the many diverse people. One of his art works even had singing buidlings! We discussed the things we liked about Rizzi's art and why it is so popular. We talked about why he added humorous aspects into his art. His art is very popular with students everywhere-there are so many bright colors and fun things to love about his art.

1st Graders created a self-portrait "Rizzi-Style". They used some of his features to create a comical version of themselves! I love these results!

Students drew their face on a 8 x 11 white cardstock first with a Staonal giant black crayon. I have found these crayons nice to draw with when you don't want the "smear" marks an oil pastel gives, yet you still want a bold, dark line. We did a step by step for the face. Beginning with a large "U" shape and then adding hair and facial features. We talked about how Rizzi uses upside down number shapes to create noses, and many of my students added that to their face. Students colored the hair, eyes and mouth with crayons. Students cut around the faces, and traced them onto a black square background (12 x 12)with construction paper crayons. Students traced around star stencils with construction paper crayons placing stars around the face-I had large and small stars to trace around. Next day, students watercolored the face (free color choice). Students also painted in the stars with gold and silver tempera paint and could add extra detail stars. When faces were dry, students glued the face into their background.

Awesome art 1st Grade!!