Creating Selfies without a Camera

Creativity was in full display in Andrea Menchhofer’s art class as VanGorden Elementary fourth graders put finishing touches on their self-portrait projects. There was a special twist though. They turned the portraits into selfies by cutting them out and placing them on yet another piece of art they created – a watercolor piece of a building that was special to them. 

The Colosseum was the backdrop for Dominic’s self-portrait. “My ancestors are from Italy, and I want to go to Rome someday and see it.” Katelynn chose the Sydney Opera House for her background, also hoping to go there someday and see it in person. 

“I like doing this project with students because the buildings mean something to them,” Menchhofer said. “I always tell the students that they will have to make a trip someday to this place because they painted it in fourth grade. My favorite memory of this project was a girl who painted a building from Amsterdam and that summer she got to pick a vacation spot for her family. Guess where they went? She came back with a real selfie!”

When studying self-portraits and selfies, the big question is what to do with the background. Since Menchhofer loves architecture, she weaved it into the project by encouraging students to research architecture based on their personal experiences and interests. “Architecture is a living piece of sculpture, and I hope the students will walk away from this project appreciating architecture and its purpose as well as the history they will see in their surroundings in the future.”

Menchhofer covered the elements and principles of design throughout this project (line, shape, color, value, form, texture and space – balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm and unity). Students really enjoyed learning how to take their self-portrait drawings to a new level. Bryson said he learned how to do better hairstyles and eyes, and really likes art because “I get to move my hands and be creative.”

That sentiment was echoed by his classmates. Audrey said that “art lets you be creative and if you mess up, you can just make something else out of it.” Katelynn and Margaret both said that they loved art and that it was very peaceful for them.

Menchhofer says it is important for students to take art classes because art is a part of our everyday lives. “We put on clothes in the morning that are designed by a fashion designer, we brush our teeth with a toothbrush from a product designer, we eat cereal out of cereal box designed by a graphic designer, we go to school (bus, bike, car, gym shoes) designed by an industrial designer. These people have successful lives as artists – their work isn’t stuffed away in some fancy museum somewhere. They are working artists who shape and influence our students' lives every day.”