Expressive Colour Portraits

Overview

In this 60-minute lesson, Year 2 students will create self-portraits inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s style using only primary paint colours (red, yellow, blue). They will mix these colours in various ratios to create secondary colours, reinforcing their understanding of ratios from the Year 2 Mathematics curriculum. Students will also use colours to express emotions in their artwork. This cross-curricular lesson integrates Visual Arts and Mathematics in alignment with the NSW Curriculum.

Learning Outcomes

Visual Arts (Years 1-2 Visual Arts Achievement Standard)

Students will experiment with visual arts processes and materials.
Create artworks that show their understanding of colour mixing and self-expression.
Describe how colour can express emotions and use this in their work.

Reference:

Visual Arts Years 1-2 Achievement Standard: "Students experiment with visual conventions, visual arts processes and materials. They make and share artworks in informal settings."

Mathematics (Year 2 Mathematics Achievement Standard)

Apply understanding of ratios by mixing primary colours to create secondary colours.
Use mathematical understanding of ratios in a practical context.

Reference:

Mathematics Year 2 Achievement Standard: students "use mathematical modelling to solve practical additive and multiplicative problems"

Lesson Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Identify primary and secondary colours and demonstrate how to mix them using different ratios.
Apply knowledge of ratios to create specific secondary colours from primary colours.
Create self-portraits inspired by van Gogh’s expressive style using mixed colours.
Use colours deliberately to represent their own emotions in their self-portraits.
Explain how they used colour mixing and emotion in their artwork.

Materials

White A4 or A3 drawing paper (one per student)
Paints: Red, Yellow, Blue (primary colours only)
Paint palettes or mixing trays
Brushes (various sizes)
Water pots & paper towels
Mirrors or photographs of students (for reference)
Visual examples of Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits (printed or projected)
Paper plates or small cups for mixing ratios
Colour charts demonstrating primary and secondary colours
Clipboards or flat surfaces for painting

Lesson Structure (60 minutes)

1. Introduction and Discussion (10 minutes)

Briefly introduce Vincent van Gogh’s self-portraits showing key works focusing on his use of colour and expressiveness. Highlight his swirling brush strokes and emotional colour choices.
Discuss primary colours (red, yellow, blue) and ask students what secondary colours they can create by mixing these. Introduce the idea of ratios (e.g., more red than blue will create different purples).
Show a simple colour mixing chart illustrating ratios (e.g., 1 part red + 1 part blue = purple; 2 parts blue + 1 part yellow = different greens).
Explain that they will create their own self-portraits using these colour mixing techniques to express how they feel.

Curriculum Link: Visual Arts and Mathematics - identifying colours and applying ratio concepts practically.

2. Demonstration: Mixing Colours with Ratios (10 minutes)

Teacher demonstrates mixing secondary colours from primary paints using paper plates.
Use simple ratio language: "If we want purple, we mix equal parts red and blue."
Show how changing ratio affects the shade (e.g., "If I add more red than blue, the purple will be warmer").
Discuss how different colours can show different emotions (e.g., blue = calm, red = excited or angry, yellow = happy).
Encourage predictions: “What colour will you get if you mix one part yellow with two parts blue?”

Curriculum Link: Explicit application of Year 2 ratio skills in a real-world context (colour mixing).

3. Activity: Self-Portrait Painting (30 minutes)

Students look at their reflection in mirrors or photos.
Guide students to begin sketching light outlines of their faces with pencil.
Students mix secondary colours using primary colours, applying their knowledge of ratios learnt.
Encourage students to use colours to express the emotion they want in their portrait (e.g., lots of yellow for happiness, blues for calmness).
Students paint their self-portraits using Vincent van Gogh’s expressive brush style: bold strokes, swirling movements, and bright colours.
Teacher circulates to assist with mixing ratios and encourage expressive use of colour.

4. Reflection and Sharing (10 minutes)

Gather students in a circle with their artwork.
Ask each student to share which secondary colours they mixed and how they used colour to express their emotions.
Discuss how changing ratios changed the colours and what emotions those colours might represent.
Collect artworks to display in the classroom, highlighting the mixing of colours and emotional expression.

Assessment

Formative: Observation of students mixing colours accurately using ratios and applying colour knowledge during painting.
Check: Students can explain the ratio of primary colours used to create secondary colours.
Check: Student ability to articulate which emotions their colour choices represent and how this links to their self-portrait.
Summative: Completed self-portrait showing mixed secondary colours and expressiveness consistent with van Gogh’s style and emotional use of colour.

Differentiation / Adjustments

Provide ratio templates (e.g., circles divided into parts) for students needing visual ratio support.
Offer additional verbal prompts for students to describe their emotion-colour choices.
Allow flexible painting styles for students with fine motor challenges.

Curriculum References Summary

Learning Area	Descriptor	Document & Section
Visual Arts	Experiment with visual arts materials and processes; share and describe artworks with attention to colour and emotion	Visual Arts Achievement Standard Years 1-2
Mathematics	Use mathematical modelling to solve practical problems involving ratios	Mathematics Achievement Standard Year 2

Extensions / Cross-Curricular Links

English: Write a few sentences about the emotions expressed in their portraits.
Drama: Role-play feelings represented by colours in their portraits.
Digital Technologies: Use an app or software that allows virtual mixing of colours to reinforce ratio concepts.

This lesson plan unites creativity and numeracy through an engaging activity firmly embedded in NSW’s 2022 curriculum expectations, using art to deepen understanding of mathematical concepts and emotional literacy in young learners.