Abstract Partner Portraits

4th Grade

Before beginning this project, 4th graders explored organic and geometric shapes and experimented with tempera painting.

Partners sorting shapes into categories.  

Experimenting with color mixing, brush strokes and shapes. 

Sutton created a tie-dye technique that she shared with the class.

Many tints and shades!

On to the partner portraits!

Students were randomly assigned a partner and had a lot of fun interviewing each other!


They then had the challenge of designing an abstract composition about their partner.   Students engaged in fluent thinking, creating multiple thumbnail sketches to plan out their ideas and select their favorite.



Finally, students had their choice of materials and processes to create a square artwork representing their partner.  Every one is very unique, just like the students they represent!

Experimenting with oil pastel resist before trying on final.