Thinking sheet · Art and artists

Portrait of a Friend

Look carefully at a partner and draw their portrait, then add one thing that shows who they are.

Grades
K–5
Time
about 25 minutes
Kids practice
observation, proportion, kindness

What kids do

“Look at your partner’s face. Where are the eyes? How long is the hair? Draw what you see!”

  1. My friend’s portrait
  2. I looked at…
  3. Something that shows who they are (a hobby, a pet, a favorite thing):

How to run it

  • Sit partners face to face. Look for 10 seconds, draw for 20, then look again.
  • Show where eyes sit: about halfway down the head, not near the top.
  • Give the finished portrait to the friend as a gift.

Talk about it

  • What did you notice about your friend’s face?
  • How did it feel to be drawn?
  • What makes a portrait look like someone?

Take it further

Draw a family member the same way at home.

Pairs well with

Free for home and classroom use. Print as many copies as you need.

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