Painting and mixed media: Expressive portraits
Exploring how artists use self-portraits to communicate identity, experimenting with words, symbolism, expressive painting and monoprinting before combining techniques in a final mixed-media self-portrait.
- Subjects >
- Art and design >
- Key stage 2 >
- Year 5 >
-
Painting and mixed-media: Expressive portraits
Please note
This unit has been updated for 2026–2027 to provide a clearer progression of painting skills and knowledge.
The old unit has moved to the Content archive area, where it will remain permanently available.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify how artists use self-portraits to communicate aspects of their identity.
- Identify artistic choices, including symbolism, colour and composition, and suggest what they might communicate.
- Use evidence from an artwork to explain interpretations of an artist’s self-portrait.
- Select and use words and phrases to communicate meaningful aspects of identity in a self-portrait.
- Experiment with colour and expressive brushstrokes to communicate different effects.
- Experiment with monoprinting techniques and layering to develop a mixed-media self-portrait.
- Use ideas and experiments from sketchbook work to inform a final piece.
- Select and purposefully combine media and techniques to communicate aspects of identity in a final mixed-media self-portrait.
Prior learning
Painting and mixed media: Light and dark
Get startedLessons
Lesson 1: Exploring self-portraits
Lesson 2: Personality portraits
Lesson 3: Expressive painting
Lesson 4: Painterly printmaking
Lesson 5: Magnificent mixed media
Key skills
Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser – Art and design Y6: Painting and mixed media: Expressive portraits
Aimed at pupils, a single page that gives key facts and definitions from the unit 'Expressive portraits'.
Vocabulary display – Art and design Y5: Painting and mixed media: Expressive portraits
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Expressive portraits'.
Cross-curricular opportunities
English: Spoken language.
British values: Individuality; Mutual respect.