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.

Important update

This Year 5 Painting and mixed media unit has been updated for 2026–2027 to provide a clearer progression of painting skills and knowledge.

 

The current Art, Year 5, Painting and mixed media: Portraits unit will move to the Content archive area in September 2026, where it will remain permanently available.

 

Explore the Art and design, Long-term plan for 2026–2027.

Teacher video: Expressive portraits unit overview

Lessons

Lesson 1: Exploring self-portraits

Lesson 2: Personality portraits

Lesson 3: Expressive painting

Lesson 4: Painterly printmaking

Lesson 5: Magnificent mixed media

Key skills

Generating ideas

  • Choosing and combining
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Key knowledge

Knowledge of artists

To know:

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Key vocabulary

brushstroke (Y1)

colour (EYFS)

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Art and design

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'.

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Art and design

Vocabulary display – Art and design Y5: Painting and mixed media: Expressive portraits

A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Expressive portraits'.

Subject resources

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