Portraits

Portraits have been made for centuries for many reasons: to explore changes in fashion or identity, to show power, wealth and social standing, to celebrate important events, or simply to record a person’s likeness.

Some portraits confront social and moral issues, others explore feelings or artistic techniques.

Looking at Art – Sketching

  • Choose one portrait from Etinosa’s series.
  • First, look at the composition ‘from a distance’.
  • Then, look closer to examine details such as expression and structure.
  • Spend 5 minutes sketching it – as you draw, think about the importance of each area of the image.
  • Afterwards, draw arrows pointing to the areas that caught your attention and write (in a few words) your reasons.

Images © Etinosa Yvonne

Black Heroines is supported by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s Black History Month Grants Scheme