Exploring the use of symbols to tell stories and add meaning

The children worked collaboratively to make their own stories and express what was important to them using symbols. They used some of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s pictorial language as well as creating their own.

Then they decided upon a message they wanted to convey. They expressed their message in symbols drawn on a primed board background – the beginnings of their own Basquiat inspired portrait.

Looking at influences and studying style

After finding out about Basquiat’s childhood fascination with the book Grey’s Anatomy, and its influence on his work, the children looked closely at his depiction of heads and facial features. They made mixed media studies in preparation for their own portraits.

Creating a portrait

Using all of their understanding of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s expression of meaning, influences, style and his use of colour the children were excited to produce their own portraits. They created them in collage and oil pastels on primed cardboard.