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Portal Portrait
iPad challenge #2 entry: "PORTAL PORTRAIT"
by Julie Deters
Portraits have been created by artists since the beginning of time. Often they are created to deepen the understanding of someone, perhaps of the artists themselves as they create a self portrait. This lesson encourages a deeper understanding of the inner characteristics of the subject being portrayed. It also encourages the development of creative symbolism to illustrate those characteristics.
The Portal Portrait consists of a combination of images including a portal and the individual being portrayed. The portal is ultimately a passageway into the life of that person, literally or symbolically. Additional imagery in the Portal Portrait symbolizes inner characteristics and external influences of that person using the language of value, line, shape, color, texture and form. Using digital editing software, images are combined to create a completed Portal Portrait.
The following images are examples of PORTALS and PORTRAITS from the Walker Art Center and Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
As you view the following slides, notice the symbolic potential of the portals and the emotional content of the portraits. They are arranged so that you view a portal, then a portrait, alternating continuously throughout.
Also included is a process for brainstorming to assist in symbol development for your Portal Portrait. After brainstorming, please view examples of student work found at the end of the presentation.
A student handout is attached for this lesson. Although it was created for a High School class, It can be adapted for any level.
Press the space bar for the next slide.
As you view the following slides, notice the symbolic potential of the portals and the emotional content of the portraits. They are arranged so that you view a portal, then a portrait, alternating continuously throughout.
<div style="width:140px; height:120px;"><div style="position:relative; width:93.24px; height:79.92px; margin-left:0px; margin-top:0px;"><div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:93.24px; height:66.9251953125px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.39319727891" id="zoomer_71357_33910iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/0a/85/09448b8bf9cc4300611b5a11b5c1/93.24/79.92/71357.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Acolman 4, Aaron Siskind" height_offset="0" /></div></div><div style="position:relative; width:93.24px; height:79.92px; margin-left:46.62px; margin-top:-39.96px;"><div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:93.24px; height:76.0173248408px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.2265625" id="zoomer_90028_23467iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/ea/6d/48ac13b1a9e26cbf9ab9081bd598/93.24/79.92/90028.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Young Woman and Boy, Toluca, Paul Strand ; Da Capo Press" height_offset="0" /></div></div></div>
Take note of how portals and portraits are captured by the photographer.
<div style="width:140px; height:120px;"><div style="position:relative; width:93.24px; height:79.92px; margin-left:0px; margin-top:0px;"><div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:93.24px; height:62.1903515625px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.49926793558" id="zoomer_104557_25843iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/05/1e/3121f51bc8a96c3563e31f022a0a/93.24/79.92/104557.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Wheel and Fender (1947 Chrysler), Aspen, Colorado, Peter de Lory" height_offset="0" /></div></div><div style="position:relative; width:93.24px; height:79.92px; margin-left:46.62px; margin-top:-39.96px;"><div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:93.24px; height:74.592px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.25" id="zoomer_90963_37989iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/25/b5/5fceeccf83956e3edf21f7d6cbf7/93.24/79.92/90963.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Yabureteiru Niwa, Berkley, California, Geraldine K. Mitchell" height_offset="0" /></div></div></div>
Accabonac 4
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:106.245059289px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.31770833333" id="zoomer_72799_9326iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/b2/cf/03f7ccb298ad2badd511b65354dd/140/120/72799.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Accabonac 4, Carl Chiarenza" height_offset="0" /></div>
Young Boy, Gondeville, France
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:114.019088017px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.22786458333" id="zoomer_103776_5942iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/ca/3a/f67aea67d0fdc3d6fe8a6a39d3b1/140/120/103776.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Young Boy, Gondeville, France, Paul Strand" height_offset="0" /></div>
Winter in Central Park, New York City
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:114.261424017px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.22526041667" id="zoomer_73068_25168iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/40/98/1f53145a4fd06e34e030acf0f175/140/120/73068.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Winter in Central Park, New York City, Drahomir Josef Ruzicka" height_offset="0" /></div>
Aboard le Mistral, France
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:93.7890625px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.49271137026" id="zoomer_103353_39208iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/9c/df/4b0c4a24e1e956d704fe8cf9d7a2/140/120/103353.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Aboard le Mistral, France, Charles Harbutt" height_offset="0" /></div>
Amalfi, Grotta di S. Cristofano
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.794270833333" id="zoomer_91150_52146iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/17/4c/c40a961df774ce1670932c38a682/140/120/91150.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Amalfi, Grotta di S. Cristofano, Giorgio Sommer" height_offset="0" /></div>
Worker, Packing House, South St. Paul
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.997395833333" id="zoomer_106391_53344iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/92/6d/37b14a983903a609c12c460a9cee/140/120/106391.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Worker, Packing House, South St. Paul, Jerome Liebling" height_offset="0" /></div>
Kirchberg an der Pielach, Austria
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.744791666667" id="zoomer_104674_35821iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/1d/7c/24c96d7f93c7b23f513b695173fa/140/120/104674.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Kirchberg an der Pielach, Austria, Josef Maria Eder" height_offset="0" /></div>
Zissou in His Tire Boat, Chateau de Rouzat
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.725260416667" id="zoomer_90093_24762iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/24/6d/4b4da6b4e764d1e47867a869255d/140/120/90093.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Zissou in His Tire Boat, Chateau de Rouzat, Jacques Henri Lartigue" height_offset="0" /></div>
Box Elder Grove, Clay County, Minnesota
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.76953125" id="zoomer_92076_31071iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/0b/8b/1519b35c3526925f3da3b0602518/140/120/92076.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Box Elder Grove, Clay County, Minnesota, Frederick B. Scheel" height_offset="0" /></div>
Young Man in Central Park, New York City
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.78125" id="zoomer_47759_49531iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/76/e9/9af101c0d34daa8aaa33fbfdf6ed/140/120/47759.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Young Man in Central Park, New York City, Arthur Tress" height_offset="0" /></div>
Breakfast Room at Belle Grove Plantation, White Chapel, Louisiana
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:111.419689119px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.25651041667" id="zoomer_1452_47411iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/bb/30/b0c8f2237008243db00dbcad9a91/140/120/1452.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Breakfast Room at Belle Grove Plantation, White Chapel, Louisiana, Walker Evans" height_offset="0" /></div>
Woman on the Street, Havana
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.33984375" id="zoomer_95981_31258iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/ed/7d/ea6f9a2d097121b5da5866266516/140/120/95981.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Woman on the Street, Havana, Walker Evans" height_offset="0" /></div>
Bosnia
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:97.0703125px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.44225352113" id="zoomer_71305_1734iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/8a/35/4d574b35ea70ea6af96910f58a91/140/120/71305.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Bosnia, Gilles Peress" height_offset="0" /></div>
Acme Foundry, Minneapolis
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.673177083333" id="zoomer_95945_11782iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/08/69/46fa20d02c3e1b9c4df68ece3a37/140/120/95945.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Acme Foundry, Minneapolis, David Parker" height_offset="0" /></div>
Bible Study Book, Vicksburg, Mississippi
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:112.116788321px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.24869791667" id="zoomer_101301_16568iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/66/ca/4a76869d6064d52f7435dfe8b2d1/140/120/101301.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Bible Study Book, Vicksburg, Mississippi, Alec William Soth" height_offset="0" /></div>
Bonnie (with a photograph of an Angel), Port Gibson, Mississippi
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:112.351097179px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.24609375" id="zoomer_101264_45439iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/98/17/88f042fc91f94632840991cb5f66/140/120/101264.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Bonnie (with a photograph of an Angel), Port Gibson, Mississippi, Alec William Soth" height_offset="0" /></div>
Archway
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.819010416667" id="zoomer_92700_12344iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/24/65/36f76ac43877377e525362ed1af7/140/120/92700.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Archway, Charles B. Phelps, Jr." height_offset="0" /></div>
Young Lovers, David and Mara, Chicago
<img src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/work.png" width="140" height="105" />
Bosnia
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:96.25px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.45454545455" id="zoomer_103294_48110iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/84/30/8e31bcccb784a24e75ae033be551/140/120/103294.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Bosnia, Gilles Peress" height_offset="0" /></div>
Young Soldier, Westerwald
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.778645833333" id="zoomer_90538_8794iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/3a/fd/18d0c6a244ecfac0bc4145e5d238/140/120/90538.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Young Soldier, Westerwald, August Sander ; Gunther Sander" height_offset="0" /></div>
Calla Lily and Newspaper in Window, Farmhouse near Tours, France
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:114.749199573px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.22005208333" id="zoomer_92382_48899iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/8a/6e/70c7fc9ffb580a03aba5647058d7/140/120/92382.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Calla Lily and Newspaper in Window, Farmhouse near Tours, France, Frederick B. Scheel" height_offset="0" /></div>
Hmong Teenager Getting a Haircut, Frogtown
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.65625" id="zoomer_92081_48269iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/49/9a/f98dd7bf17609661dfc52e6a1d17/140/120/92081.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Hmong Teenager Getting a Haircut, Frogtown, Wing Young Huie" height_offset="0" /></div>
Difference in Time
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:92.01171875px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.52154531947" id="zoomer_90494_31112iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/fb/28/fef67b7821eb63e8052342011eab/140/120/90494.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Difference in Time, Kenji Nakahashi" height_offset="0" /></div>
Bosnia
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:97.34375px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.43820224719" id="zoomer_70449_15161iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/0f/0b/091e991e0a682530eab518787098/140/120/70449.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Bosnia, Gilles Peress" height_offset="0" /></div>
Equisetum Hyemale (Rough Horsetail)
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.76171875" id="zoomer_103751_25633iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/b5/8f/d1483123de36410c0ac0f8872b9b/140/120/103751.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Equisetum Hyemale (Rough Horsetail), Karl Blossfeldt" height_offset="0" /></div>
Young Security Guard, Hoboken
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.786458333333" id="zoomer_47764_24721iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/27/ce/f27ab89c8f346b3fa449724015cf/140/120/47764.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Young Security Guard, Hoboken, Arthur Tress" height_offset="0" /></div>
Jerome Liebling on TV, Minneapolis
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:92.6953125px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.51032448378" id="zoomer_91201_4566iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/d2/41/1b98d97d3f837e3a6939a4f08b6a/140/120/91201.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Jerome Liebling on TV, Minneapolis, Elaine Mayes" height_offset="0" /></div>
101 Year Old Man, Frogtown
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:92.55859375px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.51255539143" id="zoomer_92083_42989iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/46/e6/440f54757cd1d0813492cf5f3298/140/120/92083.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="101 Year Old Man, Frogtown, Wing Young Huie" height_offset="0" /></div>
Chicago
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.809895833333" id="zoomer_103328_2937iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/e2/8c/255b8c9c451286c6410b92cf7811/140/120/103328.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Chicago, Clarence K. Bros" height_offset="0" /></div>
Zbigniew Brzezinski, Washington, D.C.
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.01822916667" id="zoomer_68794_26549iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/82/b0/a7a59ef0ae7bdd5c5eb5f973c4ce/140/120/68794.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Zbigniew Brzezinski, Washington, D.C., Neil Selkirk" height_offset="0" /></div>
Dallas City, Illinois
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:112.116788321px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.24869791667" id="zoomer_101225_39916iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/f0/10/3f8bbeea5bac3a9445d78b60d368/140/120/101225.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Dallas City, Illinois, Alec William Soth" height_offset="0" /></div>
World Trade Center, New York, New York
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:93.2421875px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.50146627566" id="zoomer_90377_491iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/51/a5/7409a253f32dc515af19a6cbf124/140/120/90377.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="World Trade Center, New York, New York, Len Jenshel" height_offset="0" /></div>
Hotel, Dallas City, Illinois
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.80078125" id="zoomer_101265_5012iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/50/8e/591397b575e6daef2860eec95331/140/120/101265.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Hotel, Dallas City, Illinois, Alec William Soth" height_offset="0" /></div>
Woman with Blue Bow
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:114.749199573px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.22005208333" id="zoomer_68773_8737iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/c7/bc/d1a604987a89c2fa75d2471b6203/140/120/68773.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Woman with Blue Bow, Jo Ann Callis" height_offset="0" /></div>
Die Waschung der Lineale (The Washing of the Rulers)
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:104.453125px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.34031413613" id="zoomer_46094_50348iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/5c/8e/6a92aec21f8451d8105571e1dd0f/140/120/46094.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Die Waschung der Lineale (The Washing of the Rulers), Sigmar Polke, Ernst Mitzka" height_offset="0" /></div>
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:96.5234375px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.45042492918" id="zoomer_1073_12440iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/20/a4/8c23e41a3fa6c1478a8861b070a1/140/120/1073.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Mark Cohen" height_offset="0" /></div>
Doorway, 204 West 13th Street, New York City
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.77734375" id="zoomer_72917_14472iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/16/f9/e7ecd72821f9ff7434e358b1c4ee/140/120/72917.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Doorway, 204 West 13th Street, New York City, Walker Evans ; The Double Elephant Press Ltd." height_offset="0" /></div>
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:94.3359375px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.48405797101" id="zoomer_1459_9489iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/10/9f/7ca666b77dfd287daa1bde32f90a/140/120/1459.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Mark Cohen" height_offset="0" /></div>
East Berlin
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.66796875" id="zoomer_102749_16799iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/e3/0c/f845848f28c666925eea90811755/140/120/102749.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="East Berlin, Thomas F. Arndt" height_offset="0" /></div>
Venice
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:103.49609375px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.35270805812" id="zoomer_106915_37458iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/b6/23/3d8b780873e501c7c51c05ff69e6/140/120/106915.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Venice, Keith W. Laumb" height_offset="0" /></div>
Gateway, Hidalgo
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.782552083333" id="zoomer_89677_6882iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/61/c0/3090cf711600d3d9ce94962fa999/140/120/89677.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Gateway, Hidalgo, Paul Strand ; Da Capo Press" height_offset="0" /></div>
Carl Andre
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.79296875" id="zoomer_27301_53597iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/b1/06/4ec6fed17dda8d00271dfa518c98/140/120/27301.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Carl Andre, Hollis Frampton" height_offset="0" /></div>
Gas Lamp
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.78125" id="zoomer_104267_6311iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/4b/98/5e0d4d66db8dfc793e6b82e12789/140/120/104267.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Gas Lamp, Eva Fuka (Fukova)" height_offset="0" /></div>
Gertrude Rösslerová
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.0078125" id="zoomer_92100_47273iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/8d/7b/0cfde75fdff9f5525b7d6d9b818a/140/120/92100.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Gertrude Rösslerová, Jaroslav Rössler ; Prague House of Photography" height_offset="0" /></div>
Jimmie's Apartment, Memphis, Tennessee
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.807291666667" id="zoomer_101305_13308iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/8d/c6/41ff3ee3c7c466b650203fcf1ab8/140/120/101305.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Jimmie's Apartment, Memphis, Tennessee, Alec William Soth" height_offset="0" /></div>
Elevator
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.9921875" id="zoomer_102669_23968iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/d9/eb/3a8705e04fcbf57d18aa057fe7f1/140/120/102669.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Elevator, Bruce Charlesworth" height_offset="0" /></div>
Lost Entertainers
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.888020833333" id="zoomer_73896_52939iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/ad/45/caadf67963cc46f99b3cb2f000fa/140/120/73896.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Lost Entertainers, Eva Fuka (Fukova)" height_offset="0" /></div>
Body Builder, Galveston, Texas
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:94.3359375px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.48405797101" id="zoomer_103207_10579iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/db/ac/dc0b3823651a612d59b821c3851e/140/120/103207.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Body Builder, Galveston, Texas, Thomas F. Arndt" height_offset="0" /></div>
Daisy Trail
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.723958333333" id="zoomer_71833_37295iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/02/64/ac2d8b6cb3b2da60947aa1d51933/140/120/71833.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Daisy Trail, Adolf Fassbender" height_offset="0" /></div>
Woman's Lips, Neck, Minnesota
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:105.308521058px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.32942708333" id="zoomer_106098_47074iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/71/b7/7fb7bc3bd312a9dc2a05609f0681/140/120/106098.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Woman's Lips, Neck, Minnesota, Jerome Liebling" height_offset="0" /></div>
Many farmers are abandoning their homes and moving into dugouts near towns, to become eligible for drought relief. Grassy Butte, North Dakota
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:103.90625px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.34736842105" id="zoomer_69943_36848iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/fb/09/ce651a143aec13923366dbe10d1a/140/120/69943.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Many farmers are abandoning their homes and moving into dugouts near towns, to become eligible for drought relief. Grassy Butte, North Dakota, Arthur Rothstein" height_offset="0" /></div>
Andy Ostheimer Reading, Ibiza, Spain
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:94.47265625px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.48191027496" id="zoomer_72084_58890iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/e0/d9/fed7bc4f275dab2c16c34ae8dce3/140/120/72084.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Andy Ostheimer Reading, Ibiza, Spain, Peter de Lory" height_offset="0" /></div>
Bosnia
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:98.84765625px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.4163208852" id="zoomer_71303_56224iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/1c/82/e7ca1edffbe00a310589b04cc799/140/120/71303.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Bosnia, Gilles Peress" height_offset="0" /></div>
Bosnia
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:97.890625px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1.43016759777" id="zoomer_71304_32904iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/c9/2d/802e4452cdd58965e5d93108272a/140/120/71304.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Bosnia, Gilles Peress" height_offset="0" /></div>
Ditch and Fields, Kossuth County, Iowa
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:43.4765625px;"><img class="inline_img fake_3.22012578616" id="zoomer_93898_29030iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/72/f9/0a9ee8b00a57336d52e67508453d/140/120/93898.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Ditch and Fields, Kossuth County, Iowa, Stuart D. Klipper" height_offset="0" /></div>
Charles, Vasa, Minnesota
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_0.80078125" id="zoomer_101251_51455iip_loading" src="http://www.artsconnected.org/media/4b/c7/38388779770472005bbb6d6ca6b6/140/120/101251.jpg" class="iip_loading" title="" alt="Charles, Vasa, Minnesota, Alec William Soth" height_offset="0" /></div>
Brainstorm Process for Portal Portrait Symbolic Imagery
Step 1
List 10 physical traits of someone you know intimately.
Step 2
List 10 inner characteristics of that person. Their strengths, weaknesses, beliefs, doubts, fears...anything that describes them but is not a physical trait.
Step 3
List 10 things, events, objects, people - anything outside of that person that influences or has influenced that person.
Step 4
When you concentrate on this person:
what color do you think of?
what shape?
what plant?
what animal?
old or new?
rough or smooth?
Transparent Semi-Transparent or Opaque?
Step 5
Continue to list objects, textures, colors, etc... that symbolize the inner characteristics of this person.
Brainstorm your subject's external influences (people events, a birth, a death, a poem, music, an activity, etc) that influence that person's personality and choices in life.
Step 6
List and describe approximately 10 physical things (objects, textures, colors, lines, people, something blurry, sharp, soft...) that you could photograph to symbolize your subject's internal characteristics and external influences.
Student Examples of Portal Portraits
As you view the following examples, find what you see as the portal. Notice the various ways of adding the portrait into the composition.
Identify various imagery used to symbolize the subject.
Look at the compositions critically and thoughtfully.
Enjoy.
Caitlyn's Portal Portrait
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_2.17391304348" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5124/5331607968_a16ecc83df_t.jpg" height_offset="0" style=" border: 1px black; position:relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"/></div>
Collin's Portal Portrait
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_2.5" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5168/5330997525_ec72f5e9cb_t.jpg" height_offset="0" style=" border: 1px black; position:relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"/></div>
Matt's Portal Portrait
<div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:140px; height:120px;"><img class="inline_img fake_2.17391304348" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5122/5330997537_ecdabb4695_t.jpg" height_offset="0" style=" border: 1px black; position:relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"/></div>
Jessica's Portal Portrait and Artist Statement
<div style="width:140px; height:120px;"><div style="position:relative; width:93.24px; height:79.92px; margin-left:0px; margin-top:0px;"><div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:93.24px; height:79.92px;"><img class="inline_img fake_1" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5003/5331641248_33376e1b3c_q.jpg" height_offset="0" style=" border: 1px black; position:relative; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;"/></div></div><div style="position:relative; width:93.24px; height:79.92px; margin-left:46.62px; margin-top:-39.96px;"><div class="unzoomed_thumbnail" style="width:93.24px; height:79.92px;"><img src="/media/broken/93.24/79.92/broken.jpg" /></div></div></div>
Attachments: Portal Portrait handout (pdf)
This is a student handout that describes a Photography lesson called "Portal Portrait" which was designed for High School students. I begin by teaching students how to come up with symbols to represent a person's inner characteristics. Via digital photography, students capture images that help to symbolize the inner characteristics of someone they know very well. They will combine an image of that person (or a part of that person) and at least 5 symbolic images using a digital editing program. The final product is printed twice and a traditional collage' is created, always keeping in mind the characteristics of the person being portrayed. I encourage my students to create a sense of three dimensionality using foam core to lift various shapes throughout the composition.
