Layered Identity Portrait Art Project | Mixed Media Lesson for Grades 6–12

Give students a meaningful way to explore identity while creating a finished, display-worthy work of art. This 31-page Layered Identity Portrait Art Project is a complete mixed media lesson for middle and high school students that combines portraiture, symbolism, color, pattern, composition, focal point, texture, and visual storytelling. Students brainstorm different parts of their identity, develop meaningful symbols and imagery, plan intentional color choices, experiment with composition, and create a layered portrait that communicates something about who they are. This is designed to feel like a real art project first — not simply an “All About Me” activity. Three Flexible Project Formats Students can complete the project in one of three ways: Divided Portrait Students divide a portrait into sections that represent different aspects of their identity. Silhouette Identity Portrait Students fill a silhouette with meaningful symbols, imagery, text, and color. Layered Background Portrait Students create a portrait over a mixed media background filled with personal imagery and visual storytelling. Teachers can use one format for the entire class or allow students to choose the option that best fits their skill level and comfort. Why Teachers Will Love It - Includes three different project formats - Combines portraiture with symbolism and personal meaning - Encourages student choice and ownership - Includes a complete planning sequence - Helps reduce the “I don’t know what to draw” problem - Works with many different art materials - Includes a low-supply option - Includes differentiation ideas - Includes critique, reflection, and assessment tools - Works well for mixed-ability classrooms - Creates meaningful, display-worthy finished artwork Perfect For - Middle school art - High school Art 1 - Grades 6–12 - Mixed media units - Portrait units - Identity and self-expression lessons - Back-to-school projects - Beginning-of-year art classes - Symbolism lessons - Visual storytelling - Student art displays - Homeschool art Skills & Concepts Students explore: - Identity - Self-expression - Symbolism - Portraiture - Composition - Focal point - Color and mood - Pattern - Texture - Mixed media - Visual storytelling - Brainstorming - Planning - Artistic decision-making - Reflection - Critique Materials Needed The project is flexible and can be adapted to the materials already available in your classroom. Possible materials include: - Drawing paper - Pencil - Eraser - Black marker or fine-tip pen - Colored pencils - Markers - Watercolor - Tempera - Oil pastels - Collage or scrapbook paper - Magazines - Glue - Paintbrushes Low-Supply Option The project can also be completed using only: - Drawing paper - Pencil - Black marker - Colored pencils Estimated Time Approximately 4–6 class periods, depending on project format, materials, and class length. Teacher Tip Have students complete the brainstorming and symbol-planning pages before beginning the final composition. The strongest finished portraits will come from students who first think through what they want their imagery, colors, patterns, and symbols to communicate.