ROYAL ANIMAL PORTRAITS
Artist Connection: Jean-Michel Basquiat
Grades: 3–8
Time Required: 1–2 class periods
Project Type: Individual
Materials
- Cardboard, cereal boxes, or heavy paper
- Bright acrylic paint, tempera paint, or oil pastels
- Animal photographs (printed in black and white)
- Glue sticks
- Black oil pastels, paint markers, or permanent markers
- Scissors
- White paper for crowns
- Black cardstock for mounting.
Avoid Identical Artwork
Provide students with a wide variety of animal images to choose from. Encourage students to select colors, symbols, words, and crown designs that reflect their own personality and interests.
Instructions
- Create a vibrant background on cardboard using bright colors, energetic marks, scribbles, and layered lines.
- Select and cut out an animal image, then glue it onto the background.
- Draw and cut out a simple Basquiat-inspired three-point crown and place it on the animal's head.
- Add bold black outlines around major shapes using oil pastel or paint marker.
- Incorporate symbols, simple drawings, words, numbers, arrows, or meaningful phrases throughout the composition.
- Layer additional marks and colors until the artwork feels energetic and expressive.
- Mount on black cardstock.
Display Tip
Mount artwork in simple black mats or on black construction paper. Display the portraits together as a "Royal Animal Gallery" to create a dramatic, museum-quality installation.
Why It Works
Basquiat's work encourages students to combine drawing, painting, collage, symbolism, and personal expression. The familiar animal imagery helps students feel successful, while the bold colors and graphic style create artwork that looks sophisticated and impactful when displayed as a group.