Some portraits will require only specific parts to be colored. A 3D-style portrait that uses materials like yarn for hair is already colored. Kindergarten art teacher Patty Palmer presents a self-portrait project for little ones in which children use flesh-colored paper and yarn for hair to make a likeness of themselves. In projects like this students will focus only on coloring the mouth and eyes. This is where teachers can teach kids the art of fine detail -- have them really color in the iris to give it depth. Because it's the only thing to color aside from the mouth, students may feel more inclined to take their time on it and adorn their eyes with detail.
Some teachers focus on instructing kids to color inside the lines. Kids aren't clueless. They know that lines define an object, and outside the line is “nothingness.” If a child wants to extend his creativity outside the regimented lines of “coloring 101,” why correct him? When addressing the demand teachers place on students to color within the lines, Early Childhood News says teachers should look for creative thinking and artistic energy in children and, so long as the child is engaged in creative expression, let him color outside the lines if it's part of his artistic vision.
When children paint skin in self-portraits they are engaging in racial expression and self-identity. “Teaching Tolerance” states that racial identity includes the relationship between beauty, color and race and is often a central theme in artist’s creations. “Teaching Tolerance” continues to argue that children use art to express their own racial identity and it enables them to delve deeper into the distinctive nature of their race. Present a variety of crayons, pencils and paints that match different skin tones and, for the sake of that lone abstract artist in the class, include greens, blues and reds. Then instruct students to choose the color that best matches their own skin. Who knows, the kid who paints his skin green might be the next Salvador Dali!
Hair can be a very fun part of a child’s self-portrait. Give the children a variety of paintbrush types to choose from, as different brushes create different strokes. Point out that some brushes work well for fine hair while others are ideal for people with curly hair. If students have highlights in their hair, you can show them how to add streaks or blend paints to create an accurate look. But if one kid decides to give himself a purple mohawk, don’t discourage it.