Self Portrait in Four Art Styles

Large paper — 11 by 17 inches or bigger

Pencil and eraser

Fine-tip markers for outlines

Colored pencils or markers

A mirror or a printed selfie photo as reference

Fold a large piece of paper into four equal sections. Label each section: Realistic, Cubist, Pop Art, Cartoon.

Set up your reference — a mirror propped up at your workspace, or a printed selfie photo.

In the first section, draw a realistic self-portrait. Observe carefully — where do the eyes sit on the head? How wide is the nose compared to the eyes? Add shading for 3D form.

In the second section, draw a cubist version inspired by Picasso. Fragment the features. Show one eye from the front and one from the side. Break the face into geometric shapes.

In the third section, create a pop art version like Andy Warhol. Use bold black outlines, flat areas of bright unnatural color, and add Ben-Day dots or halftone patterns in the background.

In the fourth section, draw a cartoon version. Exaggerate your most distinctive feature — big eyes, wild hair, a huge smile. Simplify everything to its most essential lines.

Color each section in the appropriate style — natural skin tones for realistic, fractured bold colors for cubist, neon and high contrast for pop art, bright flat colors for cartoon.

Display all four side by side. Discuss: which one feels most like you? Which was hardest? How does style change the mood?

Show reference images of each art style before starting. Picasso portraits, Warhol prints, and cartoon styles give a clear target.

Each section builds a different skill: observation, creative rethinking, graphic boldness, and simplification.

The comparison is the most valuable part. Four interpretations of one subject shows that art is always a series of choices.

Keep this piece. It makes an excellent portfolio centerpiece showing range and understanding of art concepts.