How to Draw Frida Kahlo

My favorite Frida Kahlo for kids project is a simple portrait with a few key features. Try coloring with oil pastels on black paper for a very rich look.



Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954) was a Mexican painter known for her many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Inspired by the country’s popular culture, she used a folk art style to explore questions of identity, gender, class, and race in Mexican society. Her paintings often had strong autobiographical elements and mixed realism with fantasy.

Now students that are learning more about Frida can have some guidance in drawing her likeness. Her self-portraits often shared her love of flowers, bright colors, and of course, trademark eyebrows. To get the deep, rich color shown in this sample, try drawing with a pencil on black paper, tracing with a black pastel, coloring and then tracing again to get some bold, dark lines.

MATERIALS

  • Black card stock paper
  • Pencil
  • Oil pastels

DIRECTIONS

Time needed: 1 hour.

How to Draw Frida Kahlo

  1. Draw guide lines. Start the face.
  2. Add a neck.

3.Draw a necklace and shoulders.

4.Draw ears and start the hair.
5.Add flowers on top of the head.
6.Add eyes on the center line.

7.Add eyebrows and a nose.
8.Finish with the mouth.
9.Color with oil pastels and trace in black when complete.








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