International Art Collaboration Idea

Let’s create Icons of Peace and Equality around the world made by young people.

In a time of widespread unrest, students have created portraits that represent the ethical, the good, the positive, reminding all who see the works that people can indeed still make a difference. Academically, it is essential to demonstrate to students that art does not exist in isolation but draws from all disciplines and subject matter throughout their curriculum.

We are looking for art teachers and Schools around the world to collaborate and to produce more Icons of their choosing. The aim is to show all of the works online, and the eventual goal is to have exhibitions of the Icons at various venues around the world.

Jilly Hillier, professional adviser for UNICEF UK Rights Respecting Schools Award South West, who has supported the work carried out internationally by the students, said: “It’s great when global learning breaks out from geography, history and citizenship as it has the potential to enrich learning on a much bigger scale.”

We have had schools in Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, and the U.S.A..

By having students work together to produce each portrait, they have symbolically, albeit in a small way, been participating in something positive and progressive, reaffirming the fact that people with a shared view can all be actively involved in positive change. 

Education is the most powerful weapon

which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela

As a rough guide, each portrait took approximately 2 hours to produce with 30 Students working on one rectangle each. We made six portraits over two school days. The total dimension of each work was 50 inches by 42 inches. Equipment: A range of pencils, HB, 4B and Graphite chunks, rubbers, sharpeners and paper towels to smudge. We used good-quality watercolour paper, 7 x 10 inches.

When a school class has chosen a particular image of an Icon, they (or we) grid it into approximately 30 sections. Each student is given a coded rectangle that is virtually abstract and they draw a tonal copy. The more advanced students are generally given the more difficult rectangles to copy. At the end of the class, the coded rectangles are put together to form the portrait.

For preliminary practice, before the actual portrait is executed, the students are given a simple exercise in applying a few gradations of tone on paper in preparation.

1) Choose an Icon of Peace and Equality. We selected three men and three women. Ensure it’s a relatively high-resolution image with the subject occupying most of the space.

2) Using Photoshop, resize the image to 50 x 42 inches (72 dpi) with the assumption that the work will consist of 5 rectangles across and 6 rectangles down. Then, grid the image into 7 x 10-inch sections, with five sections across and six sections down.

3) Print onto A4 paper and be sure to code the back of each print so that you know its location in the grid. The 7×10-inch image can be cut out of the A4 sheet if desired.

4) Students should practice a range of tones before starting on their coded section.

5) Students get one section each (at a time) and should not be told who or what they are drawing. They should also include their name and code number at the top of the back of the sheet.

6) First, they should draw the outlines lightly, mapping any key parts, tone or highlights. They should practice the full tonal range to feel comfortable before starting.

7) Once all sections are completed, they can piece the work together.