Art Teacher’s 1st Trip to D.C.
This year, I embarked on my first trip to Washington, D.C. Having grown up on the West Coast, visiting D.C. had always felt like a distant dream. While D.C. is renowned for its rich U.S. history, as an art teacher, my primary focus was to explore its vibrant art scene. I had the incredible opportunity to see masterpieces by artists like Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Claes Oldenburg. A highlight of my trip was seeing a Gustav Klimt painting in person for the first time, fulfilling a long-held item on my bucket list.
The National Portrait Gallery Experience
My top itinerary item for D.C. was visiting the National Portrait Gallery. This gallery, where all U.S. presidents are displayed in chronological order, captivated me. I was particularly eager to see the Obama portraits. Since their release in 2018, I’ve proudly displayed posters of these portraits in my classroom. As a fan of Kehinde Wiley, who painted Barack Obama’s portrait, and Amy Sherald, the artist behind Michelle Obama’s portrait, seeing these works in person was exhilarating.
One portrait that stood out was JFK’s, painted by Elaine de Kooning. Its vibrant colors and broad brushstrokes contrasted with the more traditional, Renaissance-like portraits of previous presidents. In my opinion, this painting looks to be a turning point in the modernization of presidential portraiture. Equally striking was Bill Clinton’s portrait made of a gridded, abstract circular pattern painted by the artist Chuck Close. Clinton’s portrait stood out because it was the only portrait that was a zoomed in headshot. I was surprised to find Donald Trump’s portrait was a laser print placeholder, which I later found out that his official portrait has yet to be completed.
Photos taken in DC at the National Portrait Gallery: John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald Trump
An Art Educator’s Perspective
Curiosity sparked questions: How are the artists chosen? Were there any rules that the artist had to follow? Why hasn’t Donald Trump’s portrait been finished yet? If re-elected, would he have two portraits, given the non-consecutive terms? These questions led me to consider how this experience could enrich my teaching.
Photo taken at the National Portrait Gallery: American Presidents Exhibition
Get worksheet→ Here
Cross-Curricular Art Lesson Ideas
I envisioned a cross-curricular lesson on portraiture. Presenting presidential portraits to students could ignite discussions about the evolution of artistic styles. Should photography or mixed media be included? What styles should be excluded?
With elections approaching, a simple presidential coloring worksheet could be an engaging, one-day activity. Teachers could have their students either draw themselves as president, or draw their ideal president!
For high school art students, a self-portrait project linked to the presidential portraits could be enlightening. Here are three portrait projects that we do:
Text Portraits
In this project, students will create a portrait using text as value, blending creativity and literacy by incorporating poems, lyrics, or their own words.
Get the lesson → Here
Color Theory Hero Project
In this project, students will select their personal hero to paint while exploring color theory and mastering various painting techniques.
Get the lesson → Here
Expressive Self Portraits
In this project, students will employ photorealism techniques to transform a photo into a detailed drawing. By focusing on value, students will create expressive self-portraits using pencil.
Get the lesson → Here
If time is tight, a research assignment using The National Portrait Gallery: American Presidents’ website, where students complete a KWL chart (What I Know, What I Want to Know, What I Learned), would also be effective.
Get a FREE KWL Chart → HERE
Photos taken in DC at the White House and The State Capitol
Final Thoughts
Visiting Washington, D.C., isn’t just about its historical and architectural marvels. It’s also about exploring its vast, FREE museums. Whether you’re a history buff or an art enthusiast, D.C. has something extraordinary to offer.
Photos taken from DC at National Gallery of Art: Hector Guimard and the Lincoln Memorial with my husband Cameron.
For more ideas on art lesson planning, check out our blog on Art 1 Curriculum for High School