Portraiture for Kids

Unlocking Creativity: The Importance of Portraiture for Kids

Portraiture is a timeless art form that captures the essence of individuals, conveying their emotions, personalities, and stories through the strokes of a pencil or the splash of colors. In the world of artistic expression, the importance of portraiture extends far beyond mere representation; it serves as a powerful tool for self-discovery, empathy, and developing essential skills. For children, learning to draw people not only enhances their artistic abilities but also nurtures various aspects of their personal and social development. Artventure provides several kids art lessons on drawing faces, expressions and portraits for kids. A wonderful art resource for primary teachers.

The Significance of Portraiture:

1. Self-Expression

Portraiture allows children to express their feelings and perceptions in a visual language. Through the creation of self-portraits or drawings of family and friends, kids can communicate their emotions and experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of their own identity.

2. Empathy and Understanding:

Drawing portraits encourages empathy as children observe and interpret facial expressions, body language, and the unique characteristics of each individual. This process helps them develop a greater understanding of others, promoting tolerance and acceptance.

3. Observational Skills:

Portraiture requires careful observation of facial features, proportions, and details. As kids practice drawing people, they naturally enhance their observational skills, honing their ability to notice subtleties in the world around them.

4. Boosts Confidence:

Successfully capturing a likeness or portraying emotions in a portrait can be a confidence-building experience for children. It instills a sense of accomplishment and pride in their artistic abilities, encouraging them to explore and embrace their creative potential.

Teaching Kids to Draw People:

1. Start with Basic Shapes:

Begin by introducing basic shapes like circles and ovals to help children understand the fundamental structure of the face. Gradually, build upon these shapes to create facial features. Artventure has a specific art class online for kids as young as 3-5 years of age to start this process (this lesson is titled "facial expressions").

2. Encourage Free Expression:

Allow kids to experiment with different styles and encourage them to express their creativity freely. Provide a variety of art materials and let them explore the diverse ways of representing people.

3. Use Reference Materials:

Provide photographs or illustrations as references for children to study facial features and expressions. This helps them learn proportions and develop a more nuanced understanding of portraying emotions.

4. Celebrate Diversity:

Highlight the beauty of diversity by exploring portraits of individuals from various backgrounds, cultures, and time periods. This not only broadens their artistic perspective but also nurtures a sense of inclusivity.


In a world increasingly dominated by digital media, the timeless art of portraiture remains a valuable tool for fostering creativity, empathy, and self-discovery in children. Through the act of drawing people, kids embark on a journey of self-expression and understanding that extends beyond the confines of paper and pencil. As they unlock the power of portraiture, children not only enhance their artistic skills but also cultivate essential life skills that will serve them well into the future.

Be sure to check out Artventure's FREE TRIAL to access the full library of art lessons for kids and teens.