Portraits show a person, pet, or character using shapes, colors, and textures.
Scouts can choose to make a realistic, expressive, or creative version of a face or figure.
Activity Description: Scouts create a portrait of themselves, someone they know, or someone they admire using art materials.
- Fulfills Step 3 of GSUSA Daisy Art and Design badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 4 of GSUSA Brownie Art and Design badge requirements.
- Fulfills Step 2 of GSUSA Junior Art and Design badge requirements.
Info Needed: Scouts should understand that art can be realistic, abstract, or expressive.
They will choose a subject and create a visual piece based on it.
Items Needed:
- Choose one portrait project and gather the supplies listed with it:
- Basic Self Portrait
- Character Portraits by Ruby Reads Books
- Clay Portraits by Amaco
- Pastel Pet Portrait by How to Pastel
- Self Portrait by Little Green Crafts
- Textured Collage Portraits by Artful Parent (cardboard and various textured supplies to glue) – Can also fulfill Steps 2 and 3 of GSUSA Brownie and Step 3 of GSUSA Junior Art and Design badge requirements
- Materials may include:
- Paper or cardboard
- Art medium (clay, pastels, markers, crayons, paint, etc.)
- Glue, scissors, and textured or recycled items (for collage)
Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 20–30 min):
- Choose a Portrait Project (2–3 min)
- Scouts select the version they’d like to make based on interest and available supplies.
- Portraits can be of a friend, family member, someone they admire, a pet, or themselves.
- Create the Portrait (15–20 min)
- Follow the project steps for that version.
- Encourage scouts to think about how to show a face, expression, or character using shapes, color, or texture.
- (Optional) Share & Reflect (5–7 min)
- Scouts can show their portraits and talk about:
- Who or what they created
- What materials or details they used
- What makes their portrait unique
- Scouts can show their portraits and talk about:
The Badge Archive 