The school’s incredible self-portrait mural celebrates individuality while reinforcing the importance of community.

By Rachel McReynolds

Every day, students who step into Frisco ISD’s only intermediate school are welcomed by the huge letters “WE ARE WORTHAM.” For the campus, it’s a mission that means more than words — literally.

Look closer, and you’ll see faces in the letters, a huge collage of monochromatic self-portraits made by hundreds of students. Together, they create a powerful statement for the school: Here at Wortham, you are part of a whole, but you are an individual, too.

Art teacher Nicole Randell, who was inspired by Chuck Close’s photo-based portrait paintings, said realism wasn’t the goal — she hoped to not only gauge students’ skills, but get them out of their comfort zone. Self-portraits can be awkward, with artists staring at a mirror for reference or using their imagination.

Randell doesn’t show students how to draw a face, and tells them she doesn’t expect a photo-like final result. Creativity is key, freedom the point.

“I want them to love art, to try a little bit of everything,” she said. “They learn so much working through a project, by making mistakes. I take pictures of their work through the process, because that’s as important as the final product.”

For the assignment, students were asked to create each self-portrait in their house color. At Wortham and several other schools around Frisco ISD, students are sorted in “houses” across all grade levels, to create bonds and reinforce positive behavior.

"The project was inspired by both pop art and school spirit,” Randell said. “It gave students the opportunity to reflect on their own identity while contributing to something bigger than themselves. It's about pride, unity and visibility — every student is seen and valued."

As they painted and colored their latest project, Randell’s Art 1 sixth graders were excited to describe their creative process.

Davina, who’s in the red house (or “Amistad”), drew her self-portrait in the style she loves best: cartoons. Nipuna prefers crayons or markers, and said making her blue portrait (for “Reveur” house) was “hard, but fun at the same time.”

“Everything we do in art is fun,” she said.

Sixth grader Ari, in the green house (Isibindi), said she’s always loved art and plans to keep working on getting better. She’s inspired by everything, including her clothes and nails.

“I grew up really creative,” she said. “I like to daydream, and sometimes I go on Pinterest, or listen to music, just imagine what I want.”

Randell said her students are amazing; teaching both elementary art to fifth graders and Art 1 to sixth graders is a joy.

“Watching them create makes me so happy,” she said. “Especially when they have those 'a-ha' moments or when they finally get it, or they are struggling and they make something they’re really proud of, that is wonderful.”

“The art room is my happy place.”