Obituary Project: Portraits from Words

Concept:

Create a portrait based solely on the written description of an individual’s life published in The New York Times obituary section. The goal is to interpret the essence of a person through text—transforming narrative into visual form.

Approach:

• Select an obituary from the archive (example: Christopher McCandless).
• Read carefully to identify key themes, personality traits, and life events.
• Translate these elements into a portrait—not necessarily literal, but symbolic or abstract.
• Consider using mixed media, collage, drawing, or digital techniques to evoke the story behind the words.

Key Ideas:

• Interpretation over likeness: Focus on mood, symbolism, and narrative rather than physical accuracy.
• Text as catalyst: Let phrases, tone, and details guide your visual decisions.
• Storytelling through image: The portrait should feel like a visual echo of the life described.