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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

D.I.Y. bow tie with Maxine Benba Clarke

D.I.Y. bow tie with Maxine Benba Clarke

Bow ties are usually cloth bows that decorate your neck. You can use a strip of material and self-tie it into a bow, or cheat with a pre-tied bow fastened onto a loop of elastic or one that clips onto your shirt.

You can wear a bow tie for fun, adding colour and style to your outfit.

A bow tie can express your personality and interests, and help tell the world your story!

You will need:

  • 1 glue stick
  • 1 piece of cardboard or this resource
  • 1 piece of elastic, about 30cm long
  • 1 pair of scissors
  • 1 lead pencil
  • Lots of decorations: foil, cupcake wrappers, washi tape, stickers, magazines for collage, glitter, wrapping paper.

Steps:

  • Use this resource [pdf file] or draw your own bow tie shape on your piece of card.
  • Cut out your bow tie.
  • Fold the centre of the bow tie in half horizontally, and cut two small vertical lines in the centre.
  • Decorate both sides of the bow tie with different designs and materials.
  • Use colours, textures, pictures, patterns or words to create a bow tie ‘portrait’ that tells the world about who you are.
  • Thread the elastic through the two slits, and tie its ends together.
  • Strut your stuff!
Maxine Beneba Clarke

Maxine Beneba Clarke is the creator of this resource and a featured writer in the Portrait23: Identity publication. An Australian writer and illustrator of Afro-Caribbean descent, she is the author of over ten books, including the children’s books Fashionista and When We Say Black Lives Matter.

© National Portrait Gallery 2023
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency