Teacher Stories: Gabrielle DeCesaris | Blog
Meet Gabrielle DeCesaris who is a Portrait Artist who runs the highly-rated online class called Beginning Drawing Strategies for Pencil Portraits. Gabrielle has been able to enroll over 400 students around the world and hopes to record the beauty of life in her work for the world to admire.
I've been a fan of art for as long as I can remember. Since I was a youngster, I've always carried a sketchbook around that I would draw anything and everything in it anytime I had the chance. When I was in high school, however, I became really motivated to start drawing portraits particularly. I am amazed by how people are generally the same, but among all of us there is no end to the variety of our faces. This, in conjunction with the beauty inherent in the human form, has fueled my passion to create portraits.
When I first set out to master the art of drawing portraits, I really struggled. I recall saying to myself, "When I "get" this, I'm going to show everyone the art of drawing portraits!" After years of studying with professional portrait artists as well as reading numerous books on how to draw the face, and by creating hundreds of portraits for myself - I've now gained many knowledge about the subject and I can now share the most helpful details I've found with anyone willing to learn!
In my class I teach students the process of drawing an image of a person using pictures, videos as well as simple project procedures. First I share the materials I like to use along with tips on how to select the most appropriate reference photos. Next, I begin sketching. I show how to precisely sketch a portrait by using gestures and the correct proportions. I then share the knowledge I've learned on the planes of the face and light and shade. Blending and shading techniques are also covered. In the next section, I demonstrate the way I draw the eye and mouths, noses, ears, and hair and all the most common errors one needs to make when drawing these elements. Finally, I teach students to make their drawings special with finishing touches and all along the way I offer tips, tricks, and tricks I've picked up in the last few years.
I was determined to impart all the useful information that I could imagine in my class. I was not going to sit the line. I was determined to design the kind of class I wish I had had when I first tried to learn to draw pencil portraits. So that would be my suggestion to teachers: Explore the thoughts of the pupil. What would you want to learn? Be open to sharing your knowledge and eager to share it with your students. They will appreciate it!
One of my favorite aspects of the learning experience witnessing the entire process come together, and watching the students' reactions to it. There is nothing that makes me more happy than the moment I realize that someone has a great time developing and improving their artistic capabilities. It's truly a joy and I'm honoured that I was able to help them in their journey to becoming an artist.
It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to teach on . Since the school gives a significant percentage of the profits to the teachers, I've managed to purchase beautiful linen art canvasses that I'd been holding back on before! Having these new art materials and supplies, some of the most suitable oils for painting, will really help move my art in oils. This is why I am thankful to and to everyone who signed up for my classes! Being part of the community has been wonderful and I'm so thankful to teach. Each day, I love checking my Student Projects area and leaving reviews on each artist' amazing photographs!