Master Drawing

For my Master Drawing Project in Semester 3, I chose Leonardo da Vinci’s “Head of a Girl” because of its simplicity and timeless beauty. I’ve always admired how da Vinci captured emotion and depth with just a few lines, and I wanted to challenge myself by reinterpreting his work with my own style. I thought it would be the perfect piece to experiment with textures and modern techniques while staying true to its classical feel.

I decided to use dot art (stippling) for shading because I love how it creates a textured, almost tactile effect that adds depth and dimension. To contrast that, I incorporated bold and expressive lines, which gave the piece a sense of movement and energy. This combination allowed me to keep the elegance of the original while making it feel more contemporary and personal.

The process was a lesson in patience and precision. It took me around six hours to carefully sketch the piece in pencil and complete the stippling with a Sharpie pen, dot by dot. For the digital painting, I spent another hour in Photoshop, choosing complementary colors to bring a modern vibrancy to the portrait. I wanted the colors to highlight the features and add personality without overpowering the original structure.

This project pushed me to think critically about every choice, from texture to color, and gave me a deeper appreciation for combining traditional and digital art. It was a rewarding challenge that let me blend my admiration for classical art with my own creative approach.