Known for his masterful depictions of dancers, Edgar Degas’ work is characterized by its dynamic movement and expressive lines. Let’s learn to draw ballerinas like Degas! Following this tutorial, you will gain an understanding of Degas’ unique approach to portraying the grace and poise of ballerinas.
This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to learning how to draw ballerinas in the style of famed French artist Edgar Degas. We’ll delve into capturing the intricate details of their costumes, the subtle curvature of their poses, and the emotive quality of their expressions.
This step-by-step guide is designed for artists of all levels, so don’t hesitate to pick up your sketchpad and embark on this artistic journey.
I draw ballerinas all the time now, I just needed someone to show me how.
~Aubriel
It was music to an art teachers ears. One of my students said this the other day and it made me so very happy. I was nervous about teaching 1-3rd graders to draw ballerinas for our Edgar Degas lesson. Little did I know, it would be one of my favorite classes to teach yet. We had such a great time together drawing ballerinas.
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Let me know in comments what you know about this topic, what you have applied, what you have tried that worked, what you have tried that didn’t work and if you have any questions as we get into this training.
Materials Needed
To teach this lesson you will need:
- good Drawing Pencils and an Eraser
- chalk pastels
- charcoals if desired
- aerosol hair spray for fixative
STAEDTLER Mars Lumograph Art Drawing Pencils, 12 Pack Graphite Pencils in Metal Case, Break-Resistant Bonded Lead, 100 G12,Silver/BluePrina 50 Pack Drawing Set Sketch Kit, Sketching Supplies with 3-Color Sketchbook, Graphite, and Charcoal Pencils, Pro Art Drawing Kit for Artists Adults Teens Beginner Kid, Ideal for Shading, BlendingSketching Pencil Set, 24 Pcs Graphite Drawing Pencil for Artists Adults Children Include 12B 10B 8B 7B 6B 5B 4B 3B 2B B HB 2H 4H 6H Pencils, Charcoal Pencils, Canvas Pencil Bag and Accessories
Prismacolor Premier Accessory Set, Includes Colorless Blender Pencils (2 Piece), Premier Pencil Sharpener(1 Piece) & Magic Rub Erasers (3 Piece)PRISMACOLOR Design Eraser, 1224 Kneaded Rubber Eraser, Grey (70531) (3 Pack)Prismacolor 70531 Design Kneaded Rubber Art Eraser
Faber-Castell Soft Dry Pastel Chalk Long Goldfaber 36 ColorsArtecho 48 Premium Soft Pastels, 46 Colors Including 4 Fluorescent Colors, Extra Free Black & White, Square Chalk for Drawing, Blending, Layering, Shading, Pastels Art Supplies for Kids, BeginnersOhuhu 72 Long Chalk Pastels Set: 72 Soft Pastels For Artists Including 4 Fluorescent Colors With 6 Pastel Papers for Drawing Blending Layering Shading Pastels Art Supplies for Adults Kids Beginners
Sargent Art 22-4115 12-Count Charcoal Square PastelsSTAPENS Chalk Pastels, Vine Charcoal and Graphite Sticks for Artists Drawing, Set of 24 PcsKenra Volume Spray 25 50% | Super Hold Finishing & Styling Hairspray | Flake-free & Fast-drying | Wind & Humidity Resistance | All Hair Types | 10 oz
Project Setup Instructions
As always, I began my lesson with a little about Edgar Degas and we looked at several of his paintings of ballerinas. But I wanted to give them as much time as possible to work on their drawings so we didn’t spend a ton of time on that.
Before we began to draw, I told them that the first few sketches are for practice. That way they didn’t have to feel pressured; often they end up keeping them anyway because even their first tries are so good. But it also gives them an out if they don’t like what they see and some time for me to offer guidance.
I try to get them sketching first with very light lines so that erasing is extra easy for them. Learning how to draw a ballerina could bring frustration for the perfectionist child if they can’t achieve what they envision, because drawing skills take time and practice to develop, so I always place emphasis on the process.
I point out their successes as much as possible. Keep in mind that I have already discussed several concepts with my students such as perspective and overlapping that are helpful to know for this lesson. So my students already understand why, for example, the ballerina’s legs are not visible- since the tutu is over the top.
For that reason, they are only drawing portions of the legs and feet. Be sure to explain this as you go if your child will not already understand.
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Drawing Ballerinas like Degas
While I try not to confine my students to a particular approach, for this lesson I took them through a simple step by step how to draw a ballerina and chose a simple body position to teach all together. I went through each step with them one at a time.
It is a good beginning for a one time class. I also helped them with drawing basic faces because I knew a few of them were unsure about that. Once I showed them how easy the lines are to make, they gained a new confidence in doing the drawing-which made me feel so good as a teacher. The tutu and hair were my favorite things to teach.
Once they had their ballerina sketched it was time to add color with pastels. This gave me the chance to teach them a bit about blending and shading. For example, adding a darker value of the same color for creases or folds in the tutu.
After I took them through the How to Draw a Ballerina Steps, we used chalk pastels to complete our work of art. One last thing to note is that not all boys will want to draw ballerinas, so perhaps this may be a lesson more for girls. That’s just something to keep in mind. I had one boy in my class and he didn’t mind so much because he loves pastels.
But as an alternative for boys, you can have them draw horse racing scenes or a rider on a horse. Edgar Degas also painted many of those scenes as well.
My Students’ Work
In the following section, you will be introduced to a selection of artwork crafted by my students, who have skillfully rendered their interpretations of Degas’ iconic ballerinas. Each piece showcases their unique ability to capture the essence of Degas’ style.
As you can see, they are revealing a keen eye for detail, a nuanced understanding of form, and a deep appreciation for the emotive power of dance. The images serve as a testament to both their artistic talent and the profound influence of Degas’ legacy. Enjoy!
Now it’s your turn!
Are you ready to start drawing ballerinas like Degas? This tutorial presented a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of one of France’s most celebrated artists, Edgar Degas. By honing your skills in sketching and drawing ballerinas with the aid of soft pastels and charcoal, you’ve come to appreciate the beauty and grace that Degas captured in his work.
This artistic journey has not only enhanced your technical abilities but also deepened your understanding of how to express emotion and movement within your creations. As you continue your artistic endeavors, may the legacy of Degas serve as an enduring inspiration. Thanks for reading through this wonderful tutorial about drawing ballerinas like Degas.
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