This gallery features artwork created by a middle school student participating in a self-selected elective focused on portrait drawing. The student is already a highly talented, self-taught artist, and this elective is designed to help refine technique, build artistic discipline, and support growth through structured practice.

Because drawing is not an area in which the instructor specializes, the school provided the student with a subscription to Artist Academy, along with access to library books on portraiture and human anatomy, and curated YouTube tutorials from professional artists. Through these resources, the student is studying facial proportions, shading, expression, and form, while expanding their understanding of how to capture realistic human features.

The first assignment in this elective was to create two initial sketches—one inspired by an image of Billie Eilish, and one inspired by a photo of Marilyn Monroe. These serve as the student’s “baseline” drawings.

At the end of the school year, after months of practice and study, the student will redo both portraits as a demonstration of growth, improvement, and increased mastery of portrait techniques.

This gallery showcases the beginning of that journey and celebrates the dedication, curiosity, and artistic passion the student brings to their learning.