Black History Month: How to Draw a Dancing Lady like Bernard Hoyes
Below you’ll find an easy step-by-step tutorial for how to draw a Dancing Lady and a Dancing Lady Coloring Page. This drawing was inspired by the artist Bernard Hoyes.
This tutorial for how to draw a dancing lady can do double duty by teaching some simple body proportion lessons, while creating a colorful image in honor of Black History month.
The project about a dancing woman was inspired by artist Bernard Hoyes. He began his professional artist career began at the early age of nine in his home town of Kingston, Jamaica. Bernard’s mother sold his wood carvings and watercolors to visitors at the Jamaica Tourist Board to help maintain the household and support his creative efforts. Hoyes went on to study art in New York and now lives and works in Desert Hot Springs, CA.
Mr. Hoyes has an elegant way of painting women dancing to music, and this particular pose makes it easy for even young artists to imitate. By making the head touch the top of the paper, and the hands touch the sides, students are guaranteed to draw a well-proportioned body that fills up the paper.
Sharing a few of Mr. Hoyes’ paintings before students draw their own, might encourage them to use lots of rich colors. You can see his Jamaican roots with the rhythmic movement and vivid colors of his paintings.
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Dancing Lady Coloring Page
Materials to Draw a Dancing Lady
- Drawing Paper. This is the good stuff you can buy in bulk for a good price.
- Pencils. I like how this brand always makes nice dark lines.
- Black Marker. A permanent marker will give you a dark black color.
- Crayons. The larger packs are nice for more color choices.
- Note: All of the above are Amazon affiliate links.
Step by Step Directions to Draw a Dancing Lady
Time needed: 1 hour
Draw a Dancing Lady
- Make guidelines. Draw an oval.
- Add neck and circle for headband.
- Finish the head wrap.
- Draw neckline and hands.
- Connect the hands to the head with sleeves.
- Continue the side of the dress.
- Finish the curved hem.
- Draw facial features.
- Trace and color with crayons or pastels.
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