First we learned some basics about how to draw a portrait, and then we observed the face of a friend sitting on the opposite side of the table. This was also a good way to get to know each other. I tried to find a balance between enabling the kids’ spontaneous expression and teaching them some rules :-). We were inspired by the portrait of a ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ by Johannes Vermeer, who emphasised the light and contrast between the model and background by painting the background completely black.
