PORTRAIT PROJECT 01 // dena evelyn shapiro

For the past few months, I've been really focused on doing abstract paintings as a way to ease myself back into art -- focusing on color, composition, and brushstrokes. But every since I was little, I've been obsessed with drawing faces, so I decided it was time to get back into it!

I was inspired by a photograph of Dena Evelyn Shapiro that Miss Moss (another Diana!) shared on her blog. At the time of this portrait during the 1920s, Ms. Shapiro had received her masters in sociology from the University of Chicago and had just returned from Palestine where she was studying the interaction between Zionism and the complex religious and cultural environment that existed there.

I love this type of intense, old portrait, and did my best to capture it in pencil and then in simple blue acrylic. I like the end result, although I hope to get better at doing portraits that look more like the original subject. New goal for the year! :)

I'm really excited to start this series and want to use my portrait project to learn about more awesome women in arts and sciences. Let me know if you have any suggestions for portrait subjects!

xo Diana

P.S. The original painting is available for sale here!