To get back into a good drawing habit of actually looking and observing I wanted to start sketching something that I felt out of my comfort zone, and I felt fabric and silk bows were always so wonderfully portrayed in paintings. I wanted to see the values, and contrasts of the folds of fabric. 

 

I started on my handmade gesso boards with oil pencil, the results are a fine finish, smooth and delicate, representational of the silk fabric itself. Below are references I was inspired by. 

ella wolfnoth ribbon drawing
ella wolfnoth ribbon drawing
ella wolfnoth ribbon drawing
ella wolfnoth ribbon drawing
ella wolfnoth ribbon drawing
ella wolfnoth ribbon oil painting
ella wolfnoth ribbon drawing
ella wolfnoth ribbon drawing
ella wolfnoth ribbon drawing
Reference paintings for inspiration. 

Artist: Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun
Portrait depicts Comtesse de la Châtre. 1789

Artist: Jean Ranc
Portrait of Barbara of Portugal, 1729.