Drawing with Charcoal

Everyone has a unique drawing style. Through experimentation and observation this workshop will develop your skills, and help you to discover your own language of mark-making. What to expect This enjoyable one day workshop covers the fundamentals of charcoal drawing. The focus will be on combining the free-flowing, expressive marks commonly associated with the medium with the dexterity required for accurate, intricate, and subtle detail. The day will help demystify and rediscover charcoal, providing you with the skills required to get the most from this incredibly diverse medium. You will be encouraged to create charcoal drawings that balance expressive energy with refined detail, enhancing both your confidence and skill. Morning: An introduction to materials. • An overview of different forms of charcoal types: willow, compressed and charcoal pencils and the tools to erase, blur, reduce and soften, using putty rubbers, brushes and blenders. • Experimenting with ways to make marks through addition and subtraction and combining methods to create texture, depth and richness. Afternoon: Still life drawing • Practicing observational drawing skills from the study of a central arrangement, examining light, shadow, midtones, texture and composition. • Exploring, refining and blending techniques, keeping areas of the paper clean and using tools for precision. What you will take away • A series of small quick mark making exercises and studies you can use as reference for future drawings. • A larger, more considered still-life study in charcoal. • Increased confidence in expressing your unique drawing language. Suitable for those completely new to drawing in charcoal, as well as more experienced artists looking to add to their skillset. Your tutor: Garry Parsons is a very successful artist and illustrator, with an illustration career spanning over two decades of working with some of the UK's most respected children's book authors. His fine art practice focuses on the natural world, with charcoal as his medium of choice. Read more on our tutors page. Tea and coffee is provided, and you are welcome to use our small kitchen. There is a shop a short walk away, and parking at the weekend is easily available just outside. We're on the first floor, with no lift access.