Charcoal Portrait Course – The Soft Approach

Online Drawing Workshop

Tuesday Evenings: 12th October – 2nd November 2021

Charcoal Portrait by Christopher Clements

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Learn to use a soft approach to drawing portraits and create drawings with an expressive, painterly style.

Charcoal is a beautiful drawing medium, well suited to portraiture. It has a wide tonal range and can be creatively manipulated to stunning effect.

The delicacy of charcoal is its strength but can also make it a little tricky to use. The approach you’ll learn on this course will help you handle it confidently and get the most out of it by building it up in controlled layers.

This method can also be used to great effect for still life, landscape or life drawing. It is also very effective when used with paint especially for alla prima work.

You’ll produce a charcoal portrait study by working gently into the drawing in an open flexible manner allowing you to get things right at your own speed over the course of the drawing.

Each stage will be demonstrated by Christopher in the first part of the lesson showing you exactly what is needed at each stage. In the second part of each lesson you’ll work on your own portrait using reference images sent to you specially for the course.

The stages involved in a portrait drawing using the Soft Approach by Christopher Clements
Stages of the Soft Approach by Christopher Clements

What you’ll learn

  • A flexible, open approach to drawing portraits
  • Effective use of Light, mid-tone and shadow
  • Creation of atmosphere through layering
  • How to create focus through selective rendering of detail

Whatever your level of experience this approach to portrait drawing will have something for everyone. Numbers are limited, giving everyone plenty of feedback.

 

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How The Course Works and What You’ll Need

The workshop will be done using Zoom, you will be emailed a reference image after booking and an invitation to each session half an hour before the class begins.

Bookings are made by paying a £40 deposit via Eventbrite. You will then be invoiced for the remaining balance which is due before the course begins.

You’ll need an internet connection and webcam and the following materials:

  • 1 Piece of Canson Mi-Teintes pastel paper
  • 1 medium bristle brush
  • 1 soft brush
  • Nitram Fine Art Charcoal, B & HB (H is useful but not essential)
  • Willow charcoal
  • Putty rubber
  • Blending stump
  • Sanding block
  • Soft eraser
  • Sponge brush

Essential Info & Booking

Date: Tuesdays 12th October – 2nd November 2021

Time: 18:30-21:00

Location: Online via Zoom

Price: £120 – Book with a £40 Deposit via Eventbrite

Questions: Use Contact Form above right or email info@northernrealist.com

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