Creative Technique in Charcoal: Portrait

Explore the art of creative portraiture in this exciting new class, where your portrait begins as simple scribbles and evolves into an expressive, realistic face. Using charcoal—a fast and forgiving medium—students will learn step-by-step how to guide these chaotic lines into a compelling portrait filled with emotion. By the end of class, you’ll have created your own unique piece and discovered how to control the level of realism, find key focus areas, and avoid overworking for a visually captivating result. This class is perfect for those who want to explore the expressive potential of a “messy” start! Explore the boundaries between realistic and abstract, the suggested and the defined.

By the end of this class, you’ll:

• Create conceptually interesting portraits
• Start with expressive scribbles that evolve into a face
• Learn how to shape chaotic lines into powerful emotions
• Make a painterly drawing with PanPastels
• Focus on key areas to enhance your work’s impact
• Avoid overworking, leaving the portrait visually intriguing

This class is open to all levels. Beginners will benefit even more if they complete the Essential Drawing Course first.