Intro to Charcoal Charicatures - learn to draw in Toronto, Yonge/Gerrard

Unlock the expressive power of charcoal in this immersive, hands-on drawing workshop designed for beginners and intermediate artists alike. Learn to Draw with Charcoal is a comprehensive workshop that introduces students to the foundational techniques, materials, and creative possibilities of charcoal as a medium. Whether you're just starting your artistic journey or looking to deepen your existing skills, this class offers a dynamic and supportive environment to develop your confidence and craftsmanship in drawing.

Course Overview

Charcoal has long been revered by artists for its bold contrast, rich textures, and dynamic range. In this class, students will explore a variety of charcoal types—including vine, compressed, and pencil charcoal—and learn how to harness each for different effects. The course covers both technical and creative aspects of drawing, focusing on value, tone, texture, gesture, proportion, and composition.

Through guided instruction, live demonstrations, and individual feedback, you’ll learn to render still life, landscapes, and the human figure with depth and expression. You'll also gain insight into how to control light and shadow, create dramatic compositions, and build form through tonal layering and blending techniques.

What You’ll Learn

• Introduction to Materials: Understand the different types of charcoal, papers, erasers, and fixatives, and how to use them effectively.
• Fundamentals of Drawing: Line quality, mark-making, contour drawing, and gesture studies.
• Value and Tonal Techniques: Learn how to see and replicate value using shading, crosshatching, and blending.
• Light and Shadow: Develop an understanding of light sources, cast shadows, and how to create the illusion of depth.
• Composition and Layout: Discover the principles of balance, focal point, negative space, and perspective in drawing.
• Textural Effects: Experiment with layering, smudging, lifting, and subtractive drawing techniques.
• Subject Matter Exploration: Work from still life setups, photo references, natural objects, and figure models (clothed or nude depending on course level and setting).
• Personal Expression: Begin to find your own visual voice through guided creative exercises and personal projects.

Class Structure

Each session builds on the previous one, gradually increasing in complexity while reinforcing core techniques. Classes typically follow this structure:

1. Warm-Up Exercises: Quick sketches and mark-making to loosen up the hand and eye coordination.
2. Demonstration & Technique Focus: Live instructor-led drawing or video demo explaining new techniques.
3. Practice & Application: Time to apply new skills to guided assignments or observational drawing tasks.
4. Feedback & Discussion: Group critique or one-on-one feedback from the instructor to support artistic growth.

Who Should Take This Class?

This class is ideal for:

• Beginners interested in building foundational drawing skills.
• Hobbyists looking to deepen their artistic practice.
• Art students preparing portfolios for school or professional work.
• Anyone who wants to explore the expressive potential of a bold, dramatic medium.

Materials List

All materials are included

Duration & Format

This class is one hour. We recommed several sessions or our 4 week class for more immersive experience.

Why Choose Charcoal Drawing?

Charcoal is one of the most direct and tactile forms of drawing. It encourages bold experimentation, fast gesture, and expressive mark-making—qualities that can dramatically enhance any artist’s visual literacy and creative confidence.

Ready to get your hands dusty and dive into the dynamic world of charcoal? Learn to Draw with Charcoal is your gateway to unlocking the dramatic beauty of black-and-white drawing—one smudge at a time.