Drawing Workshop | Portraiture in Charcoal with Michael Simms

In this two-day workshop, students will learn how to draw the human face with charcoal - one of the most versatile and expressive mediums. Michael will provide his unique tips and tricks on how to simplify the face into basic shapes to make portraiture fun and accessible.

Students will complete a series of quick warm-up exercises before learning how to lay the foundations for a portrait with structure, and build up their drawing with willow and compressed charcoal to achieve a sense of form and volume.

Michael will conduct demonstrations and provide individual feedback to students. Students will work from photo references provided.

Topics covered include:

• Overview of materials: the different types of charcoal and how to use it
• The proportions of the human face
• How to simplify the human face into basic planes and tonal shapes
• How to build structure into your portrait
• Capturing a ‘likeness’
• Understanding tonal values
• How to achieve a sense of volume and form in your drawings

Is this class right for me?

This workshop is suitable for all skill levels. It is an excellent addition to those who have enrolled in Michael’s ‘Individual Facial Features’ workshop. 

Materials

Please bring the following materials

• Butchers paper A2
• Archers Smooth Watercolour Paper 185 gsm. 2 sheets
• Generals Compressed Charcoal Pencil, HB, 2B, 6B 
• Willow charcoal (thick and thin) 
• Can of Spray Fixative
• Tissues 
• Kneadable eraser 
• Jasart size 12 flat brush and size 6 flat brush
• 2H, HB and 2B graphite pencils

About studio classes

Our class sizes are small, ensuring you receive the individual tuition you need. We have a maximum of 12 students per class.

Unless otherwise noted, prices *exclude* art materials. Click here to see a list of local art supply retailers.

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Save on your art class

Art Est accepts Creative Kids vouchers and memberships to help you save on your art class, along with regular discounts for current students. To find out what you are eligible for and how to book with these, visit our special offers and discounts page:

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