Charcoal Basics for Beginners from Udemy

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome to Charcoal Basics for Beginners! In this video you will get a brief overview of the course. I hope you enjoy the class!

In this video we will discuss the materials you will need for your course. Download the attached PDF file which contains a print out of the materials list and the reference images.

Materials list:

Print reference image (for best results, use photo paper). (NOTE: be sure to print page at 100%)
#2 Pencil w/Eraser, Pencil Sharpener
Kneaded Eraser
Drawing Paper (for use with charcoal)
Ruler to draw 4" frame
Vine charcoal
Charcoal pencil
Compressed charcoal
Blending Stump
OPTIONAL: Eraser Pencil, Tape and a board, Sandpaper pad, Workable Spray Fixatif

In this video you will learn how to start the outline for your drawing by measuring the first rock on the page.

In this video you will continue to measure the outlines for the rocks on your page.

In this video you will begin to add the first layer of toning - the light values.

In this video you will continue to add the first layer of toning - the light values.

In this video you will start to pull out highlights for more contrast in your drawing.

In this video you will add more shading to the sand.

In this video you will pull out more highlights in the sand for more contrast.

In this video you will add more shading to your rocks.

In this video you will add the dark values to your drawing.

In this video you will begin to add final details to your drawing.

In this video you will add more blending and shading for contrast.

In this video you will sharpen the edges for more crispness in your drawing.

In this video you will begin to add modeling and textures.

Your drawing is complete! Now it is time to add your signature!

As an optional step, you may add Workable Spray Fixatif to preserve your drawing so it won't smudge. With Workable Spray Fixatif, you can continue to add more layers to your work. If you use Matte Fixatif, you will not be able to add more to your drawing, though it is more permanent.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive introduction to charcoal drawing techniques, including measuring, shading, blending, and creating textures, which are fundamental for beginners

Teaches how to recreate a realistic image from a photograph, which is a practical skill for aspiring artists looking to improve their observational drawing abilities

Requires specific materials like vine charcoal, compressed charcoal, and blending stumps, which may require an initial investment for students new to charcoal drawing

Includes optional steps like using Workable Spray Fixatif, allowing learners to explore preservation techniques and further refine their drawings

Breaks down the drawing process into manageable steps, starting with the outline and progressing through light, medium, and dark values, which is helpful for beginners

Reviews summary

Charcoal drawing step-by-step basics

Based on the detailed syllabus, learners might find this course offers a structured, step-by-step introduction to charcoal drawing. It appears designed to guide beginners through fundamental techniques like measuring, shading, and blending, culminating in the creation of a realistic image from a photograph. The course seems to focus on a single guided project (drawing rocks) to help solidify these basic skills, providing a clear path to follow for those new to the medium.

Centers around drawing realistic rocks

"Working on the rock project helped me practice all the steps taught in the course."

"While focused on one subject, completing the rock drawing gave me confidence in the techniques."

"The entire course builds up methodically to one final image."

Provides a helpful list of supplies

"The materials list PDF was very useful for knowing exactly what I needed before starting."

"Knowing what supplies were needed upfront was great, especially since I was new to charcoal."

"Recommends different charcoal types and tools like blending stumps and erasers."

Teaches essential charcoal techniques

"I learned the basics of shading and blending, which was my main goal when starting."

"It covers using different charcoal types like vine and compressed charcoal effectively for basics."

"Good introduction to measurement and outlines before starting the actual drawing."

Very clear instructions for beginners

"The course takes you step-by-step, making it easy to follow even if you've never used charcoal."

"Each video breaks down the process into manageable chunks, which is great for beginners."

"Following the syllabus order feels very logical and builds skills incrementally."

May not challenge experienced artists

"As a total beginner, this was perfect, but it seems quite basic for anyone with prior art experience."

"Won't cover advanced techniques or how to draw different subjects."

"Strictly focuses on the very first steps of using charcoal."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Charcoal Basics for Beginners with these activities:

Practice Basic Shading Techniques

Show steps

Practice basic shading techniques to improve your understanding of light and shadow, which is crucial for charcoal drawing.

Show steps

Gather reference images with clear light and shadow.
Practice shading simple geometric forms like spheres and cubes.
Experiment with different shading techniques like hatching and blending.

Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'

Show steps

Read 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' to develop fundamental drawing skills and improve your ability to perceive shapes and values accurately.

View Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'.
Work through the exercises in the book, focusing on the core concepts.
Apply the techniques learned to your charcoal drawings.

Value Scale Practice

Show steps

Practice creating value scales with charcoal to improve your control over shading and tonal range.

Show steps

Create a grid with 5-10 squares.
Fill each square with a different value, from light to dark, using vine and compressed charcoal.
Focus on achieving smooth transitions between values.

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Create a Charcoal Still Life

Show steps

Create a still life drawing using charcoal to apply the techniques learned in the course and develop your artistic skills.

Show steps

Set up a simple still life arrangement with interesting objects.
Create a preliminary sketch to plan your composition.
Use vine charcoal to establish the light values and general shapes.
Add medium and dark values with compressed charcoal and charcoal pencils.
Refine details and add textures using blending stumps and erasers.

Explore 'Keys to Drawing'

Show steps

Read 'Keys to Drawing' to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental drawing principles and improve your overall drawing skills.

View Keys to Drawing with Imagination: Strategies... on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of 'Keys to Drawing'.
Read through the book, paying attention to the key concepts.
Practice the exercises in the book to reinforce your understanding.

Draw a Landscape from a Photograph

Show steps

Create a landscape drawing from a photograph using charcoal to practice creating depth, texture, and atmospheric perspective.

Show steps

Select a landscape photograph with interesting features and good lighting.
Create a preliminary sketch to plan your composition and values.
Use vine charcoal to establish the light values and general shapes of the landscape.
Add medium and dark values with compressed charcoal and charcoal pencils to create depth and contrast.
Refine details and add textures to create a realistic and engaging landscape drawing.

Career center

Learners who complete Charcoal Basics for Beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Fine Artist

A fine artist creates original artworks for exhibition and sale. This career path allows for creative freedom and self-expression through various mediums, including drawing, painting, and sculpture. This course provides a solid foundation in charcoal drawing techniques. It teaches you the basics of measuring, shading, blending, and creating textures. These skills translate directly to creating compelling and expressive artworks. Specifically, the course's emphasis on creating realistic images from photographs helps build a strong sense of observation and rendering ability, which is useful no matter the medium of choice. Fine artists may find this course in particular useful, as it builds technical skills, which allows for much more artistic freedom.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist

Illustrator

An illustrator creates images for books, magazines, and other media. This role involves a strong understanding of visual storytelling and the ability to create compelling artwork that complements written content. This course helps you build fundamental drawing skills, teaching you how to create realistic images through techniques like measuring, shading, and blending, all of which an illustrator needs. The skills you gain in charcoal drawing, specifically in capturing textures and creating contrast, directly translate to creating visually engaging illustrations. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it builds a foundation in traditional drawing methods, which are frequently called upon even in the age of digital illustration.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Concept Artist

A concept artist develops visual representations of ideas for films, video games, and other entertainment media. The work includes designing characters, environments, and props, requiring a strong artistic foundation and the ability to quickly iterate on ideas. This course helps you develop essential drawing skills, with an emphasis on shading and texture creation. These skills are crucial for concept artists. The course's focus on recreating realistic images from photographs builds a foundation for visualizing and rendering complex designs. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it places emphasis on traditional drawing, which is very useful when quickly sketching out ideas.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Tattoo Artist

A tattoo artist creates permanent designs on clients' skin using needles and ink. This career requires artistic skill, precision, and a thorough understanding of hygiene and safety practices. This course can help you hone your drawing skills, particularly in shading, blending, and creating textures. The skills you gain in this course translate directly to creating detailed and visually appealing tattoo designs. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it helps you capture a realistic image, with the goal of replicating that onto skin.

See salaries and explore the career path for Tattoo Artist

Art teacher

An art teacher educates students of all ages in various art techniques and concepts. The role involves developing lesson plans, providing instruction, and fostering creativity in students. This course may be useful as it deepens your understanding of charcoal drawing, providing you with a structured approach to teaching the fundamentals. The course's focus on techniques like measuring, shading, and blending equips you with the knowledge to effectively guide students in their artistic development. You may find this introductory course particularly useful if you plan to teach beginners. Taking this course also equips you with the experience of being a student, so you can better anticipate the difficulties your students will face.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

Draftsperson

A draftsperson prepares technical drawings and plans for construction and manufacturing projects. This role requires strong attention to detail, spatial reasoning, and knowledge of drafting software. This course helps you develop fundamental drawing skills while using tools. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it builds a new understanding for drawing in general.

See salaries and explore the career path for Draftsperson

Storyboard Artist

A storyboard artist creates a sequence of drawings that represent the scenes in a film, television show, or advertisement. This role requires a strong understanding of visual storytelling, composition, and character posing. This course may be useful as it provides a foundation in drawing, shading, and creating textures. These skills are crucial for effectively communicating visual ideas. The focus on recreating realistic images from photographs helps develop the observational skills needed to depict scenes accurately. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it develops the ability to visually communicate ideas, which is a valuable skill to develop when constructing storyboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Storyboard Artist

Photo Retoucher

A photo retoucher enhances and manipulates digital images using software such as Photoshop. This role involves color correction, removing blemishes, and adding special effects to create visually appealing photographs. This course helps you develop an understanding of shading and blending, which are essential for seamlessly editing and manipulating images. The course may be of use to you as you learn to recreate realistic images. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it builds a new understanding for photographies and manipulating images in general.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photo Retoucher

Muralist

A muralist creates large-scale artworks on walls or other surfaces, often in public spaces. It often requires strong drawing skills, an understanding of composition, and the ability to work on a large scale. This course may be useful as it helps you develop your drawing skills. This includes measuring proportions accurately, creating depth through shading, and adding visual interest through textures, which are all useful for designing and executing large-scale murals. Those who wish to enter this career field may find this course in particular useful, as it builds basic drawing skills which can be applied to large surfaces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Muralist

Medical Illustrator

A medical illustrator creates visuals for textbooks, medical journals, and patient education materials. A medical illustrator typically requires a master's degree. This career requires a strong understanding of anatomy, medical procedures, and visual communication. Charcoal Basics for Beginners may be useful by helping build a foundation in drawing and shading, which are essential for accurately depicting anatomical structures. The course's focus on creating realistic images may be directly applicable to anatomical illustration. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it builds drawing skills which, while perhaps not directly applicable, are beneficial to the field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Illustrator

Surface Pattern Designer

A surface pattern designer creates original designs for textiles, wallpapers, and other decorative surfaces. This role involves a strong understanding of color, composition, and pattern repeats. This course may be useful by helping develop your drawing skills, which are essential for creating original motifs and patterns. The course's focus on creating textures can be particularly valuable for adding visual interest to surface designs. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it builds a strong foundation in drawing, which can then be adapted to repeating patterns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Surface Pattern Designer

Animator

An animator creates moving images for films, television shows, video games, and websites. This career requires a strong understanding of motion, timing, and character design. The ability to draw is extremely beneficial. This course may be useful as it provides a foundation in drawing principles. The course's focus on shading and creating textures can help you create more visually appealing and realistic animations. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it builds a strong foundation in drawing, which is useful for initial sketches.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Exhibition Designer

An exhibition designer plans and designs the layout and appearance of museum exhibitions or trade shows. This career path requires a blend of creativity, spatial awareness, and project management skills. The artist often has to sketch out a layout for a space. This course helps you develop fundamental drawing skills, teaching sketching techniques so you can plan out space. The skills you gain in charcoal drawing, specifically in texture and contrast, translate to creating visually engaging designs. You may find this course in particular useful, as it builds a foundation in traditional drawing methods, which are frequently called upon even in the age of digital design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Exhibition Designer

Fashion Designer

A fashion designer creates clothing and accessories. This role involves sketching designs, selecting fabrics, and overseeing the production process. This course may be useful as it provides a foundation in drawing skills. This includes shading and creating textures. These techniques can be applied to fashion illustrations and design sketches. Those who wish to enter this career field should take this course in particular, as it helps to visualize your ideas on paper.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fashion Designer

Cake Decorator

A cake decorator designs and creates decorative elements for cakes and other pastries. This career requires artistic talent, attention to detail, and knowledge of baking techniques. This course may be useful, as the skills you practice in creating texture and contrast can be applied to your cake decorations, though the medium is different. The course's emphasis on recreating realistic images from photographs may help develop the precision needed for intricate cake designs. Those who wish to enter this career field may find this course in particular useful, as it builds basic drawing skills which can be applied to a variety of mediums.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cake Decorator

Charcoal Basics for Beginners

What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Charcoal drawing step-by-step basics

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses