Charcoal Lessons

CHARCOAL COURSES

The Charcoal Drawing Course

In this course, we explore the traditional drawing medium of charcoal. Learn the foundational principles of drawing while creating a variety of drawings using various forms of charcoal on different surfaces.

VIEW COURSE

2.5 Hours19 Lessons5 Ebooks

The Secrets to Drawing

The Secrets to Drawing is a comprehensive learning experience designed to guide absolute beginners and intermediate artists through the core foundations of drawing.

VIEW COURSE

5 Hours28 Lessons26 Ebooks

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way

"Portrait Drawing The Smart Way" is a complete video course on drawing portraits designed for beginner and intermediate artists.

VIEW COURSE

4 Hours19 Lessons18 Ebooks

TECHNIQUES

Best Erasers for Drawing

Learn how to use erasers for mark-making and which are best for the job.

You CAN Draw - A How to Draw Webinar

You CAN draw. This is how it's done.

The Charcoal Drawing Course - Introduction and Materials

In this course lesson, we explore the forms and charateristics of charcoal for drawing, tools and materials.

MEMBERS

The Charcoal Drawing Course - Basic Forms

Learn how to use value to create the illusion of form while exploring mapping techniques for accuracy in a charcoal drawing. Create a still life drawing of basic forms.

MEMBERS

How to Draw Basic Forms with Charcoal

Learn how to use highlights and shadows to create the illusion of a light source and basic forms in this tutorial on drawing with charcoal.

Do You Need Blending Stumps?

When to use blending stumps and when to leave them in the drawer.

Improve Your Drawing in 6 Days

A few philosophies and exercises for improving your drawing skills.

How to Draw Water Droplets

Learn how to draw realistic water droplets and how light behaves within a transparent object.

25 Days to Better Drawings - Value

In this module, we're introduced to the element of art, value. Learn its importance to drawing, proper terminology, and blending techniques.

MEMBERS

25 Days to Better Drawings - Shadow and Light

25 Days to Better Drawings - Light and Shadow

In this module, we'll learn how to use value to create the illusion of light and form in a drawing.

MEMBERS

25 Days to Better Drawings - Drawing Basic Forms

Learn how to draw basic forms by starting with simple shapes. Create the illusion of form through the use of value and tone.

MEMBERS

25 Days to Better Drawings - Texture Study #3

Learn how to create the illusion of texture found on highly reflective surfaces. Practice concepts learned with a drawing exercise.

MEMBERS

The Secrets to Drawing - Basic Drawing Techniques

Basic drawing techniques including blending, hatching and cross hatching, rendering, and more.

MEMBERS

The Secrets to Drawing - Charcoal

Learn the basics of drawing with various forms of charcoal.

MEMBERS

How to Sharpen any Pencil

Learn techniques for sharpening any type of pencil.

PEOPLE

Portrait Drawing with Charcoal - Old Man

Learn how to draw a portrait of an old man with charcoal.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 9

Timed drawings based on creative prompts.

Spooky Skull Sketch

Learn how to draw a spooky skull with charcoal on textured stipple paper.

Portrait Drawing with White Charcoal

Use white charcoal on black paper to draw a portrait.

MEMBERS

Figure Drawing with Charcoal

Create a figure drawing with charcoal in this 6-part lesson series.

MEMBERS

Portrait Drawing with Charcoal

Create a portrait with various forms of charcoal in this 9-part lesson series.

MEMBERS

How to draw with white charcoal on black paper

Draw with White Media on Black Paper

Create a high contrast portrait with white charcoal on black paper in this lesson.

Timed Drawing Exercise - How to Draw a Skull with Charcoal

Learn how to draw a skull with white and black charcoal on gray paper in this timed drawing exercise.

25 Days to Better Drawings - Drawing in Reverse

Create a drawing by concentrating only on the highlights. This challenging drawing exercise forces us to recognize shapes of value and their spatial relationships.

MEMBERS

Sketching with Charcoal - Portrait Demo of a Young Girl

Sketching with Charcoal - Portrait Drawing

Learn how to sketch with charcoal in this lesson that features a portrait of a young girl.

How to Draw a Portrait Sketch - Charcoal

Learn how to draw a portrait with charcoal by modeling the form before developing the details of the face and head.

Powdered Charcoal - Portrait Sketch

Learn how to tone paper with powdered charcoal and draw a portrait sketch with traditional charcoal.

Charcoal Drawing Techniques - Skull

Learn charcoal drawing techniques and how to draw a skull in this lesson that features the use of white and black charcoal on gray paper.

Portrait Drawing - The Skull Frontal View

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Skull - Frontal View

A look at drawing the structure of what lies beneath the face and head - the skull (frontal view).

MEMBERS

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Skull - Profile View

A continued look at drawing the skull from a profile view.

MEMBERS

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - Basic Facial Proportions

The basic facial proportions and spacial relationships of the features of the head.

MEMBERS

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Planes of the Face

A look at recognizing and drawing the planes of the face and the head.

MEMBERS

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Eye - Frontal View

A look at drawing the eye from a frontal view using a step by step approach of observation and application of material.

MEMBERS

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Eye - Profile View

A look at drawing the eye from a profile view using a step by step approach of observation and application of material.

MEMBERS

How to draw the nose from a frontal view

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Nose - Frontal View

A look at drawing the nose from a frontal view by placing basic shapes and adding shading / value to create the illusion of form and texture.

MEMBERS

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Nose - Profile View

A look at drawing the nose from a profile view using basic shapes, then developing the value to model the form and create texture.

MEMBERS

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Mouth and Teeth

A look at drawing the mouth and teeth using a structured approach of observation and application of media.

MEMBERS

How to draw a realistic ear - drawing lesson

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - The Ear

A look at drawing the ear using a step by step approach of defining specific regions through thoughtful applications of gradations of value.

MEMBERS

How to draw a portrait with the grid technique

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - Grid Drawing - 3 Lessons

Learn how to draw a realistic portrait using the grid technique. Develop the value within the scene with graphite and white charcoal.

MEMBERS

How to draw a portrait with a triangular grid

Portrait Drawing The Smart Way - Triangular Grid Drawing - 3 Lessons

Learn how to draw a realistic portrait using a modified grid. This technique greatly reduces the number of preliminary lines but ensures an accurate drawing.

MEMBERS

How to draw a portrait with toned charcoal - lesson series

Toning Paper with Powdered Charcoal - 1 Hour

Learn how to tone paper to create a portrait sketch using powdered charcoal in this recorded live lesson.

MEMBERS

High contrast drawing lesson - white charcoal on black paper

Chiaroscuro - 1 Hour

Create dramatic light with white charcoal in this recorded live lesson.

MEMBERS

LANDSCAPE

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 12

Learn how to draw 10 different subjects with a variety of media.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 11

10 timed drawing lessons using a variety of drawing media and surfaces.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 7

Drawings include animals, landscape, portraiture, still life, vehicles and architecture.

Charcoal Drawing Course - Landscape

Use a variety of forms of charcoal to draw a landscape with a dominant tree.

MEMBERS

Landscape Drawing with Charcoal - 3 Hours

Use vine and compressed charcoal to develop a drawing of a landscape in this three-part lesson series.

MEMBERS

Landscape Drawing with Charcoal - Timed Drawing Exercise

Learn how to draw a landscape with various forms of charcoal in this 45 minute timed drawing exercise.

How to Draw an Old Tree with Charcoal

This ultimate guide covers the basics of drawing trees. Four lessons are inlcuded. Lesson three teaches you how to draw an old tree with charcoal and sepia tones.

Landscape Sketch with Charcoal Pencils - Lesson

How to Draw with Charcoal Pencils

Take a look at drawing with charcoal pencils in this tutorial that explores a landscape sketch. How to sharpen charcoal pencils is also covered.

Conté Landscape Drawing - 1 Hour

Watch and learn how to draw a landscape using conte in this full length video demonstration.

MEMBERS

Charcoal Landscape - Excerpts

Excerpts from a Live Lesson series on drawing a landscape.

ANIMALS

How to Sketch an Elephant

Create a drawing of an elephant with charcoal.

How to Sketch a Horse

Create a drawing of a horse with charcoal.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 6

Learn how to draw and have some fun. Subjects in this season include facial features, animals, a tractor, and an avocado.

Chimpanzee Drawing with White and Black Charcoal

Create a drawing of a chimpanzee with white and black charcoal on gray paper.

MEMBERS

Ostrich - Charcoal Drawing Lesson Series - 4 Hours

Create a drawing of an ostrich on toned Ingres paper with a variety of forms of charcoal.

MEMBERS

How to Draw a Horse with Charcoal

Draw a horse with a variety of different forms of charcoal.

How to Draw a Raven with Charcoal

Combine white and black charcoal on charcoal paper in this lesson.

How to Draw a Sloth with Charcoal

Draw a sloth with charcoal in this timed drawing exercise.

Timed Sketching Exercise - Gorilla

Create a quick sketch of a gorilla with charcoal in just over 30 minutes.

Zebra with White Charcoal - Timed Drawing Exercise

Learn how to draw a zebra with white charcoal on black paper in this lesson and timed drawing exercise.

Unloved Bird with Charcoal - Timed Drawing Exercise

Learn how to draw a vulture with charcoal in this timed drawing exercise.

Mixed Media Drawing Lesson - Great White Shark

Combine a variety of black and white drawing media to create a realistic drawing of a Great White shark.

Eagle with Graphite and White Charcoal - Timed Drawing Exercise

Learn how to draw an Eagle with graphite and white charcoal in this timed drawing exercise.

How to draw a realistic bird with graphite and white charcoal

How to Draw A Realistic Bird With Pencil and White Charcoal

Learn how to draw a bird with basic shapes and render the image with pencil and white charcoal.

How to draw an elephant with white charcoal - lesson

White Charcoal on Black Paper - 1 Hour

Learn how to draw with white charcoal on black paper in this full length video.

MEMBERS

STILL LIFE

Realistic Spoon Drawing

Use graphite and white charcoal to draw a realistic spoon.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 10

Timed drawings in the style of artists from the past.

Gettin' Sketchy - Season 8

Drawings include animals, still life, vehicles and landscape.

How to Draw a Diamond

Draw a realistic diamond with white charcoal and graphite on gray paper.

How to Draw a Glass of Water

Draw a realistic glass of water with graphite and white charcoal.

Marbles with Graphite and White Charcoal

Graphite and White Charcoal - Marbles - 3 Hours

Learn how to create the illusion of reflection and transparency with graphite and white charcoal while developing a drawing of five marbles.

MEMBERS

Charcoal Still Life Series - 5 Hours

A detailed look at drawing a still life with charcoal. The emphasis of this lesson series is on creating the illusion of texture.

MEMBERS

How to draw glass with white charcoal - lesson series

White Charcoal "Glass" - 1 Hour

White charcoal pencils are used on black paper to create the illusion of glass. Recorded Live Lesson.

MEMBERS

Charcoal Rendering Still Life - 1 Hour

Use a kneaded eraser to erase out highlights in the creation of a charcoal rendering still life. Recorded Live Lesson.

MEMBERS

How to Draw Drapery with Conte - 1 Hour

Learn how to draw cloth or drapery in this recorded live lesson.

MEMBERS

How to Draw a Rose with Charcoal - 1 Hour

Watch and learn how to draw using mostly the eraser to create a rendering of a rose in this full length video demonstration.

MEMBERS

Learn from ALL of our lessons.

Members get every course, live lesson, ebook, critique and lesson plan.

START YOUR TRIAL

More On Charcoal...

All of the tutorials on this page involve charcoal drawing. Charcoal is burnt organic material, usually wood. It comes in many different forms including pencils and sticks. Softer charcoals are called vine charcoal, while harder varieties are called compressed charcoals. Most charcoal is black although some manufacturers add white pigment to create white compressed charcoal. Vine charcoal typically makes lighter marks that are easy to erase, while compressed charcoals make darker marks that are harder to erase.

Charcoal can be used on many different surfaces. Charcoal is sometimes used when making a preliminary drawing for an oil painting on canvas or panel. For finished drawings, charcoal is typically used on textured drawing papers.