Amidst the fast pace of modern life, finding moments of tranquillity can feel like a distant dream. But what if there was a simple, yet powerful way to reconnect with your inner peace and support your mental well-being? Enter Drawing Calm – your sanctuary for harnessing the therapeutic benefits of charcoal drawing, where you can slow down, breathe, and mindfully capture the beauty of nature and traditional still life objects on paper.

What Are the benefits?

This self-directed charcoal drawing workshop offers numerous benefits including:

• Discover the Power of Charcoal: Charcoal drawing is deeply immersive and tactile, making it a perfect medium for mindfulness. The rich textures and expressive marks allow you to focus on the present moment as you gently layer shadows, blend soft edges, and refine delicate details. By engaging in the rhythmic process of drawing, you cultivate mindfulness, ease stress, and find a sense of calm amid life's chaos.

•  Connect with Nature and Still Life: We believe that a deep connection with both nature and traditional artistic subjects is essential for our well-being. Through charcoal drawing, you'll learn to observe the subtle nuances of the natural world – the intricate veins of a leaf, the shifting light on tree bark, the contrast between soft shadows and bright highlights. Additionally, you’ll explore the timeless tradition of still life drawing, studying objects like fruits, flowers, ceramics, and drapery to develop a deeper understanding of composition, form, and texture. By immersing yourself in these details, you'll develop a greater appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us and refine your artistic eye.

• Nurture Your Creativity: Whether you're sketching a tranquil landscape, a delicate botanical study, or a carefully arranged still life, charcoal drawing encourages experimentation and creative expression. With its versatile nature—ranging from bold, dramatic strokes to soft, ethereal smudges—charcoal invites you to embrace spontaneity and let go of perfectionism. Allow yourself to explore new techniques, play with tone and texture, and unleash your imagination as you embark on your artistic journey.

Here are the details

Workshop Structure:

Benefiting from a structured learning environment with access to expert guidance, feedback, and resources, our self-directed Drawing Calm workshop introduces essential foundational skills in drawing nature and traditional still life objects, allowing you to embark on a journey toward mindfulness.  This partially guided workshop covers topics such as:

• Mark-Making: Developing your use of line to describe direction, weight, rhythm, speed, and volume.

• Learning Charcoal Techniques: Discover different charcoal techniques, from blending to hatching, to help translate your ideas onto paper with ease.

• Seeing Shape: Learn how to interpret three-dimensional objects and translate them into expressive two-dimensional drawings.

• Exploring Light and Shadow: Develop an understanding of tonal values, shading techniques, and how light interacts with forms to create depth and realism.

 • Still Life Composition: Discover the fundamentals of arranging objects in a balanced composition to create compelling still life drawings.

 Knowledge Required:

First Timer/Beginner Friendly

How do I book onto This Workshop?

We are currently planning a new workshop date, please sign up to our mailing list by filling our the form below and you will be notified as soon as we have a new date confirmed.