LOCATION NOTE: This class will be taking place at our brand new South Lake Union location, 2107 Westlake Ave.

Join the color scientist Ashwini for a dynamic weekend workshop focused on mastering the art of charcoal. This intensive session is designed to immerse you in the techniques and nuances of creating stunning, painterly effects with charcoal. Throughout the weekend, you will explore a variety of charcoal tools and materials, learning to use paintbrushes, blending stumps, and rags to achieve rich textures and intricate details. You will master shape and mass concepts by focusing on observing and designing values, developing your skills in manipulating edges to convey depth and space, and creating in-depth master copies of great artworks across different genres, including still life, landscape, portrait, and figure.

Copying old master paintings is a time-honored tradition. Just as musicians refine their skills by playing the greatest compositions and writers analyze literary works to grasp structure and grammar, artists have historically honed their craft by replicating masterworks. Ashwini’s comprehensive method allows you to understand the placement of each stroke and the interplay of values, teaching you to translate the visual world into a compelling charcoal rendering.

Charcoal offers a wide range of tones, from deep blacks to delicate grays, enabling you to create rich, dynamic images. Its ability to produce both bold lines and subtle shading allows for great expressiveness, while its unique properties help you create texture and depth, making your drawings come alive. Choose your favorite subject matter to recreate in charcoal from a wide range of Old Masters’ work, including portraits, flowers, landscapes, and still life. Each session is structured to build upon the previous one, ensuring a cohesive learning experience that allows you to grow and refine your abilities quickly. Whether you're new to charcoal or looking to elevate your existing skills, this workshop offers valuable insights and techniques to help you create beautiful, professional-quality charcoal artworks.

Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of charcoal and create masterful pieces under the guidance of Ashwini’s easygoing tutelage. Designed for all levels, immerse yourself in a classroom experience abundant with vibrant colors, fun, laughter, meditative moments, breathwork to nurture your creativity, and philosophical reflections for a meaningful painting journey.