Beginner Charcoal Drawing for Adults - This workshop has a fee of $10 per participant.  
Slow down and explore the beauty of drawing with charcoal in this relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop for adults. In this two-hour class, participants will experiment with a variety of charcoal tools—learning how different marks, tones, and textures can be created using pencils, powder, blending stumps, and kneaded erasers. After practicing these techniques, each student will create a finished 5x7 charcoal drawing of a birdhouse. No prior drawing experience is needed. All materials are provided, and class size is limited to 10 to allow for individual guidance.

By the end of the class, participants will:

    Feel comfortable using charcoal as a drawing medium
    Understand how different tools create different marks and textures
    Learn simple shading and blending techniques they can reuse at home
    Complete a finished charcoal drawing they can take pride in
    Gain confidence to continue drawing on their own
    Enjoy a calm, creative break from everyday routines

Materials List (For Those Who Want Their Own)

All materials are provided. Participants who wish to bring or purchase their own supplies may use the following:

    Mechanical pencil (any pencil with a good eraser)
    Kneaded eraser
    General’s Charcoal Pencil (Soft / 6B)
    Blending stump
    Charcoal powder
    Filbert paint brush
    Strathmore Charcoal Paper
    Faber Castell Pencil Sharpener
    Large soft paintbrush to remove loose charcoal & eraser bits

Instructor Bio / About the Artist

This workshop is taught by Deb Hewey, a self-taught charcoal artist with over 20 years of teaching experience in public schools. While art was not her original classroom subject, teaching has always been at the heart of her work. She is drawn to charcoal because it allows for rich layers and expressive marks without the wait time of drying—making it an accessible and forgiving medium for beginners. Deb created this class after years of hearing people say, “I can’t even draw a stick figure.” She believes most people are far more creative than they give themselves credit for, and that with curiosity, patience, and the right tools, anyone can learn to draw if it’s something they’re interested in exploring.