Rendering Birdlife using Charcoal with Fiona Dowler
About
Fiona will provide photocopied references from the book “ Voice from the Wilderness” by extraordinary artist Ray Harris-Ching to use to create a couple of charcoal drawings, one sensitive, one using more contrast and strength.We will look at charcoal drawing examples, basics of application, other related references of birdlife and appropriate use of media /materials that support charcoal drawing.
What you can learn and practice during the session will be:
• Tonal massing (large shadow shapes before detail)
• Edge hierarchy (lost edges in wings, hard edges at the eye/beak)
• Feather suggestion rather than literal rendering
• Expressive mark‑making
• Atmospheric backgrounds created with soft charcoal transitions
These techniques can help emphasise
• gesture and movement
• charcoal layering
• how to avoid over‑detailing feathers
Fiona will supply some real feathers to copy and have some fun with mark making.
After that, you can choose to create your drawings from the references supplied, or your own if you have brought a couple along. There are many ways to create a bird drawing in charcoal that may not include a drawing of the bird stuck in the middle of a page. Allow some freedom of composition and tone to create something interesting that falls outside of the “norm”.
Sunday 3rd May at 1pm-4pm
Cost $40
You will need to bring some materials (charcoal /paper) and some can be purchased on the day. A materials list will be emailed after booking is made.
Location
Waverley Park Homestead
Willunga Golf Club Entrance, 23 Saint Peters Terrace, WILLUNGA SA 5172
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Rendering Birdlife using Charcoal with Fiona Dowler
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