A beginners course for those who wish to explore basic drawing techniques using soft media in tone and colour. Investigate mark-making, gesture, texture and blending - and ways to take these skills into short drawing projects. No experience is necessary.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Willow charcoal has soft, tenuous qualities that make it the perfect medium for the depiction of light. Discover the full range of charcoal tones from the white of the paper, to the darkest dark. Learn different methods for making marks using the point or side of the willow sticks, erasers and paper stumps (tortillons).
This course will also give you a short introduction to using colour chalk pastels as a basis for further exploration.
What will we cover?
Manipulate marks using charcoal, erasers, and paper stumps(tortillons) to describe a range of textures.
Explore light and tonal values within a drawing.
Blend and overlay chalk pastels to mix a range of colours and tones observed.
Make a series of observed drawings of simple subjects using guided methods and approaches.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Use a range of charcoal techniques to describe tone and textures observed.
Gain increased accuracy and confidence in line-drawing.
Employ blending and layering techniques using chalk pastel to describe colour and textures observed.
Compose a simple drawing, exploring contrasts of shape, tone and colour.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is a beginner’s course for those new to using charcoal and pastel media. It can be taken as preparatory study for a structured course such as Drawing 1, or as a lead-into Drawing: colour pastel techniques.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for health and safety information and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
• Practical work in the studio • Demonstrations • Presentations and handouts • Individual and group tutoring • Group discussion.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Basic drawing materials and resources are provided as part of this course, including paper, charcoal and chalk pastels. Students are welcome to bring any additional specialist materials.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
This course naturally leads onto Drawing 1. You may also wish to go on to further studies in chalk and oil pastel, Drawing: colour pastel techniques, or Life drawing for beginners.
Luke Jones is a practising artist working in both 2D and 3D, he studied at Chelsea school of art and Norwich School of art (currently called NUA) He has always been fascinated by observational art both in 2D, drawing and painting mostly in oil paint and in sculpture, mostly working with clay modelling and simple casting processes Portraits and figures are the central subjects to most of my current output I’ve undertaken portrait commissions both in paintings and sculptures and I have also worked with theatre making sculptures for a stage play
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/drawing-charcoal-and-colour-pastel-techniques3030214Drawing: charcoal and colour pastel techniqueshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/h/vh213-charcoal-and-pastel-techniques-1.jpg229229GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/Drawing/Courses/Art & design/Drawing/Drawing techniques & processes22851132114811501228511321148<p>A beginners course for those who wish to explore basic drawing techniques using soft media in tone and colour. Investigate mark-making, gesture, texture and blending - and ways to take these skills into short drawing projects. No experience is necessary.</p><p></p>00https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/h/vh213-charcoal-and-pastel-techniques-2.jpeghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/h/vh213-charcoal-and-pastel-techniques-3.jpeghttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/h/vh213-charcoal-and-pastel-techniques-4.jpeg3030058Drawing: charcoal and colour pastel techniques229229https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/h/vh213-charcoal-and-pastel-techniques-1_1.jpgInStockDaytimeTueKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-09-15T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Art & designVH213229229Drawing: charcoal and colour pastel techniques183149229Luke Jonesdrawing-charcoal-and-colour-pastel-techniques/vh213-2627<p>A beginners course for those who wish to explore basic drawing techniques using soft media in tone and colour. Investigate mark-making, gesture, texture and blending - and ways to take these skills into short drawing projects. No experience is necessary.</p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-15 00:00:00<p>Willow charcoal has soft, tenuous qualities that make it the perfect medium for the depiction of light. Discover the full range of charcoal tones from the white of the paper, to the darkest dark. Learn different methods for making marks using the point or side of the willow sticks, erasers and paper stumps (tortillons). </p><p>This course will also give you a short introduction to using colour chalk pastels as a basis for further exploration.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>A beginners course for those who wish to explore basic drawing techniques using soft media in tone and colour. Investigate mark-making, gesture, texture and blending - and ways to take these skills into short drawing projects. No experience is necessary.</p><p></p><ul><li>Manipulate marks using charcoal, erasers, and paper stumps(tortillons) to describe a range of textures.</li><li>Explore light and tonal values within a drawing.</li><li>Blend and overlay chalk pastels to mix a range of colours and tones observed.</li><li>Make a series of observed drawings of simple subjects using guided methods and approaches.</li></ul><ul><li>Use a range of charcoal techniques to describe tone and textures observed.</li><li>Gain increased accuracy and confidence in line-drawing.</li><li>Employ blending and layering techniques using chalk pastel to describe colour and textures observed.</li><li>Compose a simple drawing, exploring contrasts of shape, tone and colour.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><p>This is a beginner’s course for those new to using charcoal and pastel media. It can be taken as preparatory study for a structured course such as <em>Drawing 1</em>, or as a lead-into <em>Drawing: colour pastel techniques.</em><br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for<br>health and safety information and will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p>• Practical work in the studio<br>• Demonstrations<br>• Presentations and handouts<br>• Individual and group tutoring<br>• Group discussion.<p>Basic drawing materials and resources are provided as part of this course, including paper, charcoal and chalk pastels. Students are welcome to bring any additional specialist materials.</p><p>This course naturally leads onto <em>Drawing 1. </em>You may also wish to go on to further studies in chalk and oil pastel, <em>Drawing: colour pastel techniques</em>, or <em>Life drawing for beginners</em>.</p>DrawingDrawing techniques & processesvirtual183229149VH213NONETue15/09/26 - 22/09/2610:00 - 17:0010:0017:002 sessions (over 2 weeks)21 to 4 weeksDaytimeWeekdayKSKeeley StreetLuke JonesAvailable courses2026-09-15T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Art & design229229Drawing: charcoal and colour pastel techniquesdrawing-charcoal-and-colour-pastel-techniques/vh213-2627<p>A beginners course for those who wish to explore basic drawing techniques using soft media in tone and colour. Investigate mark-making, gesture, texture and blending - and ways to take these skills into short drawing projects. No experience is necessary.</p><p></p>0000-Available|2026-09-15 00:00:00<p>Willow charcoal has soft, tenuous qualities that make it the perfect medium for the depiction of light. Discover the full range of charcoal tones from the white of the paper, to the darkest dark. Learn different methods for making marks using the point or side of the willow sticks, erasers and paper stumps (tortillons). </p><p>This course will also give you a short introduction to using colour chalk pastels as a basis for further exploration.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>A beginners course for those who wish to explore basic drawing techniques using soft media in tone and colour. Investigate mark-making, gesture, texture and blending - and ways to take these skills into short drawing projects. No experience is necessary.</p><p></p><ul><li>Manipulate marks using charcoal, erasers, and paper stumps(tortillons) to describe a range of textures.</li><li>Explore light and tonal values within a drawing.</li><li>Blend and overlay chalk pastels to mix a range of colours and tones observed.</li><li>Make a series of observed drawings of simple subjects using guided methods and approaches.</li></ul><ul><li>Use a range of charcoal techniques to describe tone and textures observed.</li><li>Gain increased accuracy and confidence in line-drawing.</li><li>Employ blending and layering techniques using chalk pastel to describe colour and textures observed.</li><li>Compose a simple drawing, exploring contrasts of shape, tone and colour.</li></ul><p></p><p></p><p>This is a beginner’s course for those new to using charcoal and pastel media. It can be taken as preparatory study for a structured course such as <em>Drawing 1</em>, or as a lead-into <em>Drawing: colour pastel techniques.</em><br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, hand-outs and for<br>health and safety information and will be invited to take part in group discussion.</p>• Practical work in the studio<br>• Demonstrations<br>• Presentations and handouts<br>• Individual and group tutoring<br>• Group discussion.<p>Basic drawing materials and resources are provided as part of this course, including paper, charcoal and chalk pastels. Students are welcome to bring any additional specialist materials.</p><p>This course naturally leads onto <em>Drawing 1. </em>You may also wish to go on to further studies in chalk and oil pastel, <em>Drawing: colour pastel techniques</em>, or <em>Life drawing for beginners</em>.</p>DrawingDrawing techniques & processesconfigurable
