Portraits for Beginners in Graphite and Charcoal

The Portrait for Beginners in Graphite and Charcoal Course is the perfect place to start exploring and learning how to create and draw a portrait from scratch.

This course is designed with beginners in mind, and aims to be fun and enjoyable while still giving you a solid foundation in portrait drawing. You will receive tuition on proportion and perspective, on line, tone and texture, and on graphite and charcoal techniques providing you with the skills and confidence to capture a likeness in portrait drawing.
At the end of the course, you will be surprised at how good you are at creating a realistic portrait!

About the tutor

Josephine Kingsford

Josephine Kingsford is a local artist who has her own studio in Wivenhoe, and who has exhibited both solo and as part of an art collective for some years.
She is an experienced and enthusiastic teacher who believes in creating a pleasurable and motivational atmosphere in the classroom, making learning a pleasure, and enabling students to achieve their potential.

About Flatford Mill

We have four buildings that are used for visitor accommodation. Whilst most rooms are either en-suite or have a dedicated bathroom, there are some rooms in The Mill that share showers and toilets at the end of the hall. If this is un-suitable for you please make the office staff aware upon booking or as soon as possible.

Please be aware that you are visiting a Field Centre that caters in the main for school parties; the accommodation is basic and dormitory style, but warm and comfortable.

Explore our range of portrait painting courses hosted by our engaging tutors and learn from their expertise and skills. Our art courses are a chance to meet like-minded people and a chance to unwind from everyday life. They are a great opportunity to experience the UK’s glorious countryside surrounding our field centres.

This course is open to participants aged 18 and over only. For under-18s, please contact the centre directly or see our young people courses and activities for families.

What's Included

Expert Tuition
Free Wi-Fi
Hot and Cold Drinks

Refreshments are provided, but please bring a packed lunch

Before You Attend

What to bring

A range of artists' graphite pencils: HB, 2B, 4B, 6B and 8B
A range of charcoal pencils: light, medium and dark
A white charcoal pencil or a white pastel pencil if you wish to work on tinted paper
A stump (torchon) for blending, and a piece of small rag which can be used for blending
An A4 sketchpad suitable for graphite and charcoal. It does not have to be suitable for water-based mediums, but paper with slight texture/grain is better for charcoal.
A kneadable eraser
An eraser with a fine point: this can be a pencil eraser, which can be sharpened or an electric eraser
An apron