Portrait Drawing
Kalina Tosheva
$430
Open to all levels, this 5-week course develops your portrait drawing skills in charcoal through an observational approach focused on structure, proportion, and light. You will learn to organize and build the subject from larger forms and masses toward a refined likeness, using charcoal's richness and atmosphere to create depth, sensitivity, and a sense of presence. By the end of the course, you will have gained a foundation in portrait drawing and greater confidence in creating expressive charcoal portraits.
Required Supplies
DRAWING SUPPLY LIST
Items marked with * are optional but strongly recommended.
Items marked with *** are suited to a softer and more painterly approach.
MISCELLANEOUS
18 × 24 in. Drawing Board
Sandpaper Block
MONO Zero Precision Eraser *
Kneaded Eraser
Hard Eraser
Utility Knife or X-Acto Knife
Handled Foam Blender or Soft Blending Sponge ***
Soft Blending Brushes ***
PAPER
Strathmore 400 Series Drawing Paper, Medium Surface, 18 × 24 in. pad
Suitable for controlled drawing, clean edges, and detailed rendering.
or
Strathmore 500 Series Charcoal Paper, 18 × 24 in. pad ***
More textured and forgiving than Strathmore 400; well suited to layered charcoal and softer edges.
CHARCOAL
Vine Charcoal, medium or soft - Useful for the initial block-in, broad value masses, and easy corrections.
General’s Charcoal Pencil Assortment
Compressed Charcoal * - Useful for establishing the darkest values.
Kalina Tosheva
Kalina Tosheva is an artist and instructor based in Seattle, WA. Working primarily in oil and charcoal, her work focuses on portraiture, figurative compositions, and...