When I first had the idea for the Expressive Charcoal course – and then when I was putting it together – I hoped to open up my enthusiasm to others in fun, action oriented, accessible ways so they could make their own discoveries.
{Actually that’s a fair description of everything I do.}
When I actually started running the course, it was like the circle being completed – drawing after expressive drawing {and paintings too} emerging as the students dived in with enthusiasm.
Today I’m sharing a selection of student work from the course, to show the diversity of what has come from it so far, even though everyone does the same lessons. I asked each student to say a few words about their personal experience of the course, and I swear no one was paid. 😉
“So enjoyed this course…sometimes we need a swift kick up the behind to get us thinking in new ways!”
“There was so much to take in and enjoy during and after this well constructed and beautifully presented course in charcoal. The medium now infiltrates, underpins and supports my work with other mediums. Tara has a sharing and teaching style that makes it safe to dip in and explore possibilities you may think are out of reach. I have gone on to take Life Drawing classes with a confidence I previously lacked.”
Judy McKenzie
“[The course] was really when charcoal and I became friends. I used to dislike the messiness, but there are no yummy black black darks quite as with charcoal! :)”
“I really loved taking your class! This is my favorite piece [from it]. It was done listening to music and was the mark making. I did four pieces and a company in Los Angeles called Leftbank Art took all of them to be reproduced and marketed, so yay and thank you thank you thank you!”
Wendy Kleine
“I am from a printmaking background and Tara’s course was just what I needed to loosen up and become more free and expressive. This is the first online art course I have done and thought it was well thought out with excellent videos and advice. I love charcoal now! Thanks very much Tara!”
“The course was a fantastic experience for me. The forgiveness of the charcoal and Tara’s lively teaching made me feel free and very happy (I almost got high). I drew, for the first time, a series of animals I really liked.”
“The lessons are very well-planned and easy to follow. The sequence of the projects helped me become confident with the medium while working at my own pace. It had been years since I had picked up a piece of charcoal. So, taking this course was a perfect way for me to challenge myself. This was my first online class, and I was nervous about sharing my work, but the group was very supportive. It was both helpful and interesting to see how other artists approached each lesson.”
Deb Claxton
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Join us for Expressive Charcoal if you’d like to explore charcoal in all its expressive, messy glory – click the image on the left to find out more about it! {If registration is not currently open, you can join the waiting list to be alerted when it reopens.}
Your students give quite a visual testament to your teaching method, cemented in their charcoal art works…..they are all wonderful.
What a lovely thing to say, thanks Cheryl!