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    Charcoal Basics for Beginners
    Charcoal Basics for Beginners
    Charcoal Basics for Beginners
    Ebook111 pages37 minutes

    Charcoal Basics for Beginners

    By Sulet Hofmeyr

    ()

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    About this ebook

    This book will be available free of charge for a limited time only.
    Charcoal Basics for Beginners is an e-book based on the reputable art course aimed specifically at absolute beginners that the author has been offering at her studio since 2011.
    Charcoal Basics for Beginners builds on the artistic skills taught in Drawing Basics for Beginners and is written in an easy to read style with lots of illustrative images, step-by-step illustrated demonstrations, and exercises to help you unlock and develop your artistic talent.
    The e-book covers important topics for learning to create realistic artworks in charcoal and includes: what materials to use; the best ways to apply charcoal; ways to lift off charcoal; how to create realistic underdrawings to build on; how to shade your artworks to appear realistic; how to shade a variety of textures; and how to combine charcoal with other art materials such as chalk pastels and watercolor paint (basic instructions for using chalk pastels and watercolor paint is included in this section).
    If you follow the instructions, do not skip steps and practice often, you will never doubt your artistic competence ever again.
    See Drawing Basics for Beginners and Colored Pencil Basics for Beginners.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSulet Hofmeyr
    Release dateFeb 17, 2015
    ISBN9781311250445
    Charcoal Basics for Beginners
    Author

    Sulet Hofmeyr

    Sulet attended a graphics design course at the Art Director’s Workshop in Cape Town in 1988 after which she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of South Africa.In 2011 Sulet decided to combine her natural talent for teaching with her love for helping people and creating art. She recognized the shortage of art instruction available to people who lack confidence in their artistic capabilities and she answered this need by developing an art course specifically aimed at teaching absolute beginners the basic art skills and creative confidence they need to get started. This art course for beginners expanded to instructional art e-books for beginners.Sulet is currently trying her hand at authoring and illustrating e-books for children – an art style new to her. She is also in the process of expanding her art course for beginners even further in the form of online art courses for beginners soon.

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      Book preview

      Charcoal Basics for Beginners - Sulet Hofmeyr

      At the Tip of a Pencil: Charcoal Basics for Beginners

      by Sulet Hofmeyr

      Copyright 2015 Sulet Hofmeyr

      Smashwords Edition

      This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      ISBN: 9781311250445

      Disclaimer

      or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever.

      Every artist was first an amateur.

      - Ralph Waldo Emerson -

      Preface

      Introduction

      Tools needed

      Paper

      Charcoal pencils, -sticks and -powder

      Soft watercolor brushes

      Erasers

      Sharpening tools

      Blending tools

      Other tools

      Use charcoal properly

      Apply charcoal powder

      Lift off excess powder

      Blend and soften hard edges

      Shading

      Light sources

      Value scale

      Shade simple objects

      Underdrawing

      Grid method

      Reference pictures and copyright

      Structural sketch

      Charcoal techniques

      Shiny objects

      Hard, soft and lost edges

      Texture

      Human features

      Water

      Mix charcoal with other media

      Charcoal and chalk pastels

      Basic pastel techniques

      Charcoal and watercolors

      Basic watercolor techniques

      Make it your own

      About the author

      Contact the author online

      Preface

      I used to be one of the many people who wished I could draw beautifully realistic pictures, but try as I might, my attempts always left me frustrated and on the verge of giving up. I started believing everyone, including myself, who told me that I didn’t have the talent. Fear of failure set in, but I do love a challenge.

      In 1988, I enrolled for a graphic arts course in my rebellion against becoming a teacher as my family tradition dictated. During that year I was introduced to Betty Edward’s book, Drawing on the right side of the brain, and I discovered that one doesn’t have to be born brilliantly talented - in fact few are so lucky - and that the ability to make art, is a skill that can be learned. Some of the exercises in this book was inspired by, and modeled to, Betty Edward’s teachings.

      After the graphic arts course, I enrolled for an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in Human Sciences with Psychology as my major. There I learned how the brain works and how one learns new skills. The path for my life was paved … I didn’t want to go into psycho-analysis or art therapy. I wanted to make a difference by teaching art. Teaching, right? Did you catch the irony?

      So, here is a bit of background information and your first lesson: Inside your brain, there are billions of neurons forming trillions of neural pathways. They are the hallways along which information travels around in your brain and to your body. When you learn a new skill, new neural pathways are established that disappear when not used often and

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