Incredible Pencil & Charcoal Drawing Techniques that Change Everything

[@artprof]

I can't recommend enough Kathleen Speranza's online masterclasses in drawing and painting!! This is the REAL deal, if you want to learn about observational oil painting and drawing. More info here: kathleensperanza.podia.com/ -Prof Lieu

[@aadrit]

@@artprof thank you so much!

[@TocharaehD]

this woman speaks to my soul on how I try/want to approach every portraiture and figure I do.

[@thetrillianaire]

this was just so so good, all the information about tools and materials, the detail that Kathleen Speranza gave about her practice and approach, Prof Lieu's interviewing style, and the editing. I know I'll be watching this one again.

[@artprof]

We hope you will!! Thank you so much for the kind words :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Olhamo]

yes, it deserves a second viewing

[@katarzynadominikabratkowsk264]

I started watching preoccupied with sth else, next moment I found myself praying to The Roses of Kathleen Speranza 🙏🏼

[@ArtworkbyAmila]

👍👍👍😊

[@artboy444]

Never in my life did I think I could be this mesmerized by someone sketching roses until now. Such a delicate process with so much to learn. I was almost as transfixed with her sharpening her pencils as I was watching her draw. Thanks art prof for another amazing piece!!!

[@artprof]

You're so welcome!! We enjoyed it just as much, maybe even more :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@amandavanheerden7980]

Kathleen is a wealth of information, passion and her drawings of roses are transcendent. I was left breathless. Yes roses, but his is true art. Inspirational.

[@georgeharding9130]

I found her process fascinating. Most instructional books I've seen talk about trying to capture what you feel about the subject. Here she's using the drawing to figure out and clarify what she's feeling. And her use of very light lines to slow things down and almost sneak up on the result. Useful takeaways for my practice.

[@artprof]

I totally agree! What a beautiful way of putting it :) - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@ninner196]

I loved that you said that you wouldn’t want to do a painting that you knew how to do. So true to feel challenged in our work😊

[@butterpoweredbike6135]

Empathy for the rose! This is an exceptional video.

[@juliadowling6749]

really touched by the message that you can't learn and perform at the same time! definitely needed that reminder!

[@artprof]

Absolutely! We are glad you took that with you :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Citroen_2cv]

Wow. I have absolutely no interest in flowers as subject matter but I was completely rapt watching her -- everything she said applies to every exploration I do as a painter. She radiates command and capability but seems like she would be a blast to hang out with. Clearly, an unforgettable teacher. Riveting. Best of Art Prof.

[@artprof]

This is such a special comment, thank you so much for the kind words. She truly is amazing, and we are so happy to share her insight with you! Thank you for watching :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Melanie44Michael]

I love the concept "learn vs. perform." There are so many parallels between performing music and visual art. This is one of them. Fascinating video. Many thanks!

[@nattie_ceee5989]

The same goes for the drafts that go into writing. I find the idea of learning as opposed to performing really liberating, actually, and I’m going to take that approach from this point on. Overall an amazing video.

[@nicoleperron3315]

Absolutely fascinating especially her internal thought process. Fantastic interview only questions at the right moment, no talking over the person being interviewed, a real pleasure to watch.

[@supertrucker99]

As opposed to external thought?😮

[@nicoleperron3315]

@@supertrucker99 I guess I could have phrased that better 😂

[@jamieluce5808]

I’m so grateful to have found this video! It’s wonderful to have the artist take us through her process step by step. A great reminder that a drawing can be a “ study” . Not necessarily a finished product.

[@lindaraereneau484]

All of this is very helpful. But what is wonderfully liberating to me is the discovery that I am not so abnormal in the joy of deep observation and multidimensional sensation and meaning and structures and geometries. I am not so weird!

[@rolandodiazartist9138]

My gosh! This is just a gem, a diamond, a pearl. I have been doing roses for 8 months and was just thinking yesterday of how to take my drawings to the next level...and this pops up. I love this karma part of the Art universe.

[@artprof]

You are so welcome! Good luck :D - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@MeganLouisaYoung]

This is one of the best art video formats I’ve seen! So nice to hear how another artist approaches their practice with a live example and pro tips on materials they like to use! Thank you for sharing :)

[@AngieG11]

“Feel the air of the paper” totally resonates ❤

[@katebarker1983]

This tutorial was absolutely perfect! I sat engrossed, and fascinated! I never connected with a flower in this way, and it opened up my mind! This woman is fantastic! Thank you SO much! This was possibly the most helpful, and beautiful tutorial I have ever seen!❤️

[@artprof]

That is so awesome, I'm glad you got so much out of this tutorial! You might also like this interview we did with Kathleen Speranza: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3mqd62piqZ9h9E -Lauryn, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@urs1386]

This has been one of my favourite KZbin videos ever. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@crosbym.8925]

Omg I love her and her style of drawing. I feel like I've been missing out all this time because I've never drawn florals! There were several times in the video when she was changing the angle of the arrangement that I found myself thinking like "oh wow look at that!!!!" at the shadow and colors of certain petals.

[@artprof]

I know, right?? There are so many subtle changes that make a drawing successful, it's crazy - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@alexandrasanches-fearsnomo3422]

You can’t possibly imagine how much I enjoyed this episode with Kathleen Speranza! ❤🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@lindsaybeyerstein7096]

I love this guest artist and everything she has to say about achieving control and delicacy.

[@janesmith9056]

An absolute gold mine. Brilliant.

[@elisenispee7450]

I sharpen my pencils like the professor before I viewed this video, thanks I’m glad someone sharpens like me.

[@ave_rie]

This was so mesmerizing. It was great to watch her use the elements of art to tell a story, especially the way she explained lighting and position.

[@artprof]

I know, listening to the pros is truly awesome :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@TheBicycleLadyThings]

A architect student told me a tip a long time ago in college , clean your pencil tip by inserting it into a soft foam block (foam packing-usually found free) and pull out. will keep the lines cleaner and your drafting tools cleaner.

[@artprof]

That's a great idea! Thank you for sharing :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@gruupi]

Really cool way of approaching a drawing, back and forth with darks and lights.

[@artprof]

So true!! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@jennycokerart]

Loving Kathleen’s work , I am really drawn to her technique. The gentleness and feeling for her subject roses. Thank you👏💖💖

[@artprof]

Yes, Kathleen is incredible! We have another video here of her talking about her process when she's painting her roses in oil: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3mqd62piqZ9h9E -Lauryn, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@IMHip2]

Love Prof Lieu…great video!

[@artprof]

She's the best!!! - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@Olhamo]

.."You're training your body to understand what to do in space." that resonates. I took a summer session at Banff with Terry Frost, i way back in the 70's, and it was a wonderful time of learning about moving one's own body to understand space and form. these roses of hers are especially lovely, old-fashioned. I wonder what kind. This was great!

[@jbspiszer908]

I love working the way Kathleen does where I lay down tone and use my eraser to carve out light areas. It feels so good!

[@artprof]

I know, the eraser really changes the game! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Louvre2012]

Learned so much from this interview. Thank you both.

[@jrose9378]

Wow this is so informative and helpful. At 38:31 when she expresses the fact that “when she was a kid she wouldn’t throw little pieces of paper away because she felt bad for them.” Wow that is me exactly! I used to put them under my pillow. When my mom found them she embarrassed me in front of the whole family. From then on I was considered ‘the weird one’ of the family! I’m finally glad to learn that I’m not weird, just empathetic. I have become an artist. Thank you

[@artprof]

Me too!! I have a whole folder of strange little paper scraps to pull from "just in case". My weird brain thinks they're too cute to be rid of. Glad there's a lot of us out there! - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@jenniferpeters3702]

My goodness. Serendipity. Trying a charcoal/pastel of my friend’s grandson and frustrated so rubbing out here and there…and how cool - a smudgy soft image appears. And today this amazing video pops up and I watched every minute with a smile. Thank you both so much!! Following and looking for more! 😊❤️

[@sonyakhan5774]

This is one of the best videos I’ve watched - I’m pretty sure the meaning of life is buried in here. In all seriousness though - I feel like there’s so much about art and process and how you bring your own vision to your work in this interview/demo. MAGIC!

[@artprof]

Kathy is BRILLIANT! It was such a treat to sit down and talk to her about her process. -Prof Lieu

[@grimmmunro2279]

Awesome! Ive learned such a lot watching this,thank you.

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it! - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@HeatherShreve]

You guys are great!! Fun to watch...and I love charcoal and graphite; been painting for 50 years and drawing was the beginning.

[@jasonfml1]

Such a poetic approach, I learned so much.

[@artprof]

That's amazing! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@P.aS.quaillai]

sanding the pencils and charcoal reminds me of preparing sumi-e ink on the grinding stone. It almost becomes meditative

[@1baylor_]

Thank you 🙏

[@bi7507]

Watching this video is wonderful experience i never thought i needed 👌

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it! -Prof Lieu

[@scholarthefuture7284]

Finally I get the answer why we need to sharp pencil like this!😂 thank you!❤

[@artprof]

You're welcome 😊 - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@FloatingOurBoat]

Learned so much. Thank you. Kathleen is amazing.

[@KathyElliottArt]

Great interview! Thank you!

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@lindsaybeyerstein7096]

Nice editing in the pencil sharpening sequences!

[@IoH_AwoL]

Finished watching this morning and sharpened my pencils :) Loving seeing your friendship. I am trying this technique with graphite dust. Merci ❤

[@artprof]

That sounds wonderful! Good luck with your artwork :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@davidsilverhawk3732]

so wonderful sharing a three way Artistic space !! There was so much that both were saying Abou the Taoist or Zen like way of communicating. It become so deep, that one has to resort to poetry! Don't worry ,I grock you!!!

[@angelashikany5329]

So much depth in this. Thank you.

[@artprof]

Glad it was helpful! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@Theresa-j7m]

Trying to reinvent myself. This gives me much need food for thought. 🙏🏾 Thank you.🕊️🌹🦢

[@artprof]

You got this! - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@Sides3Sides]

This is a fantastic video. Some classic drawing and composition techniques. Thank you so much for this presentation.

[@artprof]

You're very welcome! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@amymy100]

oh my god! She is amazing. I learned so much from this video!

[@artprof]

She is really the best! - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@melaniehellum1281]

I really enjoyed this video . Learned so much about the investment in a process.

[@judihopewell2499]

This was sensational learning….thank you

[@artprof]

You're very welcome! - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@nikolettat8023]

This is amazing! Wonderful tutorial! Thank you!

[@artprof]

You are so welcome! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@paulaadkins7657]

Thank you so much for this video. I have just signed up for one of her classes. Amazing!

[@artprof]

You're going to love it! Kathy is an incredible artist AND teacher! -Prof Lieu

[@karinmitschang9734]

Ooooh I've been waiting for this one, thank you so very much 🤩

[@artprof]

Hope you liked it! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@karinmitschang9734]

@@artprof it's wonderful 💓

[@SakamotoIbuki]

I remember taking a painting class with Ms. Speranza back in RISD, and I tell you that it makes good sense. Takes me back!

[@JordanPhillips90]

Me too! This brought back a lot of nice memories of that class.

[@arknark]

@38:39 AHHH I still deal with feeling for inanimate objects even now in my 30's. When I was a kid I couldn't imagine how an object DIDN'T have a perspective, or it's own "way of being". I still think about the pair of shorts my baby brother peed in that were tossed out of the window on a cross-country move almost 25 years ago now. I know the fibers still exist out there somewhere. Anyways, as someone who plays with charcoal everyday, this has been EXTREMELY informative. Thank you so much, and you've got my sub (and likely some hours of view time, as I draw while listening)

[@lionsmaine1238]

Wonderful work! Really enjoyed watching :)

[@artprof]

Thank you very much! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@1962amanda]

Thankyou! Fantastic video.

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it!- Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@milesmartin4958]

When Kathleen be sharpening her pencils in precisely the deadly way that prof Lieu always telling us not to!

[@artprof]

Hahaha that's exactly why I bring in artists, so they can contradict everything I say! -Prof Lieu

[@emilklostermann5528]

Amazing tutorial

[@artprof]

Glad you think so! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@sitabudhyarto2516]

This is really, really cool 👍 thank you 🚀

[@artprof]

Glad you like it! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@RichardPace]

Everything but how she uses the knife is spot on. Slower and much more shallow cuts puts far less pressure on the brittle graphite or charcoal in the wood case and you're also far less likely to cut yourself.

[@greekveteran2715]

It's 2 different lead holders, one is Staedtler 780, the other is one of the many cousins of the legendary Kohinoor 5616 Adapto (2-2.5mm) lead holder!! They are both blue, that's why most people didn't figure out, that everytime, it's either the one or the other! They change places on the video, like a pair of dancers change places while dancing!

[@diobilegamer7923]

Amazing description of making ... I'll try the way she's... I'm drawing a rose right now.. Origanality actually is hard to draw

[@artprof]

Go for it!! Kathy is such an inspiration to me! -Prof Lieu

[@Soracilipi]

Amazing content

[@jamgart]

Super super instructive and interesting. I learned so much from this and related to the artist in how she sees what she’s drawing. I look for the emotion and I guess the drama too (although I draw portrait and figure not still life) but I understood where she was coming from and really enjoyed this video. Also, I live near Castle Howard 😁 I haven’t been for a long long time, but now I want to look at their roses after the lockdown is finished.

[@artprof]

Oh that's so awesome!!! You totally should, I bet you'll get some amazing reference material :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@kathleensperanza5053]

I will be coming to the UK to work at that garden in 2022. Come and draw with me!

[@baperistique]

its finally here!

[@artprof]

Woohoo!! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@GuilhermeGarciaDsgn]

Awesome video!

[@artprof]

Thanks for the visit! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@jinny5974]

Absolutely Enjoyed this wish I had been there live. I feel like ur approaches are similar yet very different. Favorite comment which i can Totally identify with, FEELING UP PAPER. bwahahah. I feel up paper all the time because the more i learn more paper is felt...lol as well as "Oh, God not flowers." as if it was the end or old lady-ville. but the approach end result are amazing. I have tried photographing flowers in hopes of capturing their fragility, the thinness of petals, the forgotten back/underneath portion, to capture their delicate beauty. in some of my photos I saw huge waves like the waves surfers catch, the funnel, tunnel something to that effect. I think art is always evolving as was mentioned we should challenge our selves.

[@amandadobbs8609]

I think Kathleen was trying to make the point that she HAD internalized a lot of sexism from the (still male-dominated) art community and that trying out drawing botanicals required her to unlearn some of that. And to be fair to her, there DOES appear to be a prejudice in the art community that drawing botanicals is for women and, by association, a lower expression of art; or, at least, that's MY perception.

[@artprof]

This is a great point, I think a lot of womxn artists feel that way regarding certain subject matters. It's sad how much pressure there can be in the art field! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@jinny5974]

@@amandadobbs8609 thank you for sharing ur perspective because it helps my understanding of the art world.

[@darleenlee9125]

I found this video particularly inspiring as I’m currently working on laying down graphite and lifting off the lights. Can you please tell me if the paper is Frabriano Ingres Pastel) Paper? As this is the only paper I can find. Also do you know the gsm of the paper? I’m also a paper nerd 😊 and thank you for your very informative and in-depth videos. You ask the best questions.

[@artprof]

Yes, it's Fabriano Ingres Paper! I don't know the gsm, but you could ask Kathy on her Instagram: instagram.com/speranzafineart/ You can tell her we sent you 😀From 1 paper nerd to another😂 -Prof Lieu

[@amandadobbs8609]

Excellent video!! Wow, I took A LOT of notes from this. I will say, though, I wish Prof Speranza would reserve her sanding dust, rather than just chunking it. Seeing as graphite and charcoal powder are so expensive, plenty of people do. It's less wasteful.

[@artprof]

Thank you so much for watching! I always try and conserve dust when I use charcoal, except it can get SO messy sometimes! It's worth it for wasting less, though :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@lisah336]

2 vids in one day!

[@artprof]

Yeah!! We're on fire today!!! -Prof Lieu

[@aruc3298]

Thank you so much for the video 🌹. Can you share if it is a good idea to do charcoal painting of monuments or buildings paintings. I have tried old buildings which have some details in columns or doors , but it starts looking messy, Unlike portraits, stills etc. It would be great if there's a video on this

[@artprof]

Ooh great question!! Charcoal is a great medium for those-- I recommend working really large, and maybe incorporating charcoal pencil for the fine details :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@aruc3298]

@@artprof great advice. Thanks Mia 💝

[@aadrit]

What paper you choose when doing charcoal... Plz give options.

[@artprof]

Materials list and links in the description! -Lauryn, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@aadrit]

@@artprof how to contact Lauryn ? .. is there email ?

[@sherrywebster1675]

I wonder has Kathleen read the beautiful book ' For Love of a Rose ' .....

[@bluewren65]

My new puppy stole my kneaded eraser and chewed it up into tiny little bits. I dried the slobber off it and smooshed it all together again and apart from being a little bit smaller, it works just the same and kneads fine!

[@artprof]

Oh my god, that's crazy! I guess they're REALLY durable, haha - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@mavicityrelayson2924]

I saw the thumbnail and went, Meryl Streep? 😅

[@brcastillo1844]

Exquisite!

[@artprof]

:) :) :) -Lauryn Welch, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@Kate_Rose_]

Omg, close to 100k🤭🤭

[@artprof]

So close we can taste it! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@maria-giulianalatini1724]

Does she paint with oil afterwards or oil pastels or chalk?

[@artprof]

Oil! Here is her IG: instagram.com/speranzafineart/ -Prof Lieu

[@maria-giulianalatini1724]

Thank you thank you! I just ADORE your videos in every way. I just wish I had had you as my Prof!😍

[@uzzielledelacruz]

Hi Prof Lieu!!!! Will there be a playlist for Oil Painting course in the near future? 🥺 xo

[@artprof]

Hi! Right now our oil painting videos are in our "Painting tutorials" playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZyZi5isq9-Ll9E We hope to produce more oil painting tutorials in the future! We do have several in water mixable oils too, which are in that same playlist. -Prof Lieu

[@uzzielledelacruz]

@@artprof 🤗awwwww thanks Prof!!!!!!!!!!!!!💕

[@Evet]

Kneeded erasers are washable (wash under tap)...

[@artprof]

Good to know :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@neilagangitlog]

Woa really?!

[@ivanove888]

I cannot believe nobody hit the like button

[@drhyshek]

Her paintings are gorgeous but I just can’t think that much. I prefer not thinking at all, actually.

[@davidm1149]

I thought I had long pencil tips. I also thought I was a tad bit radical with how I sharpened my pencils. I wish, as I'm sure everyone does, I had been far more experimentive in school. I just wasn't a fan.

[@hardworkcreative738]

Woah woah woah…this isn’t Meryl Streep?

[@alloftheaboveeunicesmith9625]

You can learn or perform…

[@PeterQuentercrimsonbamboo]

Great info… but.. how can Prof Lieu be an art professor and not know a mechanical pencil, and be surprised at how to sharpen a pencil with a knife, and not know about nitram charcoal, … ..

[@jf2808]

She’s most likely pretending not to know for the benefit of the beginner viewer! Just good interview skills

[@sketchartist1964]

None of this is really new to anyone who knows about academic art techniques. There's so many art ateliers around these days all teaching pretty much the same thing.