My Flexible Charcoal Life Drawing Method

This is the 3 step life drawing method that I teach to my students and use most of the time that I am drawing the live model. The reason is that this is a flexible and malleable approach to figure drawing that allows you to continuously change your mind, correct errors, and cover mistakes as you gradually develop the shading. No need to start with perfect proportions! Focus on the PROCESS and continually observing shapes and eventually the proportions will come together.
Step 1 is really the foundation of the whole process, and I usually take about 20 minutes in this step alone. It goes by really fast in this sped-up video but it is worth it to take your time and get a straight line block in to the best of your ability! Let me know in the comments below if you are interested in a tutorial on just this part of the process.
I have been teaching figure drawing for more than 10 years and it’s my favorite subject to teach!
If you found this video helpful please like and subscribe.
Materials Used In This Demo:
General's Compressed Charcoal Sticks
General’s Charcoal Pencils 2B, HB and White
Kneaded Eraser
Fluffy Brush
Daler-Rowney Canford Paper in Gunmetal
Social Links:
My paintings on Instagram: / laceylewisart
My school on Instagram: / schoolofrealistart
My school on Facebook: / schoolofrealistart
My art website: Lacey-Lewis.com
My school website: schoolofrealis...
Thanks for watching!

[@EMarieGallery]

Great work I only recently started using white charcoal...my life was missing something this whole time!!!

[@easytosketch]

Nice work

[@easytosketch]

Nice👍

[@RowKSky]

Great video 🙏

[@g.martinozonas5382]

Great technique! Very useful video! Thank you so much for generously sharing your expertise!

[@SchoolofRealistArt]

My pleasure!! Thank you for commenting!!

[@peggyrogers7012]

Wow, this is my absolute favorite life drawing video ever. Your explanation was clear and concise. Not everyone can teach well but you are a wonderful teacher and artist. I am subscribing and I look forward to more of your videos. Thanks for sharing your talent and knowledge with us.

[@SchoolofRealistArt]

Thank you so very much Peggy! So appreciated!

[@katherinecollmer1094]

Wonderful technique. This has helped me a lot to direct my initial steps with a value drawing - the blocking in of the light and shadow shapes. Thank you.

[@SchoolofRealistArt]

Thank you so much Katherine!

[@samanthathompson9812]

Thank you! I find that people often leave out how to set up lighting that is conducive to a technique like this. I assume it would be single source lighting with strong contrasts; this wouldn't work as well with a subject that contained a lot of mid-values?

[@lalitmohan9320]

awesome method Lacey...just want to ask how do you store your large charcoal drawings...is it necessary to frame them...I usually apply fixative and keep them on carboards but the problem arises when I need to transport them to my clients...I usually practice on large scale 2x3 feet....kindly advise...... keep posting such videos...best wishes

[@SchoolofRealistArt]

Sorry for the delay Lalit... I don't apply fixative to my drawings. I just leave them as is. If I need to transport them I usually put another sheet of paper over the top and tape it so that it's secure and doesn't move around, and then mush this between a couple pieces of foamcore or cardboard. It can be convenient to first tape the drawing to the foamcore, then tape the paper over the top of that, and then attach the last piece of foamcore. For storage I just put them in a drawer and try not to move them around. Then I give everything a touch-up when/if I do go to frame them.

[@timgagnon]

Awesome video! Loved it!

[@SchoolofRealistArt]

Thanks so much, Tim!!

[@brannonmcclure6970]

I see. Thank you.

[@sergaza]

Perfect

[@SchoolofRealistArt]

Thanks Sergey!

[@CharcoalPencilPusher]

I am a new subscriber and I love what you're doing. Thank you. The only comment I would make is I believe this video was sped up a bit too much. It doesn't need to be normal speed but it also shouldn't be too fast. Just a thought. :) Don

[@SchoolofRealistArt]

Thanks, Don! I play with this and sometimes speed up videos more or less, and I have some that are also real time/normal speed. Also FYI You can hit the little gear icon toward the bottom of the screen and adjust the playback speed!

[@CharcoalPencilPusher]

@@SchoolofRealistArt Thanks, I didn't know that.

[@MFanelli]

How do you start off with such an amazing figure? Are you working from life?

[@sandhyahisandhya6576]

Bad