{"id":38749,"date":"2022-09-12T13:07:11","date_gmt":"2022-09-12T13:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/?page_id=38749"},"modified":"2026-04-03T00:47:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:47:36","slug":"charcoal-drawing-course-landscape","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/charcoal-drawing-course-landscape","title":{"rendered":"Charcoal Drawing Course &#8211; Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"coursetitlecontainer\">\n<div class=\"coursetitle\">\n<h1><span>The Charcoal Drawing Course:<\/span> Landscape<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"insertbackground\">\n<div class=\"removep\">\n<div class=\"videoflexwrapper\">\n<div class=\"videotop\">\n  <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/816293314?h=69a77c86c5\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sidebartop\">\n<div class=\"vertalign\">\n<div class=\"logoimage\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/logosmall75.png\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"sidebarcarddescriptiondark\"><span>JOIN THE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTOR<\/span><br \/>\n    Get ALL of our courses, ebooks, live lessons, critiques, lesson plans and more today.<\/div>\n<div class=\"sidebarbuttonholder\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sidebuttonsmem\">START FREE TRIAL<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<hr style=\"background-color:#ffffff;margin-top:1.5em;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/register-charcoal-drawing-course\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sidebuttons\">BUY SINGLE COURSE $67<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperkscontainer\">\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><span>This course features:<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><i class=\"far fa-clock\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>Over 2.5 Hours of Instruction<\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><i class=\"fas fa-film\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>19 Videos<\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><i class=\"fas fa-book\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>5 eBooks<\/div>\n<div class=\"courseperks\"><i class=\"fas fa-shield-alt\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/i>30 Day Money Back Guarantee<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p>\n\n<div class=\"contentfix\">\n<div class=\"favorites\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tabs\">\n<input name=\"tabs\" type=\"radio\" id=\"tab-1\" class=\"input\"\/><br \/>\n  <label for=\"tab-1\" class=\"label\">Lessons <i class=\"fas fa-angle-down\" style=\"margin-left:2px;\"><\/i><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h2>Course Curriculum<\/h2>\n\n<\/p>\n<p><div class=\"curriculumcontainer\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/charcoal-drawing-course-introduction-and-materials\/\" class=\"curriculum\"><strong>MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION AND MATERIALS<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/charcoal-drawing-course-basic-forms-2\/\" class=\"curriculum\"><strong>MODULE 2: BASIC FORMS<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/charcoal-drawing-course-landscape\/\" class=\"curriculum\"><strong>MODULE 3: LANDSCAPE<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/I>Lesson 1: Intro and Materials (1:34)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 2: Sketching Loosely (14:25)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 3: Creating Illusions (9:45)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 4: Junk in the Trunk (10:16)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 5: Foreground and Finishing (10:09)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/charcoal-drawing-course-animal-portrait\/\" class=\"curriculum\"><strong>MODULE 4: ANIMAL PORTRAIT<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/charcoal-drawing-course-portrait\/\" class=\"curriculum\"><strong>MODULE 5: PORTRAIT<\/strong><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<p>  <input name=\"tabs\" type=\"radio\" id=\"tab-2\" class=\"input\"\/><br \/>\n  <label for=\"tab-2\" class=\"label\">Description <i class=\"fas fa-angle-down\" style=\"margin-left:3px;\"><\/i><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h2>Lesson Description<\/h2>\n<p>\nThe <em>Charcoal Drawing Course: Landscape<\/em> lesson series is a detailed and immersive study designed to help artists develop confidence and skill in rendering natural scenery using charcoal. Focusing on a landscape scene, this series guides students through observing, composing, and drawing with vine and compressed charcoal on white drawing paper. A key emphasis throughout the lessons is learning how to build strong values, create depth, and use erasers as expressive tools for developing highlights and subtle tonal transitions within the scene.\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Charcoal-Landscape-Drawing-Finished.jpg\" alt=\"charcoal drawing of a landscape\"><\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 1: Observing the Landscape<\/h2>\n<p>\nThe series begins with developing visual awareness and understanding the basic structure of the landscape subject. Before applying charcoal to paper, students are encouraged to carefully observe the environment \u2014 noting differences in value, the direction of light, atmospheric depth, and how objects recede into space. This lesson teaches how to interpret visual information and how to break down complex scenes into manageable shapes, which lays the foundation for accurate drawing and confident decision-making throughout the series.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 2: Establishing Composition and Mapping<\/h2>\n<p>\nOnce observation skills are honed, students begin laying out the landscape in simple mapped shapes. Using light vine charcoal, the lesson demonstrates how to establish composition and proportion while keeping the drawing flexible. Mapping allows the artist to block in major elements \u2014 such as foreground foliage, midground terrain, and distant trees or structures \u2014 without committing too early to dark values. This early stage is essential for organizing space and ensuring that the overall scene feels balanced and coherent before deeper value work begins.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 3: Building Value and Depth<\/h2>\n<p>\nWith the basic layout in place, students move into developing value relationships throughout the landscape. Both vine and compressed charcoal are used to build tonal layers, creating contrast that defines form and distance. This lesson focuses on how values help suggest depth, how atmospheric perspective can be achieved through softer mediums and lighter touches, and how stronger, darker marks bring objects forward. The instructor also introduces blending tools, such as stumps and brushes, to help integrate charcoal smoothly while maintaining texture where needed.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 4: Using Erasers for Highlights<\/h2>\n<p>\nA highlight of this series is the comprehensive use of erasers as creative tools. Instead of treating erasers merely as corrective implements, students learn how to use various erasers \u2014 kneaded, vinyl, or electric \u2014 to lift charcoal, reveal lightest values, and create luminous highlights. This lesson demonstrates how erasing can define reflective surfaces, soft edges, and subtle light transitions, giving the landscape greater realism and visual interest.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 5: Refining and Unifying the Scene<\/h2>\n<p>\nIn the final lesson, attention turns to refining contrasts, strengthening focal areas, and ensuring overall harmony within the drawing. Students learn how to balance dark and light values, sharpen essential edges, and make final adjustments to unify the composition. The instructor guides students in evaluating the drawing as a whole, helping them make decisions that enhance clarity, depth, and mood.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Building Confidence in Charcoal Landscape Drawing<\/h2>\n<p>\nBy completing the <em>Landscape<\/em> series, artists gain valuable experience in observation, charcoal handling, value control, and expressive use of erasers. These lessons provide a solid foundation for creating compelling charcoal landscapes, equipping students with the tools and techniques needed for future success in more complex observational and expressive drawing projects.\n<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <input name=\"tabs\" type=\"radio\" id=\"tab-3\" class=\"input\"\/><br \/>\n  <label for=\"tab-3\" class=\"label\">Materials <i class=\"fas fa-angle-down\" style=\"margin-left:2px;\"><\/i><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h2>Lesson Materials<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Vine\/Willow Charcoal<\/li>\n<li>Compressed Charcoal Pencil<\/li>\n<li>Charcoal Paper<\/li>\n<li>Kneaded Eraser<\/li>\n<li>Vinyl Eraser<\/li>\n<li>Blending Stumps or Tortillions<\/li>\n<li>White Drawing Paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <input name=\"tabs\" type=\"radio\" id=\"tab-4\" class=\"input\"\/><br \/>\n  <label for=\"tab-4\" class=\"label\">Resources <i class=\"fas fa-angle-down\" style=\"margin-left:2px;\"><\/i><\/label><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h2>Lesson Resources<\/h2>\n<h4>References<\/h4>\n<p><i class=\"fas fa-lock\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>Photo Reference<\/p>\n<p><i class=\"fas fa-lock\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>Finished Drawing<\/p>\n<p><i class=\"fas fa-lock\" style=\"margin-right:10px;\"><\/I>Download eBook<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sidebarbottom\">\n<div class=\"relatedcourse\">Your Instructor<\/div>\n<div class=\"instructor\">\n<div class=\"instructorimage\">\n<div class=\"instructorpic\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/images\/mattauthor.jpg\" alt=\"Matt Fussell - Instructor\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"instructorname\">Matt Fussell<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"instructordes\">\n<p>Founder of The Virtual Instructor, artist and teacher. Matt makes learning art easy to understand and enjoyable.<\/p>\n<p><div style=\"padding-top:10px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/blog\/author\/admin\">Learn more about Matt<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relatedcoursescontainer\">\n<div class=\"relatedcourse\">Related Courses and Classes<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/mastering-metal-with-graphite-and-white-charcoal\" class=\"sidebarbottom-curriculum\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"leftlean\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Mastering Metal<\/div>\n<div class=\"rightlean\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Mastering-Metal-Graphite-White-Charcoal.jpg');\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/figure-drawing-with-charcoal\" class=\"sidebarbottom-curriculum\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"leftlean\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Charcoal Figure Drawing<\/div>\n<div class=\"rightlean\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/charcoal-figure-drawing-lesson-series.jpg');\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/ostrich-with-charcoal\" class=\"sidebarbottom-curriculum\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"leftlean\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Ostrich with Charcoal<\/div>\n<div class=\"rightlean\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/ostrich-with-charcoal-drawing-lesson-series-1.jpg');\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear:both;\"><\/div>\n<p><script>\nfunction myFunction(x) {\n  if (x.matches) { \/\/ If media query matches\n    radiobtn = 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loaded\n}).catch(function(error) {\n    switch (error.name) {\n        case 'TypeError':\n            \/\/ the id was not a number\n            break;<\/p>\n<p>        case 'PasswordError':\n            \/\/ the video is password-protected and the viewer needs to enter the\n            \/\/ password first\n            break;<\/p>\n<p>        case 'PrivacyError':\n            \/\/ the video is password-protected or private\n            break;<\/p>\n<p>        default:\n            \/\/ some other error occurred\n            break;\n    }\n});\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Charcoal Drawing Course: Landscape Lessons Course Curriculum Description Lesson Description The Charcoal Drawing Course: Landscape lesson series is a detailed and immersive study designed to help artists develop confidence and skill in rendering natural scenery using charcoal. Focusing on a landscape scene, this series guides students through observing, composing, and drawing with vine and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"paget-iframe.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38749","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38749"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38749\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46133,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38749\/revisions\/46133"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}