{"id":38905,"date":"2022-11-28T14:09:57","date_gmt":"2022-11-28T14:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/?page_id=38905"},"modified":"2026-04-03T00:48:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:48:23","slug":"charcoal-drawing-course-animal-portrait","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/charcoal-drawing-course-animal-portrait","title":{"rendered":"Charcoal Drawing Course &#8211; Animal Portrait"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"coursetitlecontainer\">\n<div class=\"coursetitle\">\n<h1><span>The Charcoal Drawing Course:<\/span> Animal Portrait<\/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\/charcoal-drawing-course-animal-portrait\/\" class=\"curriculum\"><strong>MODULE 4: ANIMAL PORTRAIT<\/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 (2:18)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 2: Grid and Layout (12:52)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 3: Monkeying Around (5:59)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 4: Increasing Contrast (14:22)<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\" class=\"curriculum\"><i class=\"far fa-play-circle\" style=\"margin-right:5px;\"><\/i>Lesson 5: Details, Details, Details (11:49)<\/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: Animal Portrait<\/em> lesson series offers a focused and immersive experience in rendering expressive animal portraits using charcoal. In this series, students create a compelling drawing of a chimpanzee on gray textured paper, combining vine charcoal, compressed black charcoal, and white charcoal. The lessons guide learners through observation, structure, value, and refined mark-making, helping them translate a three-dimensional subject into a visually engaging, finished portrait.\n<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Charcoal-Chimp-Fin.jpg\" alt=\"charcoal drawing of a chimpanzee\"><\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 1: Planning and Observation<\/h2>\n<p>\nThe series begins with careful observation and planning. Students are encouraged to study the unique features, proportions, and personality of the chimpanzee before making any marks. This lesson emphasizes understanding the subject\u2019s anatomy, bone structure, and the way light interacts with its form. Through thoughtful observation, artists learn how to break down complex features into simpler shapes, a step that ensures accuracy and confidence as the drawing develops.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 2: Laying Out the Drawing<\/h2>\n<p>\nOnce the foundational study is complete, students lightly sketch the chimpanzee on gray textured paper using vine charcoal. This early phase focuses on proportion, placement, and basic contour lines. Using a softer medium like vine charcoal allows for gentle adjustments and flexible mark-making, giving students space to refine the underlying structure without committing to dark values too early. This preparatory stage helps ensure that the portrait\u2019s layout feels balanced and well-composed before deeper value work begins.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 3: Establishing Values<\/h2>\n<p>\nAfter the initial sketch is in place, the lesson shifts toward establishing strong value relationships. This stage introduces the use of compressed black charcoal to build depth and contrast. Students learn how to block in dark shadow areas while preserving midtones and planning for highlights. Careful attention is paid to understanding where the strongest darks and softest lights should occur, creating a dynamic range that gives the chimpanzee\u2019s portrait dimensional presence.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 4: Refining Form and Texture<\/h2>\n<p>\nWith the value structure established, students begin refining the chimpanzee\u2019s features, using a combination of vine and compressed charcoal to articulate fur texture, facial contours, and expression. Techniques such as controlled hatching and blending help integrate forms while maintaining surface texture. The instructor demonstrates how to develop fine details that enhance realism without sacrificing the overall atmosphere of the portrait.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Lesson 5: Integrating White Charcoal Highlights<\/h2>\n<p>\nA defining aspect of this series is the incorporation of white charcoal to create highlights and enhance three-dimensional form. On gray textured paper, white charcoal is used to lift values and emphasize light striking the chimpanzee\u2019s fur, brow ridge, and other facial details. This lesson teaches how to balance darks and lights intentionally, refining edges and adding final visual interest that makes the portrait feel alive.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Completing the Portrait<\/h2>\n<p>\nIn the final stages, students focus on unifying the value range, strengthening contrasts, and refining subtle details that bring the portrait together as a cohesive whole. By the end of the series, students walk away with a finished chimpanzee drawing and a deeper understanding of how charcoal techniques \u2014 from broad value application to delicate highlights \u2014 can be combined to capture character, texture, and form with confidence and expression.\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>White Compressed Charcoal<\/li>\n<li>Kneaded Eraser<\/li>\n<li>Vinyl Eraser<\/li>\n<li>Blending Stumps or Tortillions<\/li>\n<li>Gray Ingres 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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In this series, students create a compelling drawing of a chimpanzee on gray textured paper, combining vine charcoal, compressed black charcoal, 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-38905","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38905","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=38905"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46134,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38905\/revisions\/46134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/members\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}