VCUarts Qatar at the 2025 London Design Biennale - June 5–29, 2025

102) Drawing: Chalk Pastel / Charcoal, Conte and Inks (at IAID)

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About this class

This course will be based around drawing still life and the figure.  Our subject will be still life comprised from found objects from around Doha and the desert, contrasting geometric man-made objects, natural forms and figure. The interior architecture and figures around us will also be considered.

Those, who want to concentrate on using Chalk Pastels will explore a range of drawing approaches from line to tone to the use of warm and cool colours.
Others will gain experience drawing with dry and wet materials.  Using a direct approach and with preparation of the paper, you will have the opportunity to draw and experiment with charcoal, conte, and inks. 

A variety of artists work will be referenced at the start of each weekly session, from classical to 20th century and contemporary examples.  Sessions will generally finish with a group review.

Note: This class takes place at IAID (Academy for Dance, Music and Arts) – Intersection D-Ring Road / Rawdat al Khail Street.

For directions, please see http://www.iaidonline.org/pop_contact_us.php

Class Outline

Week 1:  Introduction and short lecture.  Practical introduction to materials and paper.  Exercises on paper with charcoal / pastel chalks. Experiment with line drawing.

Week 2:  Line and Tone.  Geometry vs natural forms.  Short lecture.  Practical demonstration.  Continue drawing with charcoal / chalks. Tonal drawing.

Week 3:  The figure.  Short lecture.  Introduction to the human figure:  how it can be approached, proportion and representation. Ways of incorporating it into a composition.

Week 4:  Considering composition.  Short lecture referencing Early Modernism and some contemporary examples.  Continue working with charcoal and/or conte.  Practical demo introducing conte.

Week 5:  Inks:  introduction and mixed media examples.

Week 6:  Workday.  Develop compositions (charcoal,conte and/or inks).

Week 7:  Workday.  Develop compositions (charcoal,conte and/or inks).

Week 8:  Concluding session.  Collate series of sketches and work in progress.  Work to complete composition(s). Concluding group discussion/review.

Materials needed

Please note: VCUQatar reserves the right to cancel classes for which not enough participants are registered. Already paid fees will be refunded.

Please do not purchase materials until VCUQatar has sent final course confirmation.

Items to buy for this class

Participants are required to buy their own materials beforehand and bring them to every class

For participants, who want to concentrate on charcaol / conte / ink

  • Willow charcoal
  • Conte and/or compressed charcoal
  • Indian ink
  • Ink brush(es) and quill
  • Eraser
  • Masking tape (1 inch thick)
  • Large pastel paper sketchbook (ideally Strathmore pastel paper 18×24 inches, 24 sheets, found at Jarir Bookstore)

For participants, who want to concentrate on chalk pastels

  • Chalk pastel set, large range of colours (ideally Faber&Castle 48 piece, found at Jarir Bookstore)
  • Eraser (not putty)
  • Masking tape
  • Large pastel paper sketchbook (ideally Strathmore pastel paper 18×24 inches, 24 sheets, found at Jarir Bookstore)

Drawing boards will be provided

On occasions, there may be some more materials to be bought and brought in if and when advised by the instructor.

Where to buy your materials

Most of the materials are available from any art supply shop, for example:
  • Cass Art (Fire station): Community Classes students get a 15% discount upon presenting the registration ticket
  • Jarir Bookstore: on Rayyan Road or Salwa Road
  • Color Note: on Al Nasser Street
  • Ibn Al Qayyim: at Markhiya Roundabout
  • Al Rawnaq

Schedule

Start: Tue, 21 Apr, 2015
End: Tue, 9 Jun, 2015
Lessons: 8
Days: Tuesdays
Time: 9.30 am – 11.30 am
Location: IAID (Academy for Dance, Music and Arts) at Intersection D-Ring Road / Rawdat al Khail Street
Cost: QAR 850 / US$ 233.50

Instructors

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Camilla Fyfe

Camilla is an artist and art teacher and holds a degree in Fine Art from the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, Oxford University.  She studied drawing at the Prince’s Drawing School in London, mainly working in the British Museum.  She studied life drawing at the Royal Academy Schools in London amongst other places.  She has a strong interest in Contemporary Art as well as Art History.

She draws mainly with pencil, charcoal and conte and uses oil paints though she is trained in a variety of media, having done sculpture as well as printmaking over the years.  She has spent time drawing and painting from observation out of doors as well as in Museums around London and in Qatar.  Having worked with teenagers and adults she is experienced in teaching a range of ages and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience of the subject.

Register

To register for this course, access the form.