Charcoal Sketching & Portraiture
A guided charcoal portrait workshop in Lower Tapovan
- Lower Tapovan
- Beginner friendly
- Charcoal portraiture
- Batches 1:30 & 5:30 PM
- 2.5-3 hrs, 4 days or 7 days
Overview
A guided charcoal sketching and portrait workshop in Lower Tapovan, run by Rishikesh Artshala. You learn to handle charcoal, read the tonal values in what you see, and use light and shadow to draw something that actually looks real.
It moves through the things that make a portrait work: shading, blending, facial proportions and the technique behind a face. Complete beginners are welcome, and so are people who already draw and want their portraits to be better.
Choose the format that fits your days here. A 2.5 to 3 hour introduction, a 4 day portrait course, or a 7 day advanced format. Studio sessions run at 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM.
A day here
How a session flows at the studio, from settling in to refining your drawing with the instructor beside you.
- 1Settle inYou arrive at the studio and get set up with paper and your charcoal tools.
- 2Understand the basicsHow charcoal behaves on the paper, and how tone, not outline, is what makes a drawing feel solid.
- 3PractiseHands-on time with shading, blending, and reading light and shadow.
- 4Build the drawingYou apply what you have practised to real portrait studies and features.
- 5RefineWith the instructor beside you, you improve the detail, depth and realism until it reads right.
- 6The longer formatsThe 4 and 7 day courses carry this same rhythm forward through more studio practice, so proportions, features and texture get the time they need.
The workshop
Why this workshop
- Pick a short intro or go deeper with the 4 or 7 day format
- You practise light, shadow, tone, shading and blending by hand
- The focus is realistic portraiture, not a quick souvenir sketch
- Learn charcoal from the ground up, with no formal art training needed
- The studio is in Lower Tapovan, easy to fit into a slower Rishikesh day
- The longer formats give you time for proportions, features, texture and depth
Course highlights
- Beginner friendly
- Step by step portrait practice
- 4 day and 7 day advanced formats
- Tonal values, shading and blending
- Light and shadow for realistic form
- Studio batches at 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM
- Facial proportions and feature studies
- Guided charcoal sketching and portraiture
The syllabus, section by section
Charcoal fundamentals
- Getting familiar with charcoal and your drawing surface
- The different ways to make a mark
- Controlling pressure and tonal intensity
- Building confidence with the medium
Light, shadow and tonal values
- Understanding light and dark
- Creating form through a change in tone
- Shading and blending
- Building depth without relying on outlines
Portrait construction
- Facial proportions
- Mapping the structure of the face
- Building the individual features
- Balance and proportion across the whole face
Features, texture and detail
- Eyes, nose and lips
- Hair and texture
- Realistic transitions and depth
- Refining detail without losing the whole
Advanced portrait practice
- Greater tonal control
- Working toward higher realism
- Refining a completed portrait
- A second portrait in the 7 day format
Who should enrol
- You want a short introduction to the medium
- You want a quiet, hands-on afternoon in Tapovan
- You are completely new to charcoal or to portraits
- You already draw and want your portraits to improve
- You want several days of focused, repeated practice
- You want a creative experience while travelling in Rishikesh
Choose your track
Three formats, from a single afternoon to a week of focused studio practice. Pick the one that fits your days in Rishikesh.
Introduction to Charcoal
Rs. 2,000 / person
2.5 to 3 hours
A focused introduction for beginners: handle the tools, read tonal values, practise shading and blending, and work through a guided portrait exercise.
You will work on
You take home. A guided charcoal study, including a step by step realistic human eye.
What each step covers
- 1Arrival and setupSettle in at the studio with your paper and charcoal tools.
- 2Charcoal fundamentalsHow the medium behaves and the marks it can make.
- 3Light and shadowReading tone, and how it gives a drawing its form.
- 4Shading and blendingHands-on practice building smooth, believable tone.
- 5Guided eye studyDraw a realistic human eye, step by step, with the instructor.
- 6Review and finishRefine the detail and look back at what you have made.
Portrait Techniques
Rs. 7,500 / person
4 days
A structured portrait course with time to develop realistic charcoal technique: proportions, features, texture, depth and detailed shading, guided throughout.
You will work on
You take home. One fully developed realistic charcoal portrait.
What each step covers
- 1Day 1 The FoundationCharcoal, tone, shading and blending, and the first guided portrait practice.
- 2Day 2 Building the FaceFacial proportions, the structure of the face, and where the features sit.
- 3Day 3 Features and RealismEyes, nose, lips and hair, with real attention to texture and depth.
- 4Day 4 The PortraitBring it all together into one complete portrait, and refine it.
Advanced Portrait Masterclass
Rs. 10,000 / person
7 days
The full 4 day portrait curriculum followed by supervised practice for deeper detail and realism, finishing with a second portrait of your own choice.
You will work on
You take home. Your completed technical portrait plus a second detailed portrait of your choice.
What each step covers
- 1Day 1 The FoundationCharcoal, tone, shading and blending to start.
- 2Day 2 Facial StructureProportions and the underlying structure of the face.
- 3Day 3 FeaturesEyes, nose, lips and hair in detail.
- 4Day 4 Texture and DepthRealistic transitions, texture and the illusion of depth.
- 5Day 5 Advanced PracticeRefine the first portrait with greater tonal control.
- 6Day 6 Your Second PortraitBegin a second, more independent portrait of your choice.
- 7Day 7 Final RefinementFinish and refine both portraits to a technical level.
Dates. The introduction runs daily in the 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM studio batches. Dates for the 4 day and 7 day formats are confirmed with the studio by availability, so tell us the days you have in mind and our team will set it up.
What's included
- Studio workspace
- Guided instruction
- Guided portrait practice
- Drawing surface and paper
- Charcoal drawing materials
Experiences during the workshop
Add-ons
No Artshala-specific add-ons right now. Nearby stays, local transport and other Book My Rishikesh experiences can be added separately.
What's not included
- Meals
- Accommodation
- Personal expenses
- Transport to the studio
- Anything not listed under your chosen track
Where the studio is
Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh. Near Tapovan Market, The Ganga, Lakshman Jhula area, Rishikesh Pottery Studio.
- 1Rishikesh Artshala (Lower Tapovan)
The exact pin
Rishikesh Artshala is in Lower Tapovan, near the Pennylane and Terracotta hotels and co-located with the pottery studio. Your full booking details and directions are sent when your session is confirmed.
Getting there
Once your session is confirmed, Book My Rishikesh sends you the studio location and booking details. The studio sits in Lower Tapovan, a short walk from Tapovan Market and the Ganga.
Good to know
Pricing
The introduction is Rs. 2,000, the 4 day course is Rs. 7,500, and the 7 day format is Rs. 10,000.
Timing
Choose the 1:30 PM or the 5:30 PM batch.
Skill level
Beginners and those with some experience are both welcome.
The mess factor
Charcoal is dusty and tactile, so your hands and clothes can pick it up.
Longer formats
The 4 and 7 day formats need more time and repeated studio practice than the intro.
Booking
Availability is confirmed with the studio before your booking is final.
What to bring
- A refillable water bottle
- A notebook if you like to take notes
- Any personal drawing references you want to explore
- Your phone for the booking details and location pin
- Comfortable clothes you do not mind marking with charcoal
Cancellation
Cancel 7 or more days before: full refund. 3 to 6 days: 50% refund. Within 3 days: no refund.
Full payment and refund policyQuestions, answered
Do I need any drawing experience?
No. The workshop is built for complete beginners, and it starts from how to hold and handle charcoal. If you already draw, the guidance simply meets you where you are.
What is a charcoal workshop?
It is a hands-on session where you learn to draw with charcoal, reading tone, light and shadow to build a realistic image rather than a flat outline.
How long is it?
You choose. The introduction is 2.5 to 3 hours, the portrait course is 4 days, and the advanced format is 7 days.
How much does it cost?
The introduction is Rs. 2,000, the 4 day course is Rs. 7,500, and the 7 day format is Rs. 10,000.
Is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. Beginners are the heart of the workshop, and people with some experience are welcome too.
What will I learn?
Charcoal handling, tonal values, light and shadow, shading and blending, facial proportions, and how to build a realistic portrait feature by feature.
What will I make?
In the introduction you make a guided charcoal study, including a realistic human eye. The 4 day course produces one complete portrait, and the 7 day format adds a second portrait of your choice.
What time are the sessions?
Studio batches run at 1:30 PM and 5:30 PM. You pick the one that suits you when you enquire.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes you do not mind marking. Charcoal is dusty and can get on your hands and clothes.
Are materials included?
Yes. Charcoal, your drawing surface and paper, and the studio workspace are all included for your chosen track.
Where is it?
In Lower Tapovan, Rishikesh, co-located with Rishikesh Pottery Studio. The exact studio pin is shared with you when your session is confirmed.
Can I join just one session?
Yes. The introduction is a single session of 2.5 to 3 hours, perfect if you only have an afternoon.
Can I stay for several days?
Yes. The 4 day and 7 day formats are made for that, with time to develop proper portrait technique.
How do I book?
Tell us your format, date and batch through Book My Rishikesh. A human from our team confirms the session with Artshala and writes back with the details.
Words from Rishikesh Artshala guests.
Verified reviews from Rishikesh Artshala guests will appear here once the first sessions run.