Welcome to the Charcoal Blog!

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Charcoal Blog! For those of you that don't know me, I'm Caroline Cowan, a charcoal artist, illustrator, drawing instructor, and animation background artist based in Brantford ON, Canada. I've been in the game now for almost 20 years (this fact never fails to make me feel old), and I've picked up a few tips and tricks along the way. Self taught and a graduate of Max the Mutt's College of Animation, Art, & Design in Toronto (yes I promise this is a real institution!), I've spent years studying and honing my craft in both digital and traditional mediums, taking on commission work, showing my work in galleries across Canada, working on animation productions, and filling up countless sketchbooks.

After 7 successful years in the animation industry, I've decided to set out on my own and shift the focus predominantly to my charcoal work, illustrations and teaching - not because I don't enjoy working on animated TV shows, but finally putting down roots with my husband after doing plenty of moving around the country over the last decade has opened the door to establishing my own business. Teaching drawing techniques in an online setting from anywhere in the country is entirely possible, don't get me wrong, but there's something to be said for gathering in person with other like-minded people and actually learning together, sharing ideas, comparing notes and techniques, and getting real-time feedback and help from your instructor. Having a sense of community and establishing those connections with other artists was such a huge motivator for me as a young, introverted, budding artist back in the day, and I truly believe that I wouldn't be where I am today without those other artists and my instructors/mentors to guide and encourage me along the way. This is exactly the type of community setting I aim to build for children, teens, and adults alike - artists encouraging other artists, learning and growing together, and bringing more amazing art into the world!

So where do I want to go with "Charcoal & Teatime Portraiture", and what the heck does tea have to do with charcoal? Well first off, I won't bore you with a whole "5 year business plan" spiel; my goal is to pass on my knowledge and techniques with meticulously formulated lessons for all ages in both group and individual settings, as well as building a client base with my custom artwork. And secondly, what does tea have to do with charcoal? Very little, aside from the fact that I almost always have a cup of tea on the go while I work. However, my hope is to one day establish a true brick and mortar shop within the Brantford area that would act as a gallery for my own artwork and the work of other local artists, house various hand crafted goods, serve as a teaching studio space, and perhaps even a small tea/cafe corner where folks can come and sit, enjoy a cup of tea, read a book, study, and enjoy artwork from within their own community!

Through this blog I'll be sharing those tips and tricks that I've picked up and developed over the years, discussing tools of the trade, shining light on other local artists, general Charcoal & Teatime Portraiture news, and whatever else pops into my head along the way! As I start out, I'll be sharing a new post every other Tuesday (starting tomorrow!), so follow along as we dive into the world of art one blog post at a time, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below - they may find their way into future blog posts!

~Caroline C.