"The Barn Owl' ... Expressive Charcoal Workshop with Sarah Stokes

 

'The Barn Owl ' with Sarah Stokes

We are delighted to welcome back much acclaimed, professional wildlife artist Sarah Stokes, joining us for a fascinating long weekend in November 2027 of charcoal study and painting.

Sarah's visit will begin on Friday 5th with a day course focussed on drawing this beautiful and majestic Owl study in Charcoal.

Discover how to create a beautiful, atmospheric barn owl using charcoal and just a handful of simple tools.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to build a drawing from the darkest tones through to the lightest highlights, combining bold, expressive marks with carefully observed details to capture the softness, texture and character of this magnificent bird.

You’ll explore:

How to apply and layer charcoal to create depth and form.

Blending techniques for beautiful, soft tonal transitions.

How to lift charcoal to reveal highlights and create feather textures.

Combining loose, expressive shapes with finer details.

Using light and dark to create drama, atmosphere and a convincing sense of three-dimensional form.

With an emphasis on keeping things simple, you’ll discover just how much can be achieved with minimal tools and a good understanding of tone.

Finished size: A3 (29.7 × 42 cm).

Materials: Everything is included, from professional-quality charcoal and drawing materials to your paper and reference photographs.

You’ll leave with a striking A3 charcoal barn owl and a set of techniques you can confidently use in your future drawings.

 

 

As this is a collaborative workshop between Sarah Stokes and Quirky Workshops, we will be sharing bookings through each of our websites ..  NOTE there are slightly different T&C's regarding cancellations, which are detailed below **

9.30am - 5.00pm each day

Taking place in the first floor Swallow Barn - accessed by stairs
£145 home made lunch/ fresh coffee/ home baking etc included
Material Charges £none

 

Dates for this course - see the table below to book: 

Barn Owl  Charcoal Study ....  Friday 5th November 2027      

Note: Sarah will be teaching 'A Tryptych of Puffins' - a  2 day Watercolours - on the weekend after this course,  so 6th /7th Nov 2027  - bookable separately

Taking place in the first floor Swallow Barn - accessed by stairs only.

Please bring: This course is suitable for beginners and the more advanced. No experience is necessary and all materials will be provided and included within the course cost. This enables Sarah to teach all students using the same materials and therefore techniques.

Below are to similar  Charcoal Studies with Sarah over the past two years-  featuring Highland Cow in 2025 and Hare in 2026. 

About the Artist  Sarah is a published professional wildlife artist working from the beautiful Worcestershire countryside, in England. She has  always had a love of nature and is constantly inspired by the birds and animals that live in the woodlands surrounding her Arley home and studio on the banks of the River Severn. She has a real love for teaching art and the joy that it brings to those using watercolour for the first time. As Resident Artist at the Arley Estates in Bewdley, Sarah holds regular classes and retreats at the Studios on the Estate.