Charcoal Sanding (5 Day Still-Life Workshop)

$975.00

October 22nd-26th , 2025 / 9am-4pm

Join Annie Murphy Robinson in the Ozark studio for a five-day charcoal sanding workshop where you’ll learn everything needed to create your own stunning charcoal sanded drawings! This sanding workshop is open to artists of all levels, from beginners to experienced creators, providing a supportive and engaging environment to explore this unique technique.

With over 30 years as a practicing artist and 25 years of teaching experience, Annie is excited to share her expertise, guiding you through each step of the process. You’ll learn how to curate and photograph your still life, develop rich textures, enhance value, and bring intricate details to life—skills that set this technique apart from others.

All materials will be provided, allowing you to fully focus on your creative journey. But the experience doesn’t end after five days! To ensure continued growth, Annie will host a dedicated Facebook page for six months, where you can connect with fellow artists, ask questions, and receive ongoing guidance. Additionally, you’ll receive her advanced charcoal sanding video for free, offering further insights to refine your skills beyond the workshop.

Join her for this transformative artistic experience, and unlock the beauty and depth of charcoal sanding!

October 22nd-26th , 2025 / 9am-4pm

Join Annie Murphy Robinson in the Ozark studio for a five-day charcoal sanding workshop where you’ll learn everything needed to create your own stunning charcoal sanded drawings! This sanding workshop is open to artists of all levels, from beginners to experienced creators, providing a supportive and engaging environment to explore this unique technique.

With over 30 years as a practicing artist and 25 years of teaching experience, Annie is excited to share her expertise, guiding you through each step of the process. You’ll learn how to curate and photograph your still life, develop rich textures, enhance value, and bring intricate details to life—skills that set this technique apart from others.

All materials will be provided, allowing you to fully focus on your creative journey. But the experience doesn’t end after five days! To ensure continued growth, Annie will host a dedicated Facebook page for six months, where you can connect with fellow artists, ask questions, and receive ongoing guidance. Additionally, you’ll receive her advanced charcoal sanding video for free, offering further insights to refine your skills beyond the workshop.

Join her for this transformative artistic experience, and unlock the beauty and depth of charcoal sanding!

About the Artist:

Annie Murphy Robinson is an award-winning artist who known for innovative charcoal sanding technique.

“My technique is relatively unknown, I use sandpaper as a medium to embed dry material (charcoal and occasionally pastel) into heavy paper. Using this technique, I am able to “see” in the dark; I use a myriad of photographic references which allows me to lighten up the dark areas and balance them out with the lighter ones without washing out the details. Use of this technique takes the work to a “hyper-real” level and lends itself well to the pervasive feeling of melancholy that exists. My intent is to confront the viewer and ask questions.”

“I have discovered that when I draw what I know, what I love, what resonates with me, I create authentic work. I validate my life and experiences — good, bad, and indifferent — through my art.

We all have a voice; we all have experiences that with regular practice will show up in our work. Don’t wait for a good idea, don’t second-guess yourself, do the work and it will come.”

– Annie Murphy Robinson

Charcoal Sanding – 5-Day Workshop (All Levels)

Day 1: Introduction & Setup

9:30-10:30 – Slideshow: Qualifications, mediums, lighting, and photo selection.
10:30-12:00 – Set up and photograph still lifes (basic, intermediate, advanced).
1:00-2:30 – Continue photography, select and upload images.
2:30-4:00 – Demo: Creating sandpaper squares (1000, 1500, 2000 grit), participants prepare their own.

Day 2: Photoshop & Transfer

9:30-12:00 – Demo: Photoshop dotting, cropping for composition, hole-poking prints. Participants begin their dotting process.
1:00-4:00 – Tear and sand drawing paper, start transferring dots.

Day 3: Drawing

9:30-10:30 – Complete dot transfer, outline image, first charcoal pass.
10:30-12:00 – Participants repeat process.
1:00-1:30 – Demo: Second pass, sanding techniques.
1:30-4:00 – Participants apply second pass (excluding details).

Day 4: Refining

9:30-11:00 – Demo: Major to minor details, problem-solving techniques.
11:00-12:00 – Participants begin detailing.
1:00-4:00 – Continue refining with guided assistance.

Day 5: Finishing Touches

9:30-11:00 – Demo: Enhancing values, lost edges, and softening details.
11:00-12:00 – Guided assistance.
1:00-4:00 – One-on-one final refinements.

Participant Requirements:

  • A laptop with Affinity or Photoshop installed and a camera or phone with a high-quality camera (required only if you plan to curate and photograph your own still life setup).

  • Experienced charcoal sanding participants should bring reference images of their work for proper placement.

  • Those opting out of the photography process can select from provided pre-dotted or undotted reference photos.