Nicolai Fechin Mastercopy: An online portrait drawing session

Join Tutor Lydia Cecil for a master-copy portrait session studying Nikolai Fechin’s charcoal self-portrait, where you will learn Fechin’s signature balance of structure and expression. Using willow charcoal on textured paper, you’ll map the main axes for accuracy, mass in tones with broad, rolled strokes, and refine with sharp line while working the whole drawing together. You’ll explore selective blending, lifted lights, and the line–mass interplay that defines Fechin’s approach.

Materials used:

• Willow charcoal (thin sticks, sanded sharp)

• Khadi cotton paper (textured)

• Kneaded/putty rubber

• Preffered blending tool of your choice 

This session mimics the structure of a traditional life drawing class. You will see one or more photographs to draw or paint from. Tutor Lydia Cecil will be doing an online demonstration next to the video and will be giving hints and tips in the live chat.

Once you have registered you will be sent a link to a private web page where you will be able to access the live stream at the date and time of broadcast. You will also have access to the video for 30 days after the session, and will be able to download the photographs used in the session so you can continue to work in your own time.

If you're planning on watching more than one session a month then you will save money with a subscription. If you already have a Raw Umber Subscription then you can access this session from your account.