As part of our seasonal programme, artist Phil Lambert delivered a charcoal making and drawing workshops in October 2023
Charcoal making is an ancient process, connected to the history of being human. Over millennia this process has provided us with vital fuels and pigments for drawing and painting. Combined with clays and ochres these materials provide the first evidence of human image making and are still used today!
Participants were invited to rediscover the beauty and metaphorical meaning of this process, learn new processes of making and to create meaningful images for our times. Phil provided an introduction to his experience in making charcoal, sharing insights to the process. We utilised the long straight shoots pruned from the fruit trees in The Far Orchard, during our pruning workshop led by Andrew Lear.
Using the charcoal made in the morning, participants explored some basic drawing techniques focused on experimenting with its material qualities and possibilities.
Phil Lambert is an award-winning artist based in Cardiff. His work is focused around materials, inter-disciplinarity, observation and measurement. He often uses soils and charcoals to make his own materials, which link to his love of the environment.
Check out our image gallery of the workshops below.
The Far Orchard 