A guide to preparing, drawing and painting with burnt cork
with David Begley
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Live online session 4-5pm  
Tuesday 05th November 2024
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Burnt cork is a wonderful, versatile medium. For drawing it gives a warm dark grey and its ink is a transparent colour full of character.
I use burnt cork to draw form, to create volume and weight. It is excellent for life drawing as its broad marks build forms quickly – with a few marks you achieve a sense of the figure. Cork is suitable for drawing flesh as it’s such a soft medium. For drawing backgrounds and space, it is ideal. It erases easily with a putty rubber. Burnt cork is also fantastic for working outdoors, drawing clouds, trees, mountains etc. Its warm tone is compatible with charcoal.
 
In this demonstration I’ll discuss how to select corks for burning, how to burn or bake them, what papers to use, what additional tools can be used with cork and how to make and paint with your unique burnt cork ink. I’ll share examples of my work in this medium, followed by Q and A.

This online demonstration includes 'Drawing and painting with burnt cork by David Begley' an illustrated PDF with instructions and examples of David's work.
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