Drawing Portraits in Charcoal

Alan Keane is a full time artist and tutor having run his own marketing consultancy for 45 years. “I’ve always had a deep interest in art but it wasn’t until I rediscovered the love of drawing that I took the bold decision to close my consultancy on reaching 60 and concentrate on art. What attracted me to it was a latent desire to have more control over my expression and the humble pencil allowed me to achieve this.

I chose portraiture because of its challenging nature. The quest for a perfect likeness has become an obsession not just because I’m a perfectionist at heart, but because the slightest error in portraying the unique characteristics of an individual renders the work simply ‘un-characteristic’ and therefore disappoints the recipient who often cannot identify where the error lies, they know it’s just ‘not them’.

“The technique I’ve perfected is more akin to the art of sculpting rather than drawing. I first create a mid-tone and then carefully ‘sculpt’ out the highlights with different types of erasers and add to the darker areas. I love to share my passion and enthusiasm for my technique and hold regular Saturday morning class in the United Arts Club and at home in my studio in Foxrock during the week". This online course is an identical curriculum.