Who this is for
You want to draw — really draw — but something always gets in the way. Maybe you start and abandon a piece because it doesn't look right. Maybe you've watched tutorials and still felt lost when you picked up a pencil. Maybe you've never tried charcoal at all and the medium feels intimidating.
This course was made for that exact feeling. You don't need to be experienced. You don't need expensive materials. You just need to be willing to follow along and give yourself time to work through it.
The artwork
Over 14 modules, you'll draw a life-size tiger portrait in charcoal, from establishing the outline all the way through to painting the final whiskers. Life-size means large: this is a portrait with presence, made to be framed and kept.
The tiger was chosen deliberately. It has everything that makes charcoal challenging and rewarding: dense, directional fur, extreme contrast between darks and lights, subtle eye detail, and a clean background. Working through this subject teaches you skills that transfer to any realistic drawing.
What you'll learn
The core of this course is a layered technique: indent, build, erase, blend, repeat. It creates the illusion of depth and individual hair fibres in a way that flat rendering never can. You'll use it across every section of the portrait and carry it into your own work long after the course is done.
Module List
Tools and materials - 5 min
What actually matters (and what doesn't), with links to buy everything used
Setting up your space - 5 min
How to build a slanted drawing desk, light your work correctly, and step back to see clearly
Outline - 4 min
Four methods for getting proportions right
Indenting - 4 min
The foundational technique: pressing texture into the paper before any charcoal is applied
Legs and body - 6 min
Building soft, blurred forms that recede into the background and make the face the focal point
Mouth - 9 min
Establishing dark anchor points and the eraser-cut technique for high-contrast fur
Face fur - 14 min
The full technique in practice: long strokes, directional layering, depth through contrast
Eyes - 7 min
Creating a glossy, realistic eye with smooth gradients, crisp reflections, and rounded form
Ears and nose - 6 min
Short directional hair and reading the reference closely for accurate fur flow
Pulling it together - 2 min
Stepping back, assessing transitions, and making the whole face feel cohesive
Cleanup and cropping - 3 min
Cleaning the background, trimming the paper, and bringing the blacks and whites to full intensity
Whiskers - 6 min
Eraser technique for the base, fixative, and painting whiskers with white acrylic, plus final highlights
14 modules
Total video time ~ 75 min
Lifetime Access
About Carly
I'm a full-time visual artist based in Australia, working in oil painting and charcoal. I built my drawing practice entirely through observation, experimentation, and a lot of patient repetition... no formal training, just a genuine commitment to understanding how things work.
This tiger course was one of the first ways I shared that process with other people. I made it because I wanted to show that photorealistic drawing isn't a mystery, it's a set of learnable techniques, applied consistently, with enough time to let the layers build.
What students say
"Having got back into drawing during lockdown I came across Carly's work on Instagram and her amazing artwork just blew me away. Usually the 'why do I even bother' takes over... but having learned about the course I was keen to see how this could help. The best thing about Carly is how easily things are explained: every step, every detail, what equipment she uses, where to find it, and all the tips and tricks she's picked up along her own journey. Using Carly's tried and tested techniques has really allowed my own work to take on a whole new dimension that literally has these wild cats jumping out of the page."
Ben — @ben_loti
"This course is responsible for the best results I have ever received from learning drawing online. After working with Carly, I expanded my drawing techniques and learnt more about creating photorealistic fur than any other online course on this subject. Oh, and I watched all the video lessons in just one day."
Katharine
"Carly inspired me to get back into drawing so when I found that she offered a course I jumped on it instantly. The course was easy to follow, clear and took things step by step. By the next day I was using the tools I learnt to draw my first tiger. What's even better: you have a question and Carly will answer without hesitation. You don't get that from many amazing artists such as herself."
Sam — @samirvineart
"Your guidance in the videos really helped me with the techniques. Very easy to follow, very clear, and I really enjoyed learning. I will be using your techniques along with a few of mine to create my biggest piece yet: an African wild dog full figure. I will definitely use your video on the legs and body fur."
Kat — @artbykat33
Enrol in the course
✓ Learn to draw a life-size Tiger in charcoal
✓ 14 video modules (~75 minutes total)
✓ Full materials list with links to purchase
✓ Lifetime access — watch at your own pace
Weightlessness
$2,900.00 AUD
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Weightlessness
$2,900.00 AUD
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience with charcoal?
No. This course starts from the very beginning, including what materials to buy, how to set up your space, and how the medium behaves. If you've never picked up a charcoal pencil, you're in the right place.
Does it have to be life-size?
Not at all. The techniques work at any scale. I draw large because I love the scale, but everything in this course translates directly to smaller work. Many students complete a smaller version first and scale up once they're comfortable.
How long will it take to complete?
The videos total around 75 minutes, but the drawing itself will take considerably longer. Most students spend several sessions on the piece. You have lifetime access, so there's no pressure to rush through it.
Can I use these techniques for other subjects?
Yes, and that's one of the main reasons to take this course. The layering method, the eraser technique, reading fur direction from reference: all of it applies to any realistic subject. Several students have gone straight to drawing dogs, wolves, and other animals using exactly what they learned here.
Is there a refund policy?
This is a digital product with instant access to all course content, so I'm not able to offer refunds once the course has been accessed. If you have any questions about whether this course is right for you before purchasing, feel free to get in touch at hello@carlyrenee.co
