This fall, I hosted my very first in-person graphite drawing workshop — a two-part series spread across two beautiful Sunday afternoons at The Market at Grelen in the Virginia countryside. I was joined by a wonderful group of women of all ages and all skill levels - some who'd sketched a little before, several who'd never picked up a drawing pencil in their life. By the end, it didn't matter who started where.
I love sharing photos from my in-person art classes because they are true experiences that combine creative exploration and beautiful scenery in equal measure.
Here's an inside look at the two sessions, so you can see exactly what it's like to spend an afternoon drawing with me:
Setting Up at the Market at Grelen
I always love bringing people into a space that feels as inspiring as the artwork we're about to make. The Market at Grelen's gardens were shifting into their fall colors - the perfect backdrop for autumnal botanical graphite studies.
Each seat was set with a full drawing kit: pre-sketched botanical paper, a full range of pencils and blenders, and my take-home guide to graphite drawing - so every skill we covered in class would still be there to reference at home.
Session One: Learning the Basics
We kicked off session one with the fundamentals — the different pencils, papers, and erasers, and the core techniques that make graphite drawing feel less intimidating and a lot more fun. My goal is always the same: everyone starts from the same foundation, so no one feels behind before they've even begun.
I moved table to table throughout the session, demonstrating up close and answering questions one-on-one. Watching the nervous-beginner energy turn into focused, confident mark-making is honestly my favorite part of teaching.
Session Two: Learning to Blend
A week later, we picked up right where we left off. Session two was all about blending — the tools and techniques that take a flat pencil sketch and give it real depth, dimension, and character. This is where botanical drawings start to feel less like sketches and more like finished pieces.
With the basics already under their belts, everyone dove into their final class project with a noticeably different level of confidence than week one.
The Final Results
By the end of the two sessions, every single piece looked completely different from where it started — and completely different from each other. That's always the most rewarding part: watching people realize that drawing realistic botanicals isn't some rare talent, it's a process anyone can learn.
What did attendees think of the workshop?
★★★★★
"Courtney Hopkins of Tiny Pine Art is a great teacher who meets students where they are at, puts them at ease, and makes learning accessible and fun. I took her drawing with graphite class and can’t wait to take another! If you are looking for some encouragement to try something new or some help expanding an existing skill, I highly recommend taking a class with Courtney!"
Join Us Next Time!
We'd love for you to join us at the next one! Whether you've never picked up a pencil or you're looking to sharpen your skills, this class is designed to meet you exactly where you are. Grab a friend, make a day of it — the Grelen cafe, boutique, and trails are all right there before or after class.
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A perfect day out if you’re in the following areas: central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Charlottesville, Orange, Culpepper, Arlington, Alexandria, Manassas, Fredericksburg, and Richmond.