June 29: Special Lesson by Avanthi: Charcoal Sketching and Observation

Facilitator: Avanthi

Teachers: Suren, Piyumika, Tameez

Duration: 1.5 hours

Age Group: 6–16 (can be adapted)

Intro

Exploring calm through charcoal sketching and quiet observation in nature.

You will need:

  1. Charcoal sticks (provided by Avanthi)

  2. Large sheets of drawing paper (provided by Avanthi)

  3. Drawing books or hard surfaces to sketch on (students)

Guide

Step 1: Demo or Video: Sketching with Charcoal (10 mins)

  • Show basic charcoal techniques:

    • Holding the charcoal

    • Light vs. heavy shading

    • Blending with fingers

    • Creating texture using line and smudge

2. Quiet Sketching Time (45 mins)

  • Ask each child to walk around the centre grounds quietly and pick their favorite place to sit.

  • Instruct them to observe in silence for 2–3 minutes before starting. Encourage noticing details—light, shape, shadows, texture.

  • Let them sketch quietly. Remind them they don’t need to talk—just draw and be present.

3. Sharing Circle & Reflection (15 mins)

  • Gather back together. Invite students to hold up their work.

  • Ask gentle, open-ended questions:

    • “How did it feel to sit quietly?”

    • “What did you notice that you hadn’t seen before?”

    • “What was the most challenging or surprising part?”

VisualizationAvanthi SeneviratneJune 2025, Volunteer lesson, CharcoalComment