Kelvin Okafor
- Alessandra Pagliuca
- Oct 19
- 2 min read
February 13, 14, 15, 2026
Drawing Awareness: The Art of Emotional Realism with Kelvin Okafor
Hyperrealistic Pencil and Charcoal Drawing Workshop
Join internationally acclaimed artist Kelvin Okafor for an intimate three-day workshop exploring the meditative process behind hyperrealistic portrait drawing. Known for his strikingly lifelike graphite and charcoal works, Kelvin will guide students through the subtle art of capturing emotional presence, depth, and truth using just pencil and paper.
Workshop details
Dates: Friday, February 13th, Saturday, February 14th, and Sunday, February 15th, 2026
Duration: 21-hour full immersion (three days of 7 hours each)
Times: 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM / 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Workshop Price: €490 per person
Technique: Pencil and charcoal on paper
Minimum number of participants: 12
Maximum number of participants: 18
Level: All
Language: English (with English-to-Italian interpreter included)
*Materials not included
Description
What you will learn
Through live demonstrations and one-on-one guidance, you’ll learn how to build tonal layers, render skin textures, and draw expressive features with intentionality and precision. This workshop offers a rare opportunity to observe Kelvin’s process up close, gain technical insight, and deepen your own drawing practice - whether you’re a seasoned artist or an ambitious beginner.
Workshop program
Duration: 3 days
Dates: February 13th, 14th, 15th
Format: In-person, hands-on drawing sessions
Day 1 – Foundations of Realism
Artist introduction & portfolio presentation
Understanding structure, proportions, and composition
Live demonstration: Beginning the portrait (nose/eyes/mouth)
Guided sketching session
Day 2 – Layering, Texture & Tonal Depth
Techniques for smooth shading and tonal transitions
Working with graphite and charcoal together
Building realistic skin tones and surface textures
One-on-one feedback and guided practice
Day 3 – Finishing Touches & Presence
Rendering the emotional essence of a subject
Kelvin’s approach to refining hyperrealism
Final guided drawing session
Group reflection and Q&A
The Teacher
Kelvin Okafor
Kelvin Okafor is a British artist celebrated for his emotionally charged, hyperrealistic portrait drawings. Working primarily in graphite and charcoal, Kelvin’s work explores themes of stillness, identity, and spiritual presence. A graduate of Middlesex University, his art has been acquired by major institutions and private collectors around the world and has been featured by CNN, BBC, and the National Portrait Gallery.
With painstaking attention to detail, Kelvin’s portraits often take hundreds of hours to complete, revealing the beauty in patience and deep observation. His latest solo exhibition, Drawing Awareness, was held at Hope 93 Gallery in London, marking a milestone in his growing international recognition. Alongside exhibiting, Kelvin shares his process through workshops and his online academy, inspiring others to develop their own inner focus and visual voice.
Discover more about the artist
Materials
Materials are the student's responsibility.
The complete materials list will be provided approximately 30 days before the workshop.
Services included and extras
One signed and numbered mini-print from Kelvin’s Drawing Awareness series
Exclusive access to a private video tutorial reviewing techniques covered during the workshop (available for a limited time after the event)
A signed gifting of one of the drawings I work at the workshop
Sign up to the workshop
Spots are limited!
Questions?
For any questions or inquiries, you can contact us via the dedicated page
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