Charcoal and Teatime Portraiture

Home
Canada
Brantford, ON
Charcoal and Teatime Portraiture

I'm Caroline Cowan, a charcoal portrait artist and illustrator based in Brantford Ontario!

I offer custom artwork, drawing lessons, and live wedding drawing throughout Ontario.

05/14/2026

After a very unexpected and emotional Mother's Day weekend, Jake and I are so incredibly happy to share that our twin boys have arrived safely 💙💙

William and Kieran made their entrance 8 weeks early and are currently spending some time in the NICU, where they continue to grow stronger every day. While this beginning wasn’t quite the journey we had imagined, we are feeling deeply grateful, overwhelmed with love, and so thankful for the amazing care we've received.

As we settle into this new season of life and focus on our boys, Charcoal & Teatime Portraiture will remain on maternity leave as previously announced - drawing lessons are paused until September/October, and commissions are also closed until then. My existing lineup of commissions will continue to be worked on, though will be heavily delayed as I recover from a c-section and prioritize visiting our boys daily.

Responses may continue to be slower than usual during this time, and I deeply appreciate everyone’s patience, kindness, prayers, and support. 💙

03/09/2026

🌷A March studio update🌷

Hello everyone! The past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind for Jake and I as we’ve navigated some unexpected medical hurdles with the twins, including laser surgery and a transfusion to treat TTTS and TAPS. Thankfully things are gradually moving in a positive direction, and we’re incredibly grateful for the wonderful care we’ve received between McMaster Hospital and Mount Sinai, as well as all the love and support surrounding our growing family as we work through what has been a very challenging time.

Because of this, the start of the year has been a much quieter season in the studio than I had anticipated while I'm required to focus on rest, healing, appointments, and taking things one day at a time. I’m still working through commissions as steadily as I can, and I’m so grateful for the patience and kindness from this amazing community. As we move through March, I’m looking forward to slowly settling back into the rhythm of creating and sharing new work again!

-Caroline

03/01/2026

"Perched on her window seat, she waits and wonders. Maybe the breeze carries the rustle of leaves, maybe distant headlights flicker like fireflies in the dark. She could belong to a quiet country cottage or a high city apartment—wherever there is a window, a little light, and a peaceful heart to watch the world go by."

This new original framed 8"x10" charcoal piece is now available for purchase on my website!

02/18/2026

Looking for something to do this weekend? Why not come out and support local businesses and makers, AND support a great cause! Stop by the Charcoal table between 10am and 3pm this Sunday at the Polish Hall in Brantford and browse original charcoal artwork and prints, and watch a charcoal portrait come to life in real time! Information about drawing lessons, custom artwork, and live wedding portraiture will also be available at our table.

Can't wait to see you there! 🖤 ✏️

01/22/2026

Hey Brantford! Did you know that Charcoal & Teatime Portraiture offers private and small-group drawing lessons??

Lessons are tailored to each student’s experience level — whether you’re a complete beginner, returning to art after a long break, or looking to strengthen your fundamentals in charcoal and drawing.

Suitable for:
• Adults & kids (ages 8+)
• Beginners to intermediate artists
• One-on-one or small groups

📍 Lessons available:
• At my home studio in Brantford
• In-home lessons (within Brantford & surrounding area)

⏰ Weekly 90-minute lessons
(1-hour lessons available for younger students)

All materials are provided for the first lesson (except a sketchbook) and they're yours to keep!

Spots are limited. If you’ve been thinking about learning to draw — this is your sign!

📩 To inquire or book:
Send me a message or fill out the lesson sign-up form at
www.charcoalandteatime.ca on the "Classes" page

01/20/2026

This was such a fun piece to work on! The client asked for a more stylized, looser take on a location in Italy. I definitely want to do more work like this!

01/15/2026

Another one from Christmas! Pet portraits have been very popular lately - lucky me, I love getting to meet all of your furry friends! 🐾

01/14/2026

Another Christmas commission! This was my largest piece to date, measuring at 24"x36" (so a LOT of charcoal dust lol).

My books are always open for commissions! Visit www.charcoalandteatime.ca for information on pricing and how to order 🖤

01/11/2026

The weeks leading up to Christmas were particularly busy with commissions, this being the most detailed of the batch!

This 11”×14” charcoal portrait was commissioned from a family photo taken at the Rialto Bridge in Venice — a moment frozen in time and reimagined in charcoal as a keepsake to be treasured for years to come 🇮🇹

01/07/2026

🎉 Happy New Year everyone! What better way to start off the new year than with some exciting news:

Jake and I are expecting twins! We are so incredibly grateful and excited for this next chapter, and maybe still a little in shock lol

What does this mean for Charcoal & Teatime? For now, it’s mostly business as usual! I’m still teaching, welcoming new students, and accepting commission orders as normal. I do kindly ask for a little extra patience, as custom artwork timelines may be slightly longer than usual moving forward.

Thank you all so much for supporting my small business and for being such a kind, encouraging community—it truly means the world ❤️ Here's to a wonderful new year ahead for all!

Address

170-77 Diana Avenue
Brantford, ON
N3T0R6

Telephone

+15196358007

Website

https://www.charcoalandteatime.ca/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Charcoal and Teatime Portraiture posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Charcoal and Teatime Portraiture:

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in Brantford?