Discover charcoal drawing techniques.

 

 

 

 

Charcoal comes in various forms, all of which create slightly different results.

Either use it in stick form in a variety of thicknesses:

• Willow charcoal
• Compressed charcoal

Or use it in pencil form:

• Charcoal pencils
• Tinted charcoal pencils.

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Willow charcoal is made from natural willow; the sticks look like a piece of wood and have a varied appearance. It has a soft, smooth powdery consistency when applied to dry paper. Blend it using your fingers or a tool such as a torchon, cotton bud or tissue. Once blended, charcoal can be removed or lifted by using a putty eraser. More charcoal may then be added and blended to create a variety of tones. Willow charcoal is naturally dark but not black. It is the most forgiving of all charcoals and ideal to use for a beginner to the medium.

Compressed charcoal is available in stick form. It is either cylindrical or comes in oblong blocks. The consistency although powdery feels more greasy than willow charcoal and is a little more difficult to erase and lift. It does, however, come in a variety of tones, the darkest being much blacker than willow charcoal.

Charcoal pencils are available in various dark tonal values (including light, medium and dark) and they have a velvety appearance. The pencil form makes them more convenient to use for many people, especially for those artists who prefer handling a pencil rather than a stick, or prefer not to get their hands dirty. These have a less powdery consistency and are ideal for smaller drawings, which perhaps include details. They are not as suited to large drawings or blocking in large areas (unlike willow and compressed charcoal). They erase and blend fairly easily.

 

 

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Tinted charcoal pencils are a fairly new concept and behave much the same as charcoal pencils although they have the advantage of soft hints of colour. Their consistency, although powdery, is not the same as pastels and should not be thought of as such. They are available in a range of subtle colours, which add a further dimension to charcoal drawing

YOU WILL NEED

• Willow charcoal
• Compressed charcoal
• Charcoal pencils
• Tinted charcoal pencils
• White pastel pencil
• White cartridge paper
• Coloured pastel paper
• Soft putty eraser

Try blocking in

Charcoal can be used in various ways; the most forgiving and exciting for the beginner is to block in, which creates a mid tone over the entire paper. This is done before adding or removing more charcoal. Willow charcoal is best for blocking in.

Step 1 - cover the paper

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gently rub the side of the charcoal all over the paper in a random direction. Smooth paper is best for this otherwise a gritty texture will appear.

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Step two - Smooth the charcoal

 

 

 

 

 

Smooth the charcoal into the paper using circular hand movements. This results in an even tonal texture all over the paper.

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Step 3 - Add more charcoal

 

 

 

 

 

Cat Study 1, charcoal, (14x15cm)

Once the mid tone texture is applied, add more charcoal and blend in using your fingers or a blending tool

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Remove charcoal by using a soft putty eraser.

This is best tackled during the end stages of the drawing, to add highlights and very light areas.

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