CHARCOAL ART
Vine Charcoal
Vine charcoal is made from burning grapevines. It's known for its soft, powdery texture, making it great for creating smooth, sweeping lines and blending seamlessly. Vine charcoal is often used for initial sketches and underdrawings because it's easy to erase and modify. It’s perfect when you’re just starting to map out your composition. However, its softness means it doesn't stick to the paper as well, so it can smudge easily and might need a fixative to keep it in place. Many a charcoal drawing artist favors vine charcoal for its versatility in the early stages of Black and White Drawings.
Willow Charcoal
Willow charcoal is similar to vine charcoal but is made from burning willow twigs. It tends to be a bit darker and denser than vine charcoal, providing deeper blacks. Willow charcoal is great for creating bolder lines and adding depth to your Black and White Drawings. Like vine charcoal, it’s easy to erase and blend, making it a favorite for many a charcoal drawing artist who likes to work expressively and make adjustments on the fly. This type is often seen in Black and White fine art, where rich, deep blacks are essential.
Pencil & Compressed Charcoal
Compressed charcoal is much denser and comes in sticks or pencils. It's made by combining powdered charcoal with a binder, resulting in a harder, more durable form. This type of charcoal offers a range of hardness and softness, similar to graphite pencils. Harder compressed charcoal pencils produce finer, lighter lines, while softer ones give you darker, richer marks. Compressed charcoal is excellent for detailed work and can create a strong contrast with its intense blacks, making it a staple in Black and White fine art. Because it's less crumbly, it's less messy to work with and can be more controlled than vine or willow charcoal, which many charcoal drawing artists appreciate.
Fixative
Fixative is a must-have when working with charcoal drawing. It’s a clear spray that you apply to your finished drawing to set the charcoal in place and prevent smudging. There are two types of fixatives: workable and final. Workable fixative allows you to continue drawing over it without disturbing the layers beneath, which is great for building up your Black and White Drawings in stages. Final fixative is used when you’re completely finished with your artwork, sealing it for long-term protection. Always spray fixative in a well-ventilated area and hold the can at a distance to avoid over-saturating your drawing.
A word of warning - do not, I repeat, do not under any circumstances use hairspray on your drawings! I know there are people who do, but don’t be one of them unless you want to damage your artwork.
My Favourite Charcoal
My favourite charcoal includes General pencils in 2B, 4B, and 6B, and any willow or vine charcoal. I used to use Faber-Castell charcoal a lot. Unfortunately I recently had problems with those as the lead was broken inside the pencils, making it impossible to sharpen them. So for now, I’ve switched to General pencils only.
I also make charcoal powder from charcoal pencil shavings and lead sharpening dust. This powder is used with brushes, much like painting. I also make powder by rubbing charcoal (willow or pencils or any charcoal really) on sanding paper. Different grit numbers produce different textures of powder, ranging from fine to coarse, especially with compressed charcoal. I use paper stumps, fingers, tissues, and of course, brushes to apply and blend the charcoal powder.
Putting It All Together
Using all types of charcoal in one drawing can create a rich, layered effect with a range of tones and textures. Each type brings its own unique qualities to the piece, allowing for a versatile and dynamic approach to charcoal drawing. If you are making your first steps towards being a charcoal drawing artist and want to use all the types of charcoal in one drawing, here’s a suggested approach to get the most out of each type:
1. Start with Vine or Willow Charcoal
Begin your charcoal drawing with vine or willow charcoal. These types are perfect for sketching out your initial composition due to their softness and ease of erasure. Use them to create the basic shapes and outlines of your subject. Their light marks can be easily adjusted, allowing you to perfect your proportions and layout without committing to any dark lines right away.
2. Build Up with Compressed Charcoal
Once you’re satisfied with your initial sketch, you can start building up the details and adding depth using compressed charcoal. This type of charcoal is available in pencils with varying degrees of hardness and softness, allowing you to create fine details and strong contrasts. Use harder pencils for precise lines and softer ones for richer, darker areas.
3. Blend and Smooth
As you develop your drawing, blend and smooth the transitions between light and dark areas. You can use your fingers, blending stumps, or tissues to soften the edges and create a seamless gradient. Vine and willow charcoal blend easily, which can help create a smooth base, while compressed charcoal can add texture and dimension to your Black and White Drawings.
4. Apply Workable Fixative
Throughout the drawing process, consider using a workable fixative. This will help set the layers of charcoal without smudging, allowing you to continue working over them. It’s especially useful if you’re building up multiple layers or working on a piece over several sessions.
5. Final Touches with Compressed Charcoal
For the finishing touches, use compressed charcoal to add the darkest darks and refine the details. This will give your drawing a strong contrast and make it pop. Compressed charcoal’s intensity can enhance the depth and dimension of your work, a technique well-known in Black and White fine art.
6. Seal with Final Fixative
Once your drawing is complete, use a final fixative to seal it. This will protect your artwork from smudging and fading over time, ensuring it stays in pristine condition.
Happy charcoal drawing to you, creative soul!