Authored By Christy Olsen.
Charcoal is a dry drawing material used much in the same way as graphite, but it has a few advantages.Charcoal, like graphite, varies in hardness and is also available in pencils or powder. Shading may be produced by smudging the marks made using a stump (made with cotton), tortillion (made from rolled paper), or even a Kleenex.
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| Carla. Charcoal on cream-toned paper. 18x24. |
Advantages to Charcoal
Soft Edges
Charcoal is an excellent tool for getting those soft edges, atmospheric or sfumato (the Italian word for "to tone down" or "to evaporate like smoke") drawings like Leonardo da Vinci is known so well for.Produces Intense Blacks
Charcoal produces a wide range of values, so it can create highly realistic and sensitive drawings. Vine charcoal makes lighter values, whereas compressed charcoal can create super intense blacks.Work in Any Size
It is excellent for expressive drawing and can be used for more significant works. You just buy more giant chunks of charcoal.Inexpensive
Vine charcoal is lightweight and inexpensive.Less is More
It's hard to get stuck in details using charcoal because it has more of a blunt mark than the precision of a pencil. However, it can also be sharpened for finer details.Works Great on Textured Paper
When buying paper in the art store, look on the label for "charcoal paper" or feel the texture with your hand. If it has a textured surface called the "tooth" of the paper, it will work great with charcoal. The "tooth" allows the paper to hold the tiny particles of the charcoal so that it adheres to the surface better. Note that the amount of texture or "tooth" varies among brands, so you will have to experiment to find what you like. |
| Nitram Fusains HB Charcoal |
Nitram Fusains
This medium soft charcoal is the one most preferred for drawing and sketching. Nitram HB's superior hold is perfect for homogenizing tones and retaining tonal detail. Each package contains five batons, each measuring ¼" square × 6" long. (5 mm × 152 mm). Read more about it at Nitramcharcoal.com.Why I Like It?
I am a huge fan because it's easy to use, low maintenance, and low cost. It's natural, simple, has a wide range of values, and I can use my fingers as an eraser. I am picky about the type of charcoal that I use because I like to sketch with a sharp point.The only charcoal I have found on the market that is strong enough to hold a good sharp point like a pencil, and dusty sufficient for me to erase with my fingers is Nitram Académie Fusains HB (Medium). It's wonderful!
I sharpen a point using a flat piece of sandpaper, put the charcoal in a brass charcoal holder, and then use it just like a pencil plus, I get the same luscious effects and qualities that I love about this beautiful drawing medium.
