Charcoal has been a staple drawing medium for centuries, renowned for its rich tonal range, deep black tones and smooth mark-making capabilities. This simple tool can be used to create intricate details as well as lush shades that make works dynamic and expressive. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a beginner keen to explore different media, the versatility of charcoal can open up new creative possibilities.
How is charcoal made?
Drawing charcoal is made by pyrolysis, a process in which wood is slowly heated in an oxygen-depleted environment. The type of wood used and the degree of combustion influence the final product. In the case of vine or willow charcoal, thin grape or willow branches are carefully charred to create a light and porous material that produces soft and delicate marks. Compressed charcoal, on the other hand, is made by grinding the charcoal into a fine powder and mixing it with a binder such as gum or wax. This mixture is then shaped into sticks or pencils, resulting in a denser, more intense charcoal that is ideal for making bolder, more controlled marks. The precision of the process ensures that artists have the right charcoal for a wide range of techniques and effects.
Different forms of charcoal
Charcoal is available in a variety of forms, each offering unique characteristics to meet different artistic needs. Here are the most common types:
- Vine and willow charcoal, or natural charcoal: Grapevine and willow charcoal is soft, light and delicate, produced by burning grape or willow branches. They are ideal for free, expressive drawings and sketches. They are also popular for figure drawing, where quick gestures are important.
- Compressed charcoal: Compressed charcoal is made from powdered charcoal mixed with a binder (usually gum or wax), resulting in a denser, firmer form. Compressed charcoal is available in different hardnesses (soft, medium, hard) and gives a deep, intense black colour. This type is preferred for more detailed work and for creating dramatic contrasts. Its bold lines are harder to erase than natural charcoal, making it more suitable for finishing work.
- Charcoal pencils: Charcoal pencils combine pencil precision with charcoal texture and richness. Wood-encased pencils smear less and are easier to control, making them ideal for fine detail. Charcoal pencils are perfect for achieving a controlled and fine finish, allowing detailed line work and shading. Artists often use them for portrait or architectural drawing, where precision is key.
- Charcoal powder: This is the finest form of charcoal, ground into a soft powder. It is typically used to quickly coat and blend large surfaces. Artists use fingers, cloth or brushes to apply powdered charcoal to create smooth tonal gradations, atmosphere and depth in their work.
- Coloured charcoal: Coloured drawing charcoal, such as Derwent Tinted Charcoal, combines the rich tones and textures of traditional charcoal with subtle colour pigments. This allows artists to add a bit of tonality to their charcoal drawings, while maintaining the soft, diffused finish that charcoal has. It is the ideal tool for those who wish to combine the expressiveness of classic charcoal technique with contemporary colour schemes.
Techniques and use of charcoal
One of the reasons why coal is still a popular technique is its adaptability. Here are some of the ways artists use charcoal:
- Blending and mixing: Artists often use blending stumps, fingers or cotton buds to soften lines and create transitions between tones. The technique is particularly effective in portraiture and still life, where subtle changes in light and shadow are especially important.
- Expressive line work: The dynamic range of charcoal allows artists to create bold, dramatic lines as well as delicate, wispy lines. The light movement of charcoal on paper encourages loose, spontaneous mark-making, ideal for capturing movement in quick sketches or sketching.
- Erasing charcoal to highlight it: One of the most exciting properties of charcoal is its erasability. Artists use erasers often not only to fix mistakes but also as a tool to highlight and make use of negative space. Kneadable erasers are particularly useful for removing charcoal because they allow you to do it carefully without smudging the work.
- Layers and textures: Charcoal can be applied using layers, allowing for rich textures and depth. Artists can use different types of charcoal to add variety to their work – perhaps starting with lighter willow charcoal before adding darker tones with pressed charcoal. Working in layers in this way adds complexity and richness to the work.
Essential tools for using charcoal
When drawing with charcoal, a number of tools are used to achieve better control and detail, allowing the versatility of charcoal to be fully exploited. Important accessories are:
- Scattering tool: Blending tools can be used to carefuly blend charcoal, creating smooth transitions ans shades. Scattering tools include blending stumps, cotton or velvet cloths, but also, for example, paper towels, cotton buds and fingers.
- Kneadable eraser: This is a special soft eraser that can be shaped as needed to delicately remove the charcoal, adding highlights and details to the drawing. A simple vinyl eraser or electric eraser can also be used to erase the charcoal to create stronger details.
- Charcoal and pastel brush: Made from extra soft pony hair, the brushes allow you to move the charcoal across the drawing surface, giving a variety of textures and effects and making transitions extra smooth.
- Fixative: A fixative is a sprayable solution used to fix the finished product or between different layers during the process to prevent the charcoal from smearing or spreading.
- A sheet of paper: A simple sheet of paper helps to protect the drawing in hand so that the charcoal lines do not get smeared during the process. The covering paper helps to protect the finished charcoal drawing from unintentional changes and smudges.
- Masking tape: The use of masking tape along the edges of the paper helps to give the finished charcoal drawing a beautiful finish with clean and clear paper edges.
Challenges of working with charcoal
Charcoal is fragile and can be easily smudged when working with it. Because of its loose nature, it can be difficult to achieve accuracy with traditional charcoal. This is where charcoal pencils come to the rescue, offering better control over the charcoal line. Many artists fix their drawings at various stages with a spray-on fixative and add a couple of layers at the end to protect the finished work. However, whatever the fixative, the finished work should be handled with care and protected, for example, by keeping it in a folder and covered with a plain sheet of paper to prevent unintended alterations.
Summary
Charcoal is an exciting and versatile medium that continues to be a favourite with artists of all skill levels. From its prehistoric beginnings to its modern uses, charcoal has proven itself as a medium for both quick sketches and finished masterpieces. Whether exploring broad, expressive lines or fine, intricate detail, charcoal provides a dynamic way to bring your artistic vision to life.