Tips for using charcoal

Hey guys its been a long time since I've blogged and to anyone who religiously reads this -if any- I apologize. So previously I blogged about how to use graphite effectively. This time it will be about charcoal.

There are 4 main types of charcoal.
Compressed
Willow
Pencil
White

Compressed


Generally comes in Soft, Medium and Hard. The softer sticks come out darker because more carbon is loaded onto the paper. These are great for covering large areas quickly, but smudge easily and less control is the result. Because the coverage is even it is easier to erase.

Willow
This is a useless and unfavourable charcoal so I can not be bothered talking about it.

Charcoal Pencil


My personal favourite because of the control it offers. They can be sharpened just like normal pencils. They are great for crisper lines and also come in soft, medium and hard. They can be smudged using a smudge stick and blended out using pressure to create a gradient.

White Charcoal

They aren't actually charcoal at all. Charcoal is mostly carbon and these are made from calcium carbonate, which is chalk! These are good for eye whites and highlighting but only use in larger scales if the paper is a darker colour. For example white charcoal looks great on black paper.

Eraser Putty


I actually have no idea what it is made from, but it comes in a range of colours, and the picture shows how it can gradually pickup charcoal particles, so it's best to replace it every so often. If they dry out they can become shitty and leave a residue on the paper which prevents more charcoal from sticking to the paper. It can be used for graphite but then again most people have a regular eraser anyway.

~Tips~

-Keep one hand clean and one dirty, so you can move the paper without excess smudging
-If you are right handed work from the left top corner to avoid smudging and if you are left handed work from the right top corner.
-Use a pencil for fine lines and corners
-Refrain from using white charcoal to highlight, the putty eraser is a better option
-Always have a smudge stick when using charcoal for controlled blending
-Take off any rings or bracelets before drawing as they may indent the paper permanently leaving it white.
-Wash and dry hands periodically


Have a good one guys! xo