Artist and Craft Charcoal

Who this Charcoal is for..

Ideal for:

• Artists, both experienced and beginners
• Sketching and shading
• Mixed media work

Best used for:

• Tonal shading
• Background drawing 
• Expressive drawing

Charcoal is a simple, natural material that gives a deep, rich tone for drawing

My charcoal sticks and powder are made from local Willow and gives a strong depth of colour - ideal for sketches, outlines, detailed work or additives to other pigments

Sticks, Blocks or Powder?

different forms suit different ways of working

Sticks:

• Often used for sketching and traditional charcoal drawing
• Available in thin, medium and thick sizes
• Give a consistent, controlled line

Blocks

• Made from the same Willow
• Larger and bulkier than sticks
• Cover space more quickly
• Good for broader work and bolder shading

Powder

• Graded through a 150 micron sieve (so it is very fine)
• A little goes a long way ( or as my wife says - it goes everywhere - but that might just be me being clumsy!)
• Ideal for shadows and deeper shading
• Can be mixed into pigments for your own colours
• Also used in other crafts like ceramics
• 
  

In reality, all have their place

I use all of them depending upon the job

If I want to keep the final result - I always use a good quality fixative 

What is charcoal used for in Art?

Charcoal is used for sketching, shading and expressive drawing

Can charcoal be erased?

Yes - it can be lifted and adjusted easily compared to pencils

Do I need a fixative?

If you want preserve the work long term - yes.