Using Charcoal

After much experimentation with charcoal, I found it difficult to stop, mostly because it seems to have such great versatility. It seems to me that the number of effects achievable is almost endless and great depth of tone and atmosphere can appear very easily and quickly. Almost any thickness of line is possible depending on the size of the stick, the angle and pressure applied.

Using a piece lengthways (either full or broken) it was good for rapid, straight or wavy lines.

Straight lines could be useful for many buildings and angular objects, poles, stalks and conifer trees. If moved from side to side using straight or wavy lines the look of calm, rippling or choppy water can be brought about. The same method could also be used to emulate hair, rays of light or windy weather, rain and blizzards, an approaching storm and heavy cloud cover.

Using the side at a 90° angle to the previous method the thickest lines can be created – ideal for covering a large area quickly with tone and/or texture i.e. water, sky, rocks, rough surfaces, tree trunks etc.

When using a piece on the flat end, medium or thick lines appear, and if twisted or twiddled around the lines become more uneven and expressive, similar to those of a bamboo or dip pen and ink.

Using the end of a stick on the side I could get quite thin lines. The thin stick looks similar to charcoal pencil, except unlike pencil, it creates a much darker and more dramatic looking line if more pressure is applied. At the other extreme, light wispy looking lines are very little effort to produce.

Charcoal’s speed of coverage and its ability to easily create mood and atmosphere to almost anything, is second to none - in a format large or small. It would lend itself well to sketching many subjects (large or small) when out and about or when time is short  – particularly landscape sketches. It is definitely ideal for large expansive drawing.

The only drawback I find is its inherent messiness, but this is also part of its attraction because this makes it so easy to produce fascinating effects by erasing or manipulating with any eraser, fingers or cloth.