There are various types and uses of charcoal as an art medium, but the commonly used types are: Compressed, Vine, and Pencil. Charcoal comes in various shapes and forms. With trial and error, you can figure out which types you most enjoy working with and which are most suitable for the various components of your artwork. If you’re working on a small scale then the precision tip of a pencil is more suitable for rendering small details. Compare and contrast the contours and values of your subject to those in your drawing. Do all of your blending using line and avoid smudging. Charcoal pencils are made from compressed charcoal leads in a wooden casing. This makes them much cleaner to work with and easier to hold. Plus, the smaller nibs allow artists to create fine details. Pencils will cause little to no dust, making them much easier and safer to work with.

The properties of the charcoal produced depend on the material charred. The charring temperature is also important. Charcoal contains varying amounts of hydrogen and oxygen as well as ash and other impurities that, together with the structure, determine the properties. The approximate composition of charcoal for gunpowders is sometimes empirically described as C 7H 4O. [ citation needed] To obtain a coal with high purity, source material should be free of non-volatile compounds. To create dark areas within your composition aim to use a soft ‘4B’ or ‘6B’ compressed charcoal with a slightly heavier pressure on the paper, but don’t go too dark too soon. Working over your drawing in layers will also darken your composition where it is needed, this will also help to control the degrees of value you are creating. Aim to work light to dark in stages. Creating texture with charcoal Apply charcoal powder with a brush or paper stump. Soft brushes will work better for powder application. The powder format provides artists with a unique way to apply charcoal to the surface, it means artists can experiment and use a variety of textural effects. For example, get a soft brush and blend the charcoal powder into the paper, creating seamless transitions between light and shadow. This is especially useful for portrait artists who want to create the impression of smooth skin tones. Use a kneaded eraser to lift charcoal from the paper for subtle highlights. Nitram powdered charcoalSet up your camera centered in the middle of your drawing, at an equal distance from left to right and top to bottom.

It is much messier than Graphite to work with. Even if you use Charcoal pencils you will still find that they generate more dust than graphite. Yarrow, David (March 2015). "Biochar: Helping Everything from Soil Fertility to Odor Reduction". Acres U.S.A. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019 . Retrieved 7 March 2019. Blending charcoal to create a gradient or to create a softer look can be achieved by using paper stumps or Tortillions. A soft fabric rag, or a soft paper towel can also be used. Small areas within a drawing can be blended by using the tip of your finger or a cotton bud. As you build up your confidence using graphite and charcoal separately, you could move onto combining them both in a drawing. Using both materials alongside each other can create an interesting contrast between matte and reflective areas. Using a blending stump. Blending stumps and brushes are important tools for charcoal drawings. Blending stumps help you do everything from softening your drawing in specific places to creating expressive strokes that encapsulate your style—while also adding detail to your drawing by highlighting how the objects in it are lit.It may be necessary to let your drawing dry in between layers. Don't rush adding layers, as you may end up with a mess as different value areas pool into one another. Water can be brushed over the charcoal to create a direct mark or sprayed onto your charcoal drawing to create more of an organic texture. Once your charcoal is dampened, it is then harder to erase but you can still work into it and on top of it whilst wet or dry. Applying water will darken the charcoal considerably but can provide very effective finishes. Blending and creating tonal gradation with charcoal Hold the piece of charcoal in a way that allows it to move freely in the direction of your strokes. Consider using charcoal pencils and your kneaded eraser to sharpen some of your edges. I recommend an HB charcoal pencil for most of your purposes. It should blend with the medium softness of the vine charcoal. For your ink drawing, I want you to draw a still life, interior, or landscape. You must work from life, not a photograph. Whatever your subject, make sure you are working under proper lighting conditions, and that your subject will remain stable while you are working.