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BLOG HOME (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/) DRAWING BLOG (/BLOG/DRAWING) INTRODUCTION TO

DRAWING WITH CHARCOAL

Introduction to Drawing With Charcoal

Posted by Paul Heaston (http://www.craftsy.com/blog/author/paul/) // AUG 26, 2013

3.1K SHARES
When it comes to black and white drawing (http://www.craftsy.com/drawing?
_ct=rbew&_ctp=29193), no other medium is as rich and satisfying as charcoal.
The velvety darks and the ability to create loose, gestural marks are what make
charcoal so unique.

Lets take a look at the basics of drawing with charcoal.

These are a few of the basic materials you need to get started with drawing in
charcoal.

Vine charcoal (center) This is an actual piece of charred willow, and comes in several
softness/darkness varieties. Easily erasable.

Compressed charcoal These usually come in bar form and are generally much darker than
vine charcoal, though they also come in several varieties of softness/darkness. Not easily
erased.
Charcoal pencils (/supplies/art-supplies?fopts=pens-markers-pencils_charcoal-
pencils&_ct=rbew&_ctp=29193) This is compressed charcoal in pencil form. Its a little
less messy, and can be sharpened to a fine point.

Erasers While I prefer white vinyl erasers, others often choose kneaded erasers
(/blog/2014/11/how-to-use-a-kneaded-eraser/?_ct=rbew&_ctp=29193) because of the lack
of debris. I also like pen-shaped erasers for finer control.

Pencils sharpener A lot of charcoal pencils are wider than typical drawing pencils, so
finding a sharpener with a wider hole is desirable.

Paper stumps These are great for softening and blending charcoal, and for evening out
your values.

Chamois This soft leather square can also soften value fields, and is good for lightening
areas of charcoal that have become too dark.

Expert Charcoal Drawing Tips

Learn essential charcoal drawing techniques like shading and shaping as

you draw lifelike portraits. Its all in this free mini video class.

Enroll FREE Now

(/class/draw-better-portraits-capturing-likeness/4890?_ct=rbew&_ctp=29193)

Now, follow this step-by-step tutorial and try drawing with charcoal
yourself!

Step 1:
When you start a charcoal drawing (/blog/2015/02/charcoal-sketching/?
_ct=rbew&_ctp=29193), its best to work vertically on an easel or drawing horse.
This allows the charcoal dust to fall away, and lets you see the whole drawing
without any distortion or foreshortening like you might see if working on a flat
surface.

Make sure to secure your paper or sketchpad to a rigid surface before you begin,
such as a drawing board with clips, or you will be spending a lot of time holding
your drawing still with one hand while drawing with the other.
Step 2:
Lay out the basic shapes with a stick of vine charcoal. Because it can be erased
easily, its great for rough sketching before more permanent marks are made. I like
to start with quick, gestural lines that can be reshaped and refined later.
Step 3:
With the edge of your compressed charcoal, start laying in values. Pay attention to
where the light source is in your source image or subject. Dont get too dark just
yet!
Step 4:
Sometimes the strokes and marks of compressed charcoal are desirable, and
sometimes they arent. With your paper stump, you can start smoothing and
blending some of your values to get more even tones, as well as extend your
marks a bit further without directly applying charcoal.
Step 5:
Continue applying charcoal and blending/smoothing with the paper stump as
you go. Notice how addressing the negative space around the figure helps
establish the highlights along her back and hips.
Tip: Has anything gotten too dark? You can remove some of that value and
lighten it up a bit with your chamois, which wont take away most of it, like an
eraser would.

Step 6:
Pull back any areas that have gotten too dark with the chamois, or use it to blend
and smooth the background values. Here you can see the values in the legs and
buttocks are lighter than in Step 5.
Tip: To create crisp, hard-lined highlights and value shapes, use quick, assertive
strokes with your eraser. Be careful not to keep working over the area or it could
smudge!
Step 7:
Dont overwork! Use your best judgment to determine when your drawing is
finished. One of the best qualities of charcoal is how it allows you to leave some
parts of a drawing unrefined and sketchy while developing other areas more fully.
Think about where youd like to keep your drawing loose and gestural, and where
you want it more finished.
Now, go out and explore the possibilities of charcoal drawing! Just remember to
wash your hands afterwards. It can get a bit messy!

Expert Charcoal Drawing Tips

Learn essential charcoal drawing techniques like shading and shaping as

you draw lifelike portraits. Its all in this free mini video class.

Enroll FREE Now

(/class/draw-better-portraits-capturing-likeness/4890?_ct=rbew&_ctp=29193)
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16 Comments

Cristina Niz
JAN 22, 2014 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-518402)

Wonderful!

Reply

Cristina Niz
FEB 3, 2014 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-518486)

Wonderful!

Reply

Gautama Hening
SEP 25, 2014 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-519648)
I want to try it myself: to draw with charcoal.

Reply

Gautama Hening
OCT 10, 2014 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-519928)

I want to try it myself: to draw with charcoal.

Reply

Ryan Travis
OCT 15, 2014 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-519998)

Thank you

Reply

Paige Turley
JAN 30, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-522658)

I like this I dont have all the things but I tried and it turned out pretty well . I love to place a
light somewhere on the paper and start drawing letters and using my shading and blending
skills I made a really nice affect . I love playing with my pieces of charcoal

Reply

Iphangishor
FEB 17, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-525292)
i love this but i want to know how that paper stump is made because if cant find it in my
area

Reply

luggauge lock
FEB 26, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-526413)

So good that :))

Reply

sarat. Chandra bajaj

FEB 28, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-526680)

Good work and good technique

I am impressed..

An art lover

Reply

Ben Bortier
APR 21, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-538080)

I thank God for this wonderful program because, people with basic knowledge can learn
even better things here.

Reply

Debbie
MAY 19, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-546302)
I have one that is getting old. How do you protect it? How expensive is it to get it
protected?

Reply

...M...
JUN 10, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-549074)

You can buy both workable fixative, or permanent fixative if youre completely finished
working on it. All drawing fixatives should already have a matte finish so that the texture
of your work stays intact.You can get a can (aerosol) online, in any art supply store or a
craft store, like Michaels- in the art supply/drawing painting section of the store. It will
prevent fading, smudges, and any yellowing of the paper. I think acid free paper, like
Strathmore, doesnt yellow over time. Hope that helps M

Reply

...M...
JUN 10, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-549075)

Fixative usually cost between 6-9$ you can get it online at dickblick.com (hmm that
sounds dirty-swear its not tho)for $5.90.

Reply

Debb Womack
MAY 20, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-546373)

I use tiny and small paintbrushes, a shaper for clay work,erasers that fit atop a pencil, a
pencil that has an eraser instead of graphite, sandpaper and charcoal pencils. For brands I
use Generals, Derwent, Caran DAche, Gretacolor, Conte and Downer Raley. The
variations of say the softs allows for multiple degrees of light shades. I also use a
compressed 3 stick of hard charcoal that I rub on to the sandpaper. I then paint the
charcoal on to a light drawing from the sandpaper. I use the shaper and erasers to remove
some of the charcoal paint.
 Reply

gail lankshear
MAY 26, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-547042)

wow very informative.

Reply

nick
JAN 20, 2016 (HTTP://WWW.CRAFTSY.COM/BLOG/2013/08/INTRODUCTION-TO-
DRAWING-WITH-CHARCOAL/#COMMENT-646327)

I have written about charcoal techniques here, you may find it interesting
http://whatischarcoal.com/creative-with-charcoal/drawing-with-charcoal/
(http://whatischarcoal.com/creative-with-charcoal/drawing-with-charcoal/)

Reply

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