So... you're a bit hesitant to try charcoal because it's a medium that's messy, hard to use and afraid of not being able to create the depth and dimension you desire in your artwork? We've all been there but what if I said that charcoal is one of the most fun and expressive mediums to get your hands dirty with and brings in that fun element of play?
In this blog article, I'll guide you through the exciting world of charcoal giving you the knowledge and tools to master it and create stunning expressive artwork in your own style. I'll cover the basics, from the different types of charcoal, how to use them and briefly discuss the techniques used by famous artists. Don't let the fear of using this beautiful medium hold you back. Let's get cracking, grab your charcoal sticks and join me as we dive into the world of the expressive charcoal medium.
First up, the types of charcoal that we will be discussing today are compressed and uncompressed. I will dive deeper into other types in future blogs to come but for this one, we are sticking to the basics.
Compressed charcoal
Compressed charcoal is a medium that offers a unique combination of control and expressiveness for artists. Made by compressing charcoal dust into stick form, it allows for precision and accuracy in your drawings while still providing the rich, dark tones that charcoal is known for.
One of the biggest advantages of compressed charcoal is its ability to create fine lines and details. The sticks are harder than traditional charcoal making them perfect for sketching and outlining, it's also great for creating texture and contrast in your drawings.
Compressed charcoal also offers the ability to create bold, expressive marks. The sticks can be sharpened to a fine point, allowing for loose and gestural strokes and can also be blended and smudged to create a range of shades and tones. It provides the artist with a level of control that is perfect for capturing intricate details, yet also has the ability to produce expressive and dynamic strokes. With its precision and range of effects, it can challenge you by pushing the boundaries of your artistic expression.
Uncompressed charcoal
Uncompressed charcoal is a versatile and expressive medium that can bring a new level of depth and emotion to your art. Made from charcoal dust held together with a binder, it is a favourite among artists for its ability to create large, loose drawings that are full of movement and energy.
One of the most significant advantages of uncompressed charcoal is its ease of manipulation. With its soft texture and smudgeable quality, it is the perfect medium for blending and shading, allowing you to create subtle gradations of tone and depth in your drawings.
But uncompressed charcoal is not just for the more detailed-oriented artists, it's also a great medium for those who want to create more free-spirited and expressive art. The loose, gestural lines created by the charcoal can create an emotional impact that is hard to achieve with other mediums. The charcoal dust, smudging and blending can create a dreamy and ethereal effect that can be used to great effect in abstract and landscape art.
Charcoal Pencils
Charcoal pencils are a medium that offers the perfect balance of precision and versatility for artists. Made by encasing charcoal in a wooden pencil, they allow for a level of control and accuracy that is hard to achieve with traditional charcoal.
One of the main advantages of charcoal pencils is their ability to create fine lines and details. The pencil form allows for a level of precision and control making it perfect for sketching and outlining. The range of hardness available in charcoal pencils also allows for a variety of line widths and densities.
In the image below, we can see these different types of charcoal, each with its own unique characteristics and advantages.
Uncompressed charcoal (UC) shows its soft texture and smudgeable quality allowing for blending and shading. It is perfect for creating subtle gradations of tone and depth in your drawings.
Compressed charcoal (C) shows its denseness and the ability to imagine creating art with fine lines and details, making it perfect for sketching, outlining, texture and depth in the shadows.
Charcoal pencils (H, S, M) these wooden pencils come in different levels of compression - hard, medium and soft. Each level offers a unique balance of precision and versatility that allows for a level of control and accuracy that is hard to achieve with traditional charcoal. These pencils are labelled as hard, medium and soft to differentiate the levels of softness and additionally, are harder than regular charcoal sticks, but can still be blended and smudged.
How to use them in a portrait drawing sequence?
When creating a portrait with charcoal, starting with an uncompressed charcoal stick is a great way to capture the overall shape, structure, and tonal contrast of the face. This allows you to easily sketch out the basic form and make any necessary adjustments with an eraser or kneadable eraser.
Using uncompressed charcoal first gives you the freedom to explore different techniques and decide whether to add more detail and texture with compressed charcoal or to maintain a mid-range value artwork. By using compressed charcoal, you can add in detail and texture to the facial features and shadows to create a contrasted value gradient. Keep in mind that compressed charcoal can be harder to remove highlights with an eraser.
For the final details and to achieve a smooth and polished look, use blending tools such as tissue, cotton balls, a soft paintbrush, or your fingers to blend and soften the charcoal. Remember that charcoal is a versatile medium that allows for experimentation and changes, so don't be afraid to try different techniques and find what works best for you. With practice and patience, you'll be able to create stunning portrait artwork and other types of artwork as well.
Famous artists who use charcoal and their techniques
Rembrandt
Rembrandt's charcoal drawings were known for their dramatic contrasts of light and dark, which he achieved by layering charcoal in various densities and intensities. He also used a technique called "lifting" in which he used a piece of bread or his fingers to remove charcoal from the paper to create highlights and details.
Rembrandt's charcoal drawings were not only used as preparatory studies for his paintings but also as finished works of art in their own right. He was able to masterfully convey the essence of his subjects, whether it was the mood, the emotions or the light effect, using charcoal. His charcoal drawings have been widely celebrated for their skilful handling of the medium and their ability to convey a sense of movement and emotion.
Old Man Seated (The Drunken Lot), ca. 1630 – 1633, charcoal on paper.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian Renaissance artist, was not only a master of painting but also a skilled draftsman. He used charcoal as a primary medium for many of his drawings and sketches, particularly in his early career. He was known for creating detailed studies of the human form, animals, plants, and landscapes, as well as for creating detailed sketches of his inventions and ideas.
One of the most striking characteristics of Leonardo's charcoal drawings is the level of realism and accuracy in them. He was able to capture the likeness of his subjects with great precision and attention to detail. He used charcoal to create tonal variations and gradations, which helped to convey a sense of volume and depth. He also used a technique called "sfumato", a technique that gradually blended colours and tones to create a soft and hazy effect, giving the illusion of depth and atmosphere.
LEONARDO DA VINCI
The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right, ca. 1510–13, black, red and white chalk on paper.
Frank Auerbach
Frank Auerbach is a painter known for his expressive and emotive use of charcoal in his artworks. He is considered one of the leading figurative painters of his generation and his work is characterized by a deep sense of emotion and psychological intensity.
Auerbach's charcoal drawings are known for their raw and gestural qualities, which he achieves by layering and building up the charcoal on the paper. He often works on the same painting for months or even years, building up layers of charcoal and then scraping and erasing parts to reveal the underlying layers. This technique gives his works a sense of depth and complexity. They are bold, feature sweeping lines and include broad areas of dark and light which in turn conveys that sense of movement and energy.
FRANK AUERBACH
Head of E.O.W, 1959–60, charcoal and watercolour on paper.
Examples of my own charcoal artwork
ALEX TROVATO
Hercules 2021,
charcoal on A1 size paper.
I used a mix of uncompressed charcoal and charcoal pencils to create a balanced tonal contrast. This is one of my best realism works and I had a lot of fun creating it. This piece was completed over 3 and a half months.
ALEX TROVATO
Tonal study 2022,
charcoal on A1 size paper.
This tonal study charcoal artwork was completed in one of my drawing classes at university. It plays with rich highlight and shadow placement that creates its 3D dimensional structure.
ALEX TROVATO 2020,
Expressive figure study,
charcoal on A5 size paper.
An experimental art piece using uncompressed and compressed charcoal. The uncompressed acts as the overall shading and the compressed for the richer, dense line work which gives separation to the two mediums.
ALEX TROVATO 2022, Reflective self-portrait, charcoal on A3 size paper.
An expressive play on the uncompressed and compressed narrative. The line work for both mediums represents energy and their connection to each other. By adding an element of texture and movement I erased specific areas which depict the essence of flow.
In summary
Charcoal is a medium that opens the doors to endless possibilities in the art world. With its versatility and expressiveness, it can bring a new level of depth and emotion to your art. Whether you prefer the precision and control of compressed charcoal, the loose and gestural strokes of uncompressed charcoal or the balance of precision and versatility of charcoal pencils, there is a charcoal medium for every artist.
As you've learned the basics, it's now time to let your creativity take the lead and see where it takes you. Experiment with different techniques and tools to find your unique style, and remember, charcoal is a forgiving medium, so don't be afraid to make mistakes, just erase and keep experimenting. Don't forget to share your drawings with me in the comments below. Happy drawing!
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