There are amazing works of art that can be created with drawing with charcoal.Drawing with charcoal can take some time to get used to, but can help you master other art forms.It's as simple as choosing the materials, learning how to hold the charcoal, and creating a drawing.
Step 1: You can choose between hard and soft charcoal.
Similar to any other art medium, charcoal comes in many varieties.Each type of charcoal is categorized by whether it is hard or soft.softer charcoals are better for making deeper lines and cleaner edges.The hard charcoal is great for making darker lines.White is used to highlight compressed charcoal.Soft charcoals are great for creating smudges.These are the messiest charcoals to work with.If you are looking for a lighter look, use powdered charcoal.It is very messy.
Step 2: You can choose plain white, charcoal, or toned paper.
There is a wide variety of paper to choose from.It can be difficult to choose the right paper for your piece.Pick what works well for you by experimenting with a few different paper styles.Plain white paper, newsprint, bristol board, and illustration board are good choices for a drawing with smooth lines.Natural highlights can be created by combining the gray or white of the paper with the charcoal.The fine-ribbed texture of the papers helps create more brittle lines.You have to use both white and black charcoal.
Step 3: Purchase a kneaded eraser.
Kneaded pencils can erase chalk.Blending and white chalk can be used to create shadows and highlights in your drawing.
Step 4: If you are starting out, you should use an easel.
Any accidental contact you have with your charcoal drawing will cause it to smudge.If you want to keep your drawing vertical, you need to work at an area that is well-lit.It is difficult to see details in charcoal drawings since they are on the darker side, so you should always choose a well-lit area.
Step 5: Pick up a fixative to hold the charcoal in place.
Dust from the charcoal will be kept out when you fix your drawing.Fixatives are sprays that are applied to your work.There are two types of fixatives, final and workable.The workable spray is used by many artists to make small changes to their work after it has been fixed.You can't change your work after using the final fixative.If you want to use an alternative, be careful because it can cause the surface of your drawing to become slightly darker.
Step 6: You can get sharp edges by holding the charcoal like a pencil.
The best way to create lines and edges is to hold it like a pencil.You can make sure that only the point of the charcoal is coming in contact with the paper with this stroke.To get a dark line, apply more pressure to your stoke.
Step 7: The charcoal should be placed on its side.
The easiest way to do this is to hold the charcoal with your thumb and forefinger.This allows you to create bigger strokes.You can fill in larger areas with a sweeping motion.
Step 8: Allow your elbow and shoulder to lead your strokes.
Keeping your wrist away from the page is one of the hardest parts of learning to draw with charcoal.To give yourself a wider range of motion, try to use your shoulder and elbow instead of your wrist.
Step 9: Any geometric shapes can be sketched with a charcoal pencil.
Everything has geometric shapes.To begin drawing with charcoal, you can identify the basic shapes and outline them lightly in your drawing.Before moving on to individual details, make sure to sketch the entire figure or scene.If you are drawing a face, start with a circular or square shaped outline.To begin the drawing of a vase, use an oval.A basic sketch can be created with charcoal pencils.Use a line to mark high areas of contrast.Drawing the outlines of the eyes, mouth, and nose will give you a better idea of your subject.
Step 10: You can add defined edges to your drawing with compressed charcoal.
After you have drawn the main shapes, add the more realistic ones.To help define each area of your drawing, make sure to revisit your work and sharpen the edges.You can sharpen the outlines of your objects with a kneaded eraser.
Step 11: To add shadows, blend the charcoal with a stump.
You can use charcoal to create three-dimensional shapes that make your artwork more realistic.To blend the charcoal, use a rolled piece of paper or your finger.The areas around the face should be Smudged to add more depth.The texture of a flower can be created with smudging.
Step 12: Use a kneaded eraser to create a range of dark and light.
Kneaded erasers can act as a blending tool.If you have a lighter area in your subject, you should surround it with a dark background.If you want to highlight the darker areas, you can use your eraser.If you don't want to use charcoal, you can use chalk or a crayon.The crayons come in black and white.
Step 13: To make your drawing more realistic, shade it with a soft pencil.
Hatching is a great way to shade larger areas.You can use a variety of techniques to create realistic looking skin.
Step 14: To hold the charcoal in place, spray a fixative on your drawing.
Before using a fixative, you should be in an area that is well-ventilated.You can't hold the can more than a foot from your drawing.Put the fixative over your drawing and let it dry.Re-apply the fixative if you still see dust coming from your drawing.