How to Paint With Charcoal

Charcoal is the softest and darkest medium for drawing.

Charcoal is a drawing medium made from vine and willow that has been charred for use as a crayon. When the charred material is made into a powder, it has very poor paint pigment qualities.



The crayon quality of charcoal is lightweight and renders deep, soft, rich gray-black color. As a drawing medium, it works well for shading by smudging. It is versatile, capable of producing fine lines and rich areas of tone. The medium alone can be useful for drawing and sketching. Working with charcoal as a painting medium with acrylics adds another unique dimension to the artist's work.

Things You'll Need

• Charcoal crayons
• 300 lb. cold press watercolor paper
• Putty eraser
• Basic color paints: Raw raw sienna, burnt sienna, sap green, talens yellow, ultramarine blue, Rembrandt blue, cadmium red, carmine, lemon yellow and titanium white
• Plastic palette
• Brush No.6 flat bristle
• Spray bottle of water
• Towels and rags

Instructions

1. 

   Charcoal and acrylics together can create dramatic contrast.

   Sketch your composition out lightly on the watercolor paper. Work with the acrylic paint as a wash by mixing water with the paint. Spray the watercolor paper with a light spray of water. Keep the paint thin so that the charcoal can be drawn over the painting.

2. Use the charcoal to draw over and into the paint, gradually building up definition and contrast. Continue to work back and forth between paint and charcoal. The purpose of working with the two mediums together is to develop both line and color at the same time. Spray the watercolor with a light mist spray and let it dry; this will create a granular texture. Come back with the charcoal to continue rendering details.

3. Add highlights and render with the side of the charcoal to build in dark shadows. Take the side of the charcoal and press down on the paper creating wide soft dark areas for shadows. Working back and forth between the brightest and darkest areas will build contrast and interest.

References

• "Complete Guide to Materials and Techniques for Drawing and Painting"; David Sammiguel; 2008
• "Art from Intuition: Overcoming Your Fears and Obstacles to Making Art"; Dean Nimmer and Gregory Amenoff; 2008
• "The Encyclopedia of Acrylic Techniques"; Hazel Harrison; 1994