Charcoals are the primary material used in charcoal drawings. Pure charcoals are not toxic but for some latest types of charcoal products contain toxic ingredients. It is advisable to read the labels before buying one.
These are the most common types of charcoal used in painting:
- Vine charcoal – Usually made by burning willow, Linden or other sticks of wood and turned into different consistencies such as soft, medium or hard. For Japanese Sumi-e, charcoals that are made of bamboo sticks are usually used.
- Compressed charcoal – Usually used for charcoal pencils, charcoal is combined with gum binder that is compressed into square or round sticks. The hardness of the charcoal will depend on the quantity of the binder.
- Powdered charcoal – This type of Charcoal usually used in toning a large portion of the drawing surface. When drawing over these toned areas of the drawing surface, the image will appear darker. However, the artist can still completely erase the entire drawing area or just lighten it up depending on his need.
You can buy on-line for charcoal sticks and pencils that you can use in your charcoal painting and drawings. Here are some of the recommended charcoal pencils and sticks which you can use in your charcoal painting:
- Winsor & Newton Willow Charcoal – This charcoal provides beautiful and exceptional gray shades and can be erased easily but it will cost you a lot money.
- Wolff’s Carbon Pencil – This type of pencil is using a combination of graphite and charcoal, which is ideal for sketchbooks because they are cleaner when used and is not easily smudged like charcoals. These pencils deliver smooth and attractive velvety blacks that are ideal for aspiring artists.
- Conte Compressed Charcoal – Usually used by several charcoal artists. This type of charcoal gives dramatic and handy medium for figure drawings. This type of charcoal adheres well to the drawing surface so it is difficult to erase depending on the type of paper.
- Coates Premium Artist Willow Charcoal – Manufactured by Coates that provides excellent quality and reliable charcoal products. Their range of products is cheap and artists can choose on the wide range of thickness from 4mm to 20mm.
- The General’s Charcoal Pencils – This pencil is a usual timber pencil, which is combined with charcoal blend cores. This type of pencil usually blends with paper stub well but can be erased easily as well. Artists prefer the 4B and 6B than using the 2B pencils because 2B pencils are quite hard and have the tendency to scratch.
Recommended Websites:
- http://www.artifolk.co.uk – Based in the United Kingdom, this company offers a wide variety of charcoal products at very competitive prices.
- http://www.paletteworld.com – Supplier of painting and artists materials in the United Kingdom, Ireland and countries around Europe. They offer extensive range of charcoal products.
- http://www.reuels.com – The Company was established in 1932 with the name Photo blue. The website was put up in 1994 and has been steadily growing ever since. They offer one of the widest selections of charcoal pencils and sticks.