Charcoal Tips By Wendy Harris
Tips For Better Charcoal Techniques – By Wendy Harris
All About Charcoal:
Some of you may enjoy drawing with charcoal. Many of you would be aware that there are basically two kinds of drawing charcoal:
1) Willow charcoal which is very light in colour and very easily rubbed of. Great for basic sketching!
2) Compressed charcoal which is harder and darker. Great for achieving line and tonal variations!
Three tips when using charcoal:
1. To achieve a great depth in tonal variation use a blender to spread the charcoal….not your fingers. These are purchased in any art supply shop and allow greater control of blending.
2. Use an eraser to highlight areas and also use a scrubbing technique with the corner to add texture.
3. Use a fine brush and turpentine and apply to areas to achieve a different effect. The turpentine changes the charcoal into an ink which allows for more tone and even line work.
These hints are for you to experiment with and hopefully find another plateau to your charcoal drawings. So Relax, experiment and enjoy!
The compressed charcoal drawing by Kym Harris below, displays a combination of techniques as shown in closeup. Line variation showing dark and light by applying pressure. Blending using a blender or paper stump and overall depth of areas of black to grey again using varying amounts of pressure. Note: some areas have been left white to show highlights and these can be accentuated more by using the eraser.
Keep practicing and you’ll start to get the hang of it. Good artists are always learning from others so look at the work of others for inspiration!
If you want to buy customised artwork then contact Wendy Harris. Each painting costs from 200USD which includes Freight charges from Australia to Kenya. Check Wendy’s Gallery & contact her on the email address provided below to find out more!
Gallery
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About The Artist Wendy Harris:
Spent my early years growing up in Kenya before moving to Australia.
I completed my Art training at the South Australian School of Art and my teaching diploma. Whilst teaching I completed 3 degrees one being a Masters. This allowed me to teach and rise through the ranks as Head of Department, Art Examiner and Deputy Head.
I love teaching and watching students express themselves knowledgeably through Art. I have taught in Australia, Papua New Guinea and United Arab Emirates.
Now retired back in Australia I now have the time to paint and hence my desire to send my work abroad.
Email Wendy: [email protected]
