Drawing has traditionally been a part of the artistic process. From art students to professionals, the unique characteristics of charcoal have been appreciated for centuries. Many an artist used this medium for producing preparatory drawings. Contemporary charcoal artists, however, are using this medium in different ways and elevating this art form to new heights.
Every type of genre and style is covered by these drawings. Some are more realistic in nature such as portraits, wildlife and botanical drawings. However, even those that are realistic often have interesting juxtapositions of concepts or objects. There are those that are more impressionist in nature and even some with more surreal qualities.
The basic tools used are mostly the same. Choosing the right paper to work on is important as it should have the right tooth to hold the particles of material. A thick, grainy paper is often preferred for this reason. Sticks of charcoal are made from a slow burning of willow twigs to turn the wood into carbon. A version which is harder to spread and erase but produces darker marks is the compressed form. This is powdered and mixed with gum to bind it. A powder may be used to cover large areas of a drawing. Kneaded erasers are used to lift material off the surface and a blending stamp helps to blend and smear material.
Canvas, paints, stretchers and turpentine are not needed. Despite the simplicity of the materials, they are very versatile. Shading, texture and different tones can be produced with experience. After all, this is how artists using any kind of media look at the world and seek to translate it.
Beauty is often associated with color but artists using only black and white discover a certain magic that comes from simply working with shadows, mid-tones and highlights. An experienced artist is able to create levels of gradation just by varying the pressure of the fingers or by other means such as erasing, blending or smearing. A really skilled hand not only produces subtle shades and tones but captures both detail and emotions in drawings.
The drawings created are impermanent and have to be sprayed with a fixative once they have been completed. There are many different types of fixatives available today. They are usually made of a resin dissolved in alcohol.
These artists keep pushing boundaries and thinking about new ways to express themselves. There is one such artist who is also a dancer and creates large scale drawings, mapping out human body movements. Another creates short animated films by shooting frame by frame showing the evolution of his drawings and creating narrative sequences.
There are a vast range of such drawings available for purchase online. This medium has been used for centuries and will probably be used for centuries to come. It will always have a place in the art world due to the unique way light and dark can be expressed and subtle shades, tones and emotions can be expressed. The fact that artists are increasingly stretching the limits of this medium is exciting and the wide range of drawings in all sorts of genres means that there is something to suit every budget and preference.
Every type of genre and style is covered by these drawings. Some are more realistic in nature such as portraits, wildlife and botanical drawings. However, even those that are realistic often have interesting juxtapositions of concepts or objects. There are those that are more impressionist in nature and even some with more surreal qualities.
The basic tools used are mostly the same. Choosing the right paper to work on is important as it should have the right tooth to hold the particles of material. A thick, grainy paper is often preferred for this reason. Sticks of charcoal are made from a slow burning of willow twigs to turn the wood into carbon. A version which is harder to spread and erase but produces darker marks is the compressed form. This is powdered and mixed with gum to bind it. A powder may be used to cover large areas of a drawing. Kneaded erasers are used to lift material off the surface and a blending stamp helps to blend and smear material.
Canvas, paints, stretchers and turpentine are not needed. Despite the simplicity of the materials, they are very versatile. Shading, texture and different tones can be produced with experience. After all, this is how artists using any kind of media look at the world and seek to translate it.
Beauty is often associated with color but artists using only black and white discover a certain magic that comes from simply working with shadows, mid-tones and highlights. An experienced artist is able to create levels of gradation just by varying the pressure of the fingers or by other means such as erasing, blending or smearing. A really skilled hand not only produces subtle shades and tones but captures both detail and emotions in drawings.
The drawings created are impermanent and have to be sprayed with a fixative once they have been completed. There are many different types of fixatives available today. They are usually made of a resin dissolved in alcohol.
These artists keep pushing boundaries and thinking about new ways to express themselves. There is one such artist who is also a dancer and creates large scale drawings, mapping out human body movements. Another creates short animated films by shooting frame by frame showing the evolution of his drawings and creating narrative sequences.
There are a vast range of such drawings available for purchase online. This medium has been used for centuries and will probably be used for centuries to come. It will always have a place in the art world due to the unique way light and dark can be expressed and subtle shades, tones and emotions can be expressed. The fact that artists are increasingly stretching the limits of this medium is exciting and the wide range of drawings in all sorts of genres means that there is something to suit every budget and preference.
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