When you first start drawing, you’ll probably begin with a pencil, because that’s what’s considered basic. But when it comes to the world of art supplies, the possibilities are limitless.
And while you’re exploring and experimenting, you’re bound to come across charcoal, as it’s one of the most popular tools used by artists.
But a lot of budding artists may give up on charcoal because of how messy it gets and how complicated it seems. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The next time you use charcoal, use these tips to have a wonderful experience:
Tip No 1: Don’t Make All Lines Equal
Charcoal drawings can very easily look monotonous if the correct techniques aren’t used properly. This is something most beginners struggle with. The fact is that when working with charcoal, you have but just one tool that you need to draw, shade, and colour with. Using thick and thin lines in your work is an easy way to add technical and visual diversity to your piece.
Confused?
Well. Here’s how you can go about it.
The parts where the light hits, i.e. on top of the objects, you can use thin lines. And lines under the objects, i.e. in the shadows can be thicker. Try this tip to make your drawings look instantly livelier!
Tip No. 2: Keep Your Work Clean
Charcoal has a tendency to get everywhere, literally! This means that as a beginner you may find it challenging to keep the paper clean. To avoid unwanted smears and smudges on your paper, you need to be extremely cautious of where you’re putting your hands and arms.
Also, when you’re drawing you can try to put your pinky finger on the paper and lift the rest of the arm from the work to avoid smudging it. Alternatively, you also place an extra sheet of paper between your drawing and your arm.
Moreover, try and use gloves or keep washing your hands. While working, keep everything you’ll need close by and avoid touching everything unnecessarily.
Tip No. 3: Erasers and Charcoal Are Besties; Treat Them as Such
Though charcoal is inconvenient in the way it moves around so easily and gets everywhere, the great thing is that you’d be able to erase it most of the time.
You can actually do cool things with an eraser on your charcoal drawing. You can create different effects. For instance, by erasing a part you can depict light hitting at that point. Or you can also use it for created shaded effects.
Tip No. 4: Try Out Charcoal Pencils
Charcoal can get pretty dark, so it’s advised to use charcoal pencils in an attempt to keep your drawing light, in case you want to make changes later.
Besides pencils, there are also charcoal chunks and sticks available. It’s best to choose a tool based on your comfort level and experience. As a beginner, you can use the charcoal pencil and slowly moved to compressed charcoal later on.
Also, if you’re new to drawing tools and equipment, and are not sure where to buy professional art supplies, check out the collection at our arts and crafts online store.
Call today to place an order!
