Charcoal Art

Inspiration & Exploration

Charcoal has been used by artists for thousands of years — and it's still one of the most exciting drawing tools you can pick up. Start by watching videos on the **Proko** YouTube channel, especially his series on figure drawing fundamentals. Browse the r/learnart subreddit to see how other beginners share their first charcoal attempts. Visit a local art store (Utah Art Supply in Salt Lake City is a great option) and just hold different charcoal sticks — feel the difference between vine charcoal and compressed charcoal. Search Pinterest for "expressive charcoal portraits" and "landscape charcoal drawings" to build a mood board of styles that excite you. You're ready for the next step when you can name two charcoal artists whose work you find inspiring and describe what you like about each one.

Tools & Techniques

Charcoal comes in two main forms: vine charcoal (light, erasable, great for sketching) and compressed charcoal (darker, richer, harder to erase). Watch the **Draw Mix Paint** YouTube channel for a clear comparison. Learn three key techniques: hatching (parallel lines to build shadow), blending (smearing with your finger or a tortillon), and lifting (using a kneaded eraser to pull out highlights). Practice each technique on newsprint — cheap paper is perfect for learning. The **Ctrl+Paint** website has free exercises on value (light vs. dark) that translate directly to charcoal work. Set up your workspace near a window for natural light, and keep a damp cloth nearby to clean your hands. You're ready for the next step when you can demonstrate hatching, blending, and lifting on a single practice sheet.

First Creations

Grab your vine charcoal and a sheet of drawing paper. Start with a simple still life — an apple, a coffee mug, anything with clear light and shadow. Don't worry about making it perfect. Block in the dark areas first with the side of your charcoal stick, then use your finger to blend shadows smooth. Use a kneaded eraser to lift the brightest highlights. Try the same setup twice: once with vine charcoal, once with compressed charcoal. Notice how differently they feel and how dark they can get. Watch **Alphonso Dunn's** YouTube tutorial on still-life charcoal drawing for guidance on proportion and shading. Post your attempts to the **Artist Corner** Discord server for friendly feedback. You're ready for the next step when you've completed two still-life drawings and can see distinct light, midtone, and shadow areas in each.

Style Development

Now you get to develop your own artistic voice. Try three different subject types — a portrait (face or hands), an outdoor Utah landscape (the Wasatch Mountains make great dramatic subjects), and an abstract composition. For each one, experiment with your mark-making: try using the charcoal on its side for broad strokes, or its tip for sharp lines. Watch **Marc Taro Holmes** on YouTube for "urban sketching" energy applied to charcoal. Explore fixative spray to preserve work in progress. Compare your three drawings — which feels most like "you"? Start a simple sketchbook journal where you note what worked and what felt awkward. Join the **r/charcoal** subreddit to see how other artists develop their style. You're ready for the next step when you can look at your three pieces and identify which techniques you naturally reach for.

Refine Your Craft

Push your craft deeper by studying one master and applying their approach. Choose an artist — Käthe Kollwitz, William Kentridge, or Bryan Larsen (a Utah-based figurative artist) — and spend a week copying one of their charcoal works as closely as you can. This is called a "master study" and it's how professionals level up. Pay close attention to how they build contrast and where they leave areas intentionally loose. Use **Smarthistory.org** (free) to read about charcoal's role in art history. Experiment with toned paper — mid-gray paper lets you work both darker AND lighter, adding white chalk for highlights. Try at least one drawing on toned paper. You're ready for the next step when you've completed a master study and can explain three specific techniques you learned from it.

Portfolio Piece

Create your best single charcoal piece — something you'd be proud to show someone. Choose a subject that genuinely matters to you: a person you love, a Salt Lake City streetscape, or an abstract idea. Plan the composition before you start: sketch it lightly in vine charcoal first, then build up layers slowly. Spend at least two focused sessions on it. When it feels done, apply fixative and let it dry completely. Photograph it in natural light with your phone. Share it on Instagram with the hashtag **#charcoaldrawing** or post it to the **Sketchbook Skool** community online. Write three sentences about what you learned during this quest. You're ready for the next step when you have a finished, photographed piece you would confidently call your own.