Page 204 - sarah-simblet_sketch-book-for-the-artist

EARTH AND THE ELEMENTS204 depositing particles in the grain of paper. LIFTING OUT
Smooth paper accepts few particles, resulting
Charcoal in a pale line. Rough paper can be loaded, This technique is a very easy
and offers a rich, black finish. method of drawing a crisp,
CHARCOAL IS PRODUCED from wood baked fine, white line into the black-
slowly without exposure to air, so it chars or grayness of willow charcoal.
black as opposed to igniting and turning It allows you greater precision
to ash. Willow is the most common wood. in your mark-making than if
you rub away the charcoal
with an eraser.

Artists have also used lime, beech, maple, Charcoal naturally glistens. It can be

vine, and plum. Bundles of twigs were made duller, blacker, and more indelible

traditionally sealed into earthenware jars by soaking it in linseed oil. Alternatively, you

or wet clay and heated slowly and intensely can purchase machine-made compressed

in a fire or kiln. charcoal. As its name implies, it is compressed

Charcoal lifts away from paper easily with and molded at high pressure, resulting in

the very light touch of an eraser, a piece of a stick that gives a blacker, harder line. It

fresh bread, the heel of your hand, a rag, does not erase easily, leaving undertraces 1Suspend a length of masking
feather, or fingertip. Lines are achieved by of first thoughts. tape, sticky side down,
between your middle finger and
RANGE AVAILABLE thumb. Hold it over your drawing

Charcoal (in its several forms shown here) is loved or loathed without touching the surface.
by the beginner to whom it is often recommended because it
produces pleasing results quickly. It is also easily erased if the
maker of the mark is not happy with the result.

1. THIN WILLOW CHARCOAL: I used 5. COMPRESSED CHARCOAL: 2 Keep the tape above your
a piece like this to make the drawing Machine-made, cylindrical, blacker, and drawing. Use any fine-point
opposite. The tip snaps easily to renew heavier than willow. Not to be confused pen or pencil (I used a ballpoint) to
a sharp edge if required. with square conte sticks (see p. 162) or draw a firm line on the back of the
graphite (see p.54). tape. Then lift it away.
2. MEDIUM W I L L O W CHARCOAL:
The same as above, only a little thicker. 6. CHALK CHARCOAL: Technically, this
Boxes often contain a range of thicknesses does not exist. Beware of cheap brands
to choose for different needs. selling dyed chalk as compressed charcoal.
In use, it looks gray and feels like chalk.
3. THICK W I L L O W CHARCOAL:
Big pieces are perfect for very large-scale 7. SQUARE COMPRESSED CHARCOAL:
drawings—even larger than yourself. Try Not often sold, but some specialists stock
itworking on big paper covering a wall. compressed charcoal in delicate square
sticks. A great find when available.
4. CHARCOAL PENCIL: Types made by
different manufacturers vary in quality and
density of line. Essentially, they are all
intended for fine work.

3 A white line is lifted out
by the tape. Slightly dull the
tape's stickiness before use to
prevent it from lifting out more
than you intend.