For artists, the right drawing medium is like a magic wand, conjuring moods, textures, and emotions onto the paper. Charcoal, graphite, and carbon pencils are three fundamental items in my toolkit, each having its own strengths and weaknesses. Let's explore...
Graphite: The Detail Master
Imagine a loyal companion, always ready to follow your lead. That's graphite. Available in shades and different grades, from the faint whisper of an "H" pencil to the bold statement of a "B," graphite offers the most versatility. Need to sketch delicate wisps of hair? Have an H pencil. Craving deep, rich shadows? 4B is your bread and butter. This adaptability allows artists to create a full spectrum of values, from the lightest highlights to the darkest depths.
But... graphite isn't flawless. While it's pretty clean to work with, its waxy nature can make blending a bit of a challenge, additionally, achieving a jet blackness with graphite, is a difficult process of layering upon layering, a process that can lead to a slightly flat result.
Charcoal: The Bold Storyteller
Charcoal, is an artist who thrives on drama. Its velvety black strokes create quite a visual impact. Artists working with charcoal revel in its ability to produce broad, expressive marks, whether it's a quick sketch or a detailed masterpiece. Blending with charcoal is a dream, allowing for smooth transitions and a lot of depth in the artwork.
However, it's an absolute mess at the best of times. Its fragile nature also means the risk of smudging is a constant battle, and fixing spray becomes your second best friend.
Carbon Pencils: The Middle Ground
Enter the carbon pencil, the mediator between the bold charcoal and the versatile graphite. Offering a darker tone than graphite and less mess than charcoal, it's the perfect compromise. Carbon pencils blend reasonably well and hold their form better than charcoal sticks, making them a good choice for artists seeking a balance between control and drama.
What's the catch you ask? The value range is limited compared to graphite, and the price take might be slightly higher however personally, the carbon pencil completely changed my game.
All-in-together-girls
The icing on the cake with these products is their ability to work together.
If you're going to get the band back together, let charcoal carry the team.
A light charcoal base is the perfect foundation for carbon and graphite to adhere to. Use this for bold shadows, and keep the hand light, gradually building the depth. My hot tip is charcoal doesn't layer well onto a heavy graphite or carbon base. My other hot tip is don't be afraid of losing an artwork, try and work out these material things yourself. Like they say in sports - you either win or you learn.
There are no hard and fast rules, just explore and discover what works for you.