Best Drawing Supplies

Drawing with Charcoal
Do yourself a favor and don't skimp on art supplies. The quality of the paper and drawing media are important regardless of skill level. I recommend using the best products available at all times.

The beauty of charcoal is its ease to create value very quickly. It is also a very forgiving medium because you can easily erase with a chamois. Charcoal drawing is a process of adding and subtracting, so you are either applying charcoal or erasing charcoal. You need to think of "white" as the tone of the paper. Strive for a range of at least six values, from your lightest light (the paper) to your darkest dark.

Begin your drawing lightly with vine charcoal. Use a chamois to erase. Begin to fill in and establish a range of values with more vine charcoal. Use a kneaded eraser to soften values or to cut into the charcoal. Once your drawing is established you can build up more value with charcoal pencils. Many people frown on using your fingers to smudge the charcoal, but if your hands are very clean, you can get away with this practice. Some people like to use blending stumps(tortillions). I have also found a small piece of sponge to do well.

Charcoal Supplies and Technique

Vine Charcoal
Use extra-soft vine charcoal to begin your drawing and to establish a value range. Can easily be erased with a chamois. Never begin a drawing with charcoal pencils. They contain compressed charcoal which is not easily erased.I like Winsor & Newton vine charcoal.

Chamois
Use the chamois to erase vine charcoal. It will not work to erase compressed charcoal or charcoal pencils.
Use the ones that get "dirty" to smear compressed charcoal.

Kneaded Eraser
After you open the plastic, take the eraser in the palm of your hand(to warm it up)and then mold it into a sphere. You can "pinch" the eraser to form a point and use to cut into vine charcoal. To clean, simply stretch and reform the eraser several times.

White Plastic Eraser
This is a must-have tool for erasing into compressed charcoal. Great for hair or "cutting" into the hair from the scalp. Staedtler White Plastic Eraser white plastic eraser

Retractable Eraser
Can be sharpened to a point for cutting into charcoal.Staedtler Mars White Plastic Stick Eraser and Refills box of 10 eraser core refill  

Charcoal Pencils
Charcoal pencils come in Extra Soft, Soft, Medium and Hard. Use them for refining your drawing. Use the Extra Soft for dark areas and the Medium and Hard pencils for lighter areas. I prefer the wrapped pencils. Prang Wrap Charcoal Pencil

Compressed Charcoal
This is serious stuff. Use compressed charcoal will laying down areas that need a lot of dark. A little goes a long way. Use an old chamois or a natural sponge to even out the value.

Blending Stumps (tortillions)
Many people prefer these for blending.Jack Richeson Double Pointed Paper Stumps no. 4 ea.

Fixative
I have never been too fond of "workable" fixatives. I always wait until the drawing is finished. Follow the instructions and keep the spray a good six inches from the surface of the drawing. Do this outside! Apply four coats and let each coat dry. Turn your drawing for each applilcation. Daler-Rowney Perfix Colourless Fixative 150 ml. can spray fixative

Arches Cover Buff
This is by far my favorite paper for charcoal. It is 100% rag (cotton) and is very durable. 22 in. x 30 in. sheet cream arches cover

Toned Charcoal Paper
Toned gives you another value to work with. You can had highlights with white charcoal pencils or a soft white pastel. I like Strathmore 500 Series Charcoal Paper Pads 12 in. x 18 in. assorted tints pad of 24

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Vine Charcoal