Paper
Ingres Paper: This paper has a textured surface with smooth lines between the roughness. Fabriano's Ingres paper is delicate and ideal for drawings. Hahnemuehle's Ingres paper
Charcoal
Willow Charcoal: Preferably medium thickness from Winsor & Newton. Sharpen it to a long point and then sand it to a fine tip. . While not mandatory to use this brand, Willow charcoal is recommended for its softness and ease of use.
Additional Tools
Utility Knife: For sharpening charcoal.
Sandpaper
Wooden Drawing Board: For placing the paper
Gentle Masking Tape: For easy removal.
Newspaper Sheets: For placing under the drawing paper.
Ruler
Wooden Skewer: Optional.
Plumb Line: A weight on a thin, brightly colored string (preferably orange or red). Fishing sinkers from outdoor shops can be used.
Painter’s Window: Made from two pieces of medium-thickness cardboard for adjustable size.
Black Mirror: (Instructions for making a black mirror are in a separate post).
Holbein Charcoal Eraser: White in color.
Chamois Leather
Chamois Leather: A piece of deer leather used for erasing.
Techniques
Use the fine side of the charcoal tip to create thin and delicate lines. This also allows for easy erasing.
Perform erasures with the chamois leather. The charcoal eraser is for drawing, not erasing, and should be used sparingly until the end of the drawing to highlight white areas.
Mindset
The challenge in drawing is more mental than technical. Shift your mindset to forget about drawing specific body parts like hands or eyes. Focus instead on observing the light and shadow phenomena: the interplay of light and shadow and the shapes they create. This perceptual shift is the most challenging aspect of drawing.
Conclusion
Mastery of charcoal drawing requires control over every movement to train your mind to think about the line being placed. This guide provides the essential tools and techniques needed for classical charcoal drawing, laying the foundation for future artistic endeavors in oil painting.
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