5 Expert Tips for Charcoal Drawing - Five Guidelines to Perfect Charcoal Sketching

As a term that's frequently used by art teachers, "value" in the sphere of drawing refers to the gap between the light and dark elements of a work. Also referred to as the white-to-black ratio, all paintings or drawings have a value between 1 and 10 with 1 standing for a 100% white page while 10 indicates a fully black page. A "value" of 5 would indicate a medium grey tone which is also called a 'halftone' because it is midway between white and black. When it comes to charcoal drawings, it is crucial to balance the value so that the drawing does not appear too shadowy or dark. A good charcoal work has a value of 6 or 7.

Every drawing has a subject or an object on which the entire piece is concentrated. This is referred to as the essence of the work and charcoal drawings must always focus on this essence. Unlike other mediums, charcoal drawings demand a more obvious essence as what the artwork is about must be established at first glance. The main idea must be made manifest using techniques to strengthen its presence on the canvas by making sure every other element is contributing to its significance.

A mistake that most amateurs at charcoal drawing frequently make is keeping their line thickness uniform throughout the work. A compelling charcoal drawing encompasses both thin lines and thick lines and the artist should mix things up to give the work weight and texture. Use the tip of your charcoal pencil for thin lines and slant the pencil sideways to achieve thicker lines and control the shade of the colour with the amount of pressure you exert on the pencil. Those who are lucky enough to witness the work of Sri Lankan artists during a visit to the Sri Lankan Art Gallery and other venues will note how experts use different shading techniques to create light and shadow.

Charcoal drawings today are completed using a number of tools that were not at the disposal of the great masters and budding artists can employ them to great effect. An eraser pen, for instance, will come in handy when trying to erase tough lines while a kneaded eraser which bends and can mould into various shapes is also useful for tricky erasing jobs. A fine line eraser's purpose is self-explanatory and artists who buy a Webril Wipe will find that this helps cover a large area with charcoal in one swoop.

Sometimes, an altered vision can help you spot the mistakes in your drawing as 20/20 vision can only go so far. Take time between drawing sprints to squint and blur your vision to better understand the value distribution of your painting so that adjustments can be made.