Charcoal drawing is a primitive form of visual art that has survived thousands of years. This form of art can be rooted in the early days of the world from paintings of cavemen who used burnt sticks as drawing tool.

Charcoal drawings are used as sketches in many art pieces, particularly in painting. However, it is also popular as it is (or sometimes combined with paint) because coal is a versatile tool that can create a wide variety of tone, shade and depth of a subject.

Some of the pioneer charcoal artists are Michelangelo (“Study of a Man Shouting”), Antoine-Louis Baryen (“Dead Young Elephant”), Ernst Barlach (“Self Portrait”), and Robert Blackburn’s (“Man With Load”).

 

1. (“Noire”) Alexis Marcou – Source

 

Charcoal, the main medium used on these works, is formed by burning carbon-filled substances like wood, until a soft, black and absorbent material is produced. It is a smooth substance that easily smudges on many media, which makes shading easier to do; shadows and highlights are achieved by using gradients of black and gray.  Check out more inspiring charcoal drawings below:

 

2. (“Ear) Alexis Kadonsky – Source

 

3. (“Cloth Study”) Lise Statelman – Source

 

4. (“Still Life on Skeleton”) Dana Jefferson – Source

 

5. (“Spider and Crab”) Kamila Szadaj – Source

 

6. (“Portrait of Doug”) Brittany Wolsterdorf – Source

 

7. (Blessed Ludovica Albertoni) Pedro Andre – Source

 

8. (Drawings) Danielle Worrall – Source

 

9. (“Delayna”) Daniel Bapst – Source

 

10. (Drawings) Tomasz Szkodzinski – Source

 

11. (Charcoal Drawings) Alicia Martin – Source

 

12. (“Noir”) Elena Cabitza – Source

 

13. (“Object Self-Portrait”) Alexis Kadonsky – Source

 

14. (“Elvis Presley”) Lolly Crook – Source

 

15. (“Charcoals”) Samjad Kandilat – Source

 

16. (“Charcoal Zen”) James Franssen – Source

 

17. (“John Wayne”) Hoop and Stick – Source

 

18. (“(Shaded) Charcoal Work”) Ivana Miranovic – Source

 

19. (“Jaclyn Portrait”) Sarah Nichols – Source

 

20. (“Charcoal”) Carlos Ignacio Delgado Moreno – Source

 

21. (“Charcoal Art”) Nathan Mattson – Source

 

Charcoal comes in different forms — vine, pencil, chunks, sticks and compressed —depending on the preference of the artist. Charcoal artworks are polished with a fixative to prevent further smudging that can ruin the art pieces.

Charcoal art, in spite of its simplicity, can provoke thoughts and stir emotions from people. This is one of the reasons that charcoal drawing is still practiced and appreciated by many artists.



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18 Responses

  1. sheri strykowski
    Mar 02, 2012 - 09:13 AM

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  5. Jay Cresswell
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  6. Amé Kinsella
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  7. Jay Cresswell
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  9. Jay Cresswell
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  10. Frantisek Kloucek
    Mar 03, 2012 - 08:05 PM

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  11. Jay Cresswell
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  12. Jay Cresswell
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  13. Jamie Cresswell
    Mar 04, 2012 - 09:00 PM

  14. Theresa Crandall
    Mar 07, 2012 - 11:31 PM

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    Mar 07, 2012 - 11:45 PM

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  16. Ari Surya Fibriyanto
    Mar 09, 2012 - 03:35 PM

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  17. Victor C. Castilvz
    May 26, 2012 - 01:32 AM

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  18. Lise Statelman
    Jul 27, 2012 - 07:32 AM

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