Charcoal and paper.?

Question

I would like to strt working with charcoals and was wondering where the best place to buy some decent yet affordable would be? Paper aswell...also, any tips on working with it? I would reallly like to get into it but I dont have much spending money, so I want to make sure I dont spend too much on something that isnt even worth it.
Thanks in advance.

Forgive typos and such...my baby was trying to help me type.

Answer 1

Paper for pastels and charcoals need to be toothy, or a little rough. Not a polished paper. this way the pigment can hold on. Start with a cheep newprint tablet and then move to some nice pastel paper about $1.50 a sheet. will vary. I love using my scraps of suede mat board to pastel on.

Charcoal and pastels come from very soft to very hard. You will use them all before you decide which you like the best. I like very soft ones and they can cost up to $10 per stick, but usually about $2. each is good average. Premium colors up to $5.00
I DO NOT USE SPRAYS. I'm from the OLD SCHOOL. You buy a lovely paper and some nice pigments and then add a chemical that can break down the whole mess. I store my work between tissue paper (tissue is acid free) in a big tablet until I decide if I'm going to frame them. Sprays do help to limit smudges. If you spray I would suggest that you do you preliminary drawing, rub in the pastel to bond them to the paper and then spray and then do a finish up and DO NOT SPRAY again. Sprays will kill your final highlights.

When I frame a piece, I Mount the drawing to a thick board (foam or 3X) to prevent future buckling, I use a mat that has been reversed cut with a spacer between the mat and the work. This allows the loose pastel to drop behind the mat (and it will shed even if you soak it in fixatif.)

I hope that helps.
I don't know if we are allowed but I have a bunch of the hard pastels I'll happily give you if you will pay the shipping. [e-mail]

Answer 2

Hey you don't have to start expensively. You can get inexpensive charcoal sticks at hobby shop, or art supply store. There is paper especially made for charcoal, but in a pinch a paper with a little texture will do. There are also charcoal pencils which are firmer than charcoal sticks if you want a harder line. Buy some little rolled paper sticks to move the charcoal around with on your paper. They're cheap too. Explore the charcoal and don't try for masterpieces right away. Find out what properties you like about it before starting a major work. Have fun!

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

Hi.

I would find my local art shop, and have a browse around, as well as charcoal, i would pick up a conte crayon and try it,

I'm just looking at my pencil holder and I almost forgot the Charcoal pencil from DERWENT. It is like a pencil with compressed charcoal in it. each will set you back about pound fifty.

The whole package :charcoal, paper, kneaded putty rubber won't cost you more than a fiver.
A few tips to avoid disappointment:

-always put your drawing board vertical, so the charcoal dust is falling down from the surface of your drawing so you wont smudge it.

-don't rub your eraser on the paper, it will smudge and you will make a mess. instead try to just push it on and remove without rubbing it. (its gonna be time consuming)

Once you finished you can use fixative spray, or just get a big can of hairspray and spray your finished work. (don't go over the top, and soak it... believe me. I ruined a 20 hours work like this.)

As far as the paper goes, if you just want to give a try just buy a cheap artist pad. (probably A3)
The bigger you draw with charcoal the easier to achieve nice results.

If you want to look at other peoples work and want opinion and help, go to www.wetcanvas.com and check out the forums.

Good luck

Answer 5

Hi,

An art store like Dick Blick or Asw Express if you live in USA or Jacksonart if you live in UK, for insteance.
I seldom work with charcoal, but I guess that Reeves BFK is good for it or Bristol Vellum.
I guess that one can also use a smooth watercolour paper.
But I'm sure that an employe of an art supply store will help you on that.
As for charcoal you have vine charcoal (good from drawing casts ) and willow charcoal. Vine charcoal is more difficult to find. Schmincke has it and I guess that Sennelier and General also make it.

Kind regards,

José

Answer 6

Art supply stores and sometimes flea markets are a place to buy charcoal. Buy a large box of box matches and strike them. blow them out and draw with the charred edges ! Pearls in Philadelphia any art supply store or mail order catalogue will be inexpensive.

Answer 7

If you intend to learn to pull the right image all you need is time and Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery guide from here https://tr.im/hhlLe to be in the proper path.
The classes from Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery guide contain 208 pages and an overall total of 605 illustrations.  The basic method applied is that you begin with a picture, pull a mild outline of the function, and then tone it in.
Realistic Pencil Portrait Mastery is an ideal allied to help make the great draw.