Charcoal is both messy and fun to work with. It smudges and blends like nothing else. It can also be difficult to fix small mistakes and unintended smudges. There are a few things you can do to make working with charcoal go a little smoother. Get a custom photo to charcoal pencil work by visiting this website.

Transferring a design from photo to charcoal pencil or creating new works of art can be a daunting way to create something. Use these tips to make it easier.

Use Rough Paper

As a medium, charcoal needs something to grip onto. If the canvas or paper is too smooth, charcoal can build up too quickly or stick to itself and rub off. A more ridged paper texture will help to catch it where you place it and keep it there.

Keep the Edge Sharp

Your pencils and blocks of charcoal will dull rather quickly. The duller it gets, the wider and softer the stroke will be. You might find it useful to keep some rounded charcoal to achieve different stroke effects. It would be wise to keep a few sharp pieces of charcoal as well. You can use a hobby knife to cut the tip into a sharp point.

Control Your Smudges

You can use a cotton glove to prevent smudging your drawing with your lower palm. Keep your smudges purposeful. You can also use a blender or a tool called a tortillon for blending. The further you keep your hand away from the charcoal as you work, the better.

Go Subtractive

Using charcoal is a mostly additive process. A creative way to mix your artwork is to flip back to a subtractive method. To do this, grab an eraser and use it to create highlights and lighten up specific areas. This can add a sense of contrast that is lost as the paper is coated in charcoal.

Stroke Lightly

Charcoal is a dark medium. It’s easy to make strokes that are too dark. Try to remember that with charcoal, it’s not so easy to lighten it back up. Start light and keep contrast in mind consistently.

Mix It Up

You can always mix mediums. Pastels and colored pencils blend well with charcoal. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

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