Types of Charcoal

Charcoal is one of the oldest art materials ever used. Charcoal is a dry media that can be used in its raw form as sticks or mixed with gum / wax binder to make it easier to handle.

There are various forms of charcoal, each has special qualities that make them appropriate for different points in your drawing.

Let’s check out what are the types of charcoal!

Willow and Vine Charcoal

Vine and Willow charcoal are both made by heating actual vines and pieces of willow in a chamber.

Vine charcoal creates a dark grey and willow charcoal creates rich, deep velvety black.

Willow Charcoal

Willow Charcoal have uniform, consistent mark and finer particles than vine charcoal.

It is available in different widths, like thin, medium, thick, jumbo.

Vine Charcoal

Vine charcoal tends to be easy to dust or erase making it perfect for life draining, quick sketches or compositions that need constant reworking.

Compressed Charcoal

Compressed Charcoal are sticks made from charcoal powder and a binder (gum or wax). This mixture is then shaped into a mold, to create a stick form.

It will give you much stronger dark tones and more controlled lines. It tends to be slightly harder than the willow and vine charcoal.

Charcoal Pencils

Charcoal pencils are made by putting compressed charcoal into wooden body. It is easy to sharpen and a lot less messy than sticks.

It is available in different grades.

White Charcoal Pencil

These pencils can be used just like regular charcoal pencils and compressed charcoal sticks, but they are white instead of black or grey.

White charcoal is perfect to highlight your drawing which brings contrast and boldness.