We often think of charcoal as a medium for quick sketches or large figure drawings. But you can use it for detailed work too. Studies like this animal skull by Alberoni show the depth that can be achieved. Charcoal pencils are ideal for doing the detail in drawings like this, or you can use a stick, 'sharpened' on a piece of sandpaper or rough cardboard. Charcoal can be difficult to erase, so be careful to preserve highlights. Beginners sometimes make the mistake of making dark areas too flat, and can seem oddly featureless, as though part of the drawing is missing. Unless you've got a microscopic black hole in there absorbing all the light, you can still have some subtle modeling of form.
Charcoal Drawing Articles:
Charcoal Drawing FAQ
Charcoal Exercise - Soft Volume
How to Apply Spray Fixative
Charcoal for Drawing - Top Picks
Photo: Skull (c) Alberoni, licensed to About.com, Inc.
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