Graham Writes: This was my first attempt at using Charcoal as a medium and I am quite pleased with the result. Although I enjoyed doing this drawing I found charcoal a difficult medium to use, in particular trying to get a varied range of tones on the face. I used graphite pencil for the eyes as I couldn’t get the detail quite right with a charcoal pencil. I would be interested in your comments – Thankyou.
Helen's Comment: Lovely, Graham. Controlling tones in charcoal can be quite a challenge. Using the right paper helps a lot - if there's too much tooth, it grabs a lot of charcoal, but if there isn't enough, it won't hold the tone. You need to experiment to find what you like best. Many artists use powdered charcoal brushed on for soft areas. You can also shade lightly and lift off excess with a kneaded eraser - dab, don't rub. Sometimes you need to simplify and just leave out the lighter tones. Anyway, its a good drawing and you should indeed be pleased. I especially like the hair, it has a good texture and shine.