Charcoal Drawing Exercise - Soft Volume

The next stage of drawing can progress very rapidly. Observe your subject as a 'whole', mentally noting the overall shape and the main areas of light and dark. Visualize the placement of the object on the page and rough in the darkest areas of the form, avoiding outlining. Think in terms of large areas of tone. Use your eraser to lift off charcoal on the lighter areas of the form and background; very quickly the shape begins to emerge.