Charcoal

Definition

Charcoal is a black, carbon-based drawing material made from burnt organic materials such as wood or vine twigs. It is often used for sketching, shading, and creating dramatic contrasts in artworks.

Related terms

Vine charcoal: A type of charcoal made from burned grapevine tendrils. It produces lighter marks compared to regular charcoal.

Blending stump/tortillon: A tool made of rolled paper used to blend or smudge charcoal drawings for softer transitions.

Hatching/cross-hatching: Techniques where lines are drawn close together (hatching) or intersecting (cross-hatching) to create shading effects in charcoal drawings.