Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
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.