3 Benefits of Choosing Charcoal as Your Art Medium

When we think of taking up meaningful hobbies to fill our everyday lives with, many of us overlook drawing in favour of hiking, fishing, camping, meditating, cooking, or even brewing. Little do we realise it’s just as engaging as it is fruitful when it comes to relieving stress, increasing brain activity, improving creativity, imagination, memory, and motor skills, expressing personal ideas, and enhancing self-esteem. 

All you need is a sheet of textured pastel paper and some charcoal drawing supplies of quality to begin. And in a world of drawing mediums nowadays, even in the realm of the dry medium options, you may be wondering why this one specifically. Well, there are some notable benefits to choosing it.

It Makes for Naturalistic Art

If you’d like to use something that your ancestors were using, for millennia, this is it. The cave charcoal drawings are the perfect example that can be found all over the world, not only in Australia, but Europe too, for example. 

So, in addition to there being something primal about the use of this specific art medium, as it’s the residue of heated wood, something that would connect you to humankind of the earliest history, you can also use it as an opportunity to know that what you create can be long-lasting too.

There’s something calming and therapeutic about the process of charcoal drawing. The way the tip of the stick glides effortlessly over the paper and leaves behind a trail of black is quite mesmerising. 

And what better way to capture the natural beauty around you? Whether it’s a portrait of your pet, a landscape of a nearby beach or park, or something abstract that takes shape as you go. The beauty of charcoal drawing is that you can let your imagination run wild without worrying about perfection.

In addition to the therapeutic benefits, it also creates less residue than other mediums like oil paint, so it’s easier to clean up. You won’t need to be cautious about staining your furniture or ruining a carpet. Charcoal drawing can also be done fairly quickly, so it’s a great activity for those who don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to a project.

It’s a Versatile Art Medium

No matter what it is you want to draw, whether or not you want to work on your tonal values, creating light and dark contrasts, shallow and deep, there’s the right type of charcoal art supplies to back you up. First, you have the Nitram which is the name of the brand that has set standards for the charcoal of superior quality they’ve created over the years, as their product is known for exceptional durability as well as softness.

One of the reasons people like using Nitram charcoal is the range of sizes and hardness grades it’s available in, made for various drawing techniques. The incredible softness makes it especially fit for adding accents and differences in tones, and it’s just as easy to erase it as it is to use it. Still, it can be more expensive than the willow, which is basically charcoal made from willow sticks and vines.

It’s an option that’s not only cheaper but more suitable for work on a larger scale as it’s available in larger sizes too. Keep in mind, though, that as opposed to the previous, it’s dustier and smudges more. If you want something available in different shades, then synthetic compressed charcoal may be your ideal choice, especially if you’re looking for something that’s easily blended.

Derwent is one great brand known for this type of charcoal drawing supply you should give it a try. In terms of the forms you can buy charcoal in, you have the pencil, powder and liquid options besides the sticks. Pencils are easier to work with, especially if you’re a beginner, as they’re easier to hold and draw with – not to mention less messy.

They’re also available in different hardness ratings, with the harder being more suited for fine details. If you’d like to use a brush, the powder form is perfect for covering larger areas and doing some smooth transitions, whereas the liquid allows you to work on different techniques and details using a variety of brushes, both stiff and soft.

It’s Eco-Friendly

In other words, charcoal drawing supplies are great for you and the environment. This is so because it’s made from natural materials, like branches of trees, and grape vines, both burned to the ideal degree of hardness. Even the cases of compressed charcoal are eco-friendly as they’re filled with natural gums as binders.

Still, some are more non-toxic brands than others, so a word of caution is to pay attention to the type of product you’re buying. Also, it’s important to point out that what you do as you draw matters too, so it’s necessary to get rid of the habit of putting the charcoal sticks in your mouth and avoid blowing the dust particles or you risk inhaling them. Always wipe them off with a brush, or sweep them up with a damp cloth to prevent lung irritation.