What is Charcoal?Charcoal is a lightweight, black residue, consisting of carbon and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis- the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen (see char and biochar).
How is charcoal different from pencil?This substance is much more compressed and softer than graphite.. It is similar to working with pastels and can smudge easily. While this does add a challenge to drawing. it can create very high contrast, dynamic drawings. Artists can usually work quicker with material as it can surfaces more quickly than graphite or colored pencil.
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Materials:
Vine:This type of charcoal is thinner and much lighter than that of compressed charcoal. It is great for sketching out ideas and gesturing in forms. It Is easily erased and wiped away.
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Compressed:Compressed charcoal is very dark and pigmented. It gives you fantastic dark values and can smudge out to create a wide range of values.
You will also have access to white compressed charcoal. |
Pencil:Charcoal pencils come in a range of values and can be used to create beautiful fine details in a charcoal drawing.
For this assignment, you will have a black and a white charcoal pencil. |
Kneaded Eraser:Just as in Foundations, the kneaded eraser can help pull back values in a tonal (smooth transition) and slowly pick up your values. It can also be “sculpted” to erase small precise areas.
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White Eraser:Your white eraser and/or end cap erasers can help erase large areas of charcoal. This eraser cuts through to help get areas to a whiter white.
These erasers help get strong graded (sharp) transitions between values. |
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Downloading Photoshop:To download Photoshop onto your laptop click on the windows icon in the bottom left corner.
Saving Images in Photoshop: ImportantGo to File > Save As and when the window pops open change the Save As type to .JPEG instead of Photoshop.
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Modeling:Modeling includes not only the illusion of form with value, but attempting to make something look completely realistic using shading techniques. Modeling is one of the main techniques used when trying to make something look photo realistic.
Light Source:All Form, value and shading is dependent upon your light source. Before beginning your project, one of the main things you need to assess is where the light source(s) are coming from. This will give your drawing the 3-D look you are aiming for.
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Rubric: |