There’s no denying the liberating and creative power that drawing has on your artistry. It’s a process that involves manipulating shapes, forms and other elements to bring an idea or vision to life, with custom detailing and signature strokes that are all your own. The freedom of expression this brings is a terrific outlet for imaginative minds who want to explore their boundaries, and charcoal as a medium provides you with a unique opportunity to do just that.

For those brave enough to venture into the world of charcoal illustrations and understand the elements of drawing that shape the creative process, you’ll notice it’s a relatively versatile and affordable medium. These days, there’s an assortment of charcoal drawing equipment for you to choose from, so let’s take a look at what you’ll need for your first foray into this form of artistic expression.

What Do You Need for Charcoal Drawings?

Depending on how elaborate your artwork needs to be, the exact tools you’ll need may vary. That said, most charcoal drawings will require the fundamental basics that make up the equipment list, such as:

Different Types of Charcoal

Starting off with the backbone of the piece, you’ll need some charcoal to lay down the initial framework. The three main types used are vine, willow and compressed charcoal. Each type has its own signature characteristics that provide a distinct look to your drawing.

For starters, vine charcoal is a soft and dusty type, which is quite suitable for creating thin lines and bold dark strokes. It doesn’t smudge easily and is a good choice for shading. The willow variety, on the other hand, is a bit more rigid and can be used to draw tight, precise lines. Compressed charcoal is a mixture of all three types, giving it a more solid form and allowing the artist to draw fine details with ease, as well as more dramatic strokes within the same piece.

Charcoal Pencils

If you want to avoid the mess of a regular charcoal stick, you could always opt for a charcoal pencil. This is basically just the same stick of charcoal but in pencil form. It can deliver a thinner and more accurate line that is a bit easier to manage, with clear and smooth shading.

Even though it retains the same properties of regular charcoal, this can be advantageous in creating more intricate drawings with precision. The more you practice with this tool, the better you’ll become at controlling the consistency of the lines.

Heavyweight or Textured Paper

Given the softness of charcoal, having a tough and durable base to work on is highly recommended. This will ensure that your artwork stays intact and can withstand the pressure of smudging or blending. While using regular paper wouldn’t hurt, a heavier or textured surface will offer more structural support.

Not only does it prevent your artwork from buckling or tearing, but it can also give off an interesting texture that will add depth to the piece. Anything from ribbed or parchment paper to drafting vellum will serve as a suitable base for your charcoal drawings.

Kneaded Eraser

Speaking of smudging, a kneaded eraser is essential in having somewhat of an undo button. The soft and malleable nature of this tool allows you to manipulate it into any shape and use it as necessary. It won’t tear away at the paper like other erasers, thanks to its gum-like consistency.

This makes it a very handy tool for smoothing out lines and taking away the extra charcoal that is created in the process. The malleable nature of this eraser also allows for subtle and precise corrections that wouldn’t be possible with other erasers.

Blending Stumps and Tortillons

Next up on the list of charcoal drawing equipment are blending stumps and tortillons, which are small tools made of tightly rolled paper that look like tiny twigs or pencils. They can be used to help blend larger areas of charcoal and even out the smudges created by your kneaded eraser.

The difference between the two lies in their purpose. Blending stumps are usually more pointed and can be used for finer detail or to make a softer look, while tortillons are more rounded and better suited for larger areas. Both are fantastic tools for creating smooth transitions between different shades due to the compact layers of tightly rolled paper.

Charcoal Holder

In order to keep your hands and work area clean, you’ll want an efficient and reliable way to store and handle your charcoal sticks. This is where a dedicated holder comes in handy – with a secure grip and a nifty brush attachment, this tool makes it much easier to manipulate the charcoal without any mess.

At the same time, the holder itself will catch any of the excess charcoal dust that falls from your hands or paper. Whenever it becomes too full, simply empty its contents and start again. Even if this isn’t a mandatory piece of equipment, it can still be a great addition to your workstation.

Fixative Spray

When you’ve set the finishing touches to your artwork, you’ll want to make sure that the details stay intact. It doesn’t matter if you’re not going to be displaying your work anywhere or giving it away, you still wouldn’t want the hard work to go to waste. To keep your drawings secure, you can spray a fixative over the surface to lock in the original tones and prevent it from smudging.

Drawing Board

Finally, there are many reasons why you should use drawing boards as part of your artistic journey. Aside from the obvious stability they provide for your paper, they can also add an interesting look to your work with their various textures. This will give the piece more depth and perspective, while at the same time providing a decent level of comfort and convenience.