charcoal supplies
paper
Strathmore Bristol Vellum offers a great surface for charcoal. It has just enough tooth to grab pigment and blend things really smoothly and seamlessly. It’s also inexpensive as are all the Series 300 pads.
I also like Strathmore Bristol Smooth Series 300, which has very little tooth at all, but is great for finer charcoal work with lots of details and no grain.
Strathmore Grey Toned Mixed Media paper is also a wonderful surface for creating mood and atmosphere in a drawing. It has a high gsm (grams per square meter), so it’s really thick. Toned paper makes drawing a little easier as you already have your mid-tone value, so you just need to add your lightest lights and your darkest darks.
These pads are sized at 9 x 12 inches.
charcoal
General’s Charcoal Drawing set This little set has a good range of values: 2B, 4B and 6B and is all you need to get started. It includes the 558 pencil that is the brightest white of any charcoal pencil, and also a sharpener.
General’s Jumbo Charcoal are chiseled blocks that glide across the surface, creating smooth backgrounds. These cover larger areas really fast! You can see how easy it to apply it in this video.
Derwent Chinese white pencil is opaque and is perfect for adding highlights. I like the white charcoal pencil in the General’s set listed above, but this one is a good addition for charcoal use, as it’s smoother and less scratchy, just not so white. You’ll need a sharpener with a wide diameter for it.
Sharpener
My favorite electric sharpener for charcoal pencils is the Afmat Artist’s Manual Sharpener. Charcoal pencils are softer than regular pencils and are also more fragile and prone to crumbling. Derwent charcoal pencils are thicker in diameter and don’t fit in regular sharpeners, but they will fit in this one. It has a strong helical blade that can be replaced. For a thorough review, watch my YouTube video of the unboxing, review and demo which includes the pencils I recommend above.
Fixative
Almost all fixatives are problematic! They either darken your artwork or just simply do not work. Spectrafix is a non-toxic casein product that works better than any! It doesn’t have any obnoxious smell and is in a pump bottle, not an aerosol can. It barely darkens artwork.
The only minor drawback is that it has a tendency to drip. To ensure a fine spray application, transfer the contents to a mister bottle and test before use.
erasers
Electric USB Eraser These have spinning tips and are great for effectively removing pigment. The tips last a long time and are easy to replace.
Kneaded Eraser I like these colored ones that come with their own container. Kneaded erasers are great for pressing and lifting off areas where you might have been a bit heavy handed.
Tombow Mono Eraser This is the best thing ever! I just can’t say enough good things about it! It can get into tiny areas and create amazing highlights. After I lay down and smooth charcoal, I can carve areas with it, and create feathers and other fine lines, working negatively. The tips last a long time, and I’ve used mine a lot and haven’t replaced a refill yet.
Extras
Sofft tool sponges for blending backgrounds. These ones are shaped in different sizes and blend really well. I used them for my pastel work too. Instead of washing them, just wipe them with a cloth or paper towel to remove the pigment.
Glassine paper for protecting hands. You can substitute wax paper, a sheet protector, or even use a sheet of computer paper.
Blending stumps This set comes in various sizes and includes a sanding block which is handy for creating your own charcoal powder as well as for sharpening the stumps.
Small applicators for blending little areas. These ones made by Sofft are soft and dense.
Drafting brush Useful for sweeping away particles and keeping oils in your hands away from your work. You can also use a clean makeup brush.
Drawing board
I use this drawing board so I can work on my easel, table or en plein air. This one’s made from masonite, so it’ll last.
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