Charcoal is one of the most versatile and expressive drawing mediums, allowing artists to create deep, rich tones, soft gradients, and striking contrasts. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, finding the best charcoal for drawing can enhance your artistic expression and make your work stand out. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one?
In this guide, we’ll explore the best charcoal brands, different types of charcoal, and the tools you need to elevate your drawing skills. Let’s dive in!
1. Types of Charcoal for Drawing
Before choosing the best charcoal, it’s essential to understand the different types available and how they affect your artwork.
Vine Charcoal
- Soft and lightweight with a smooth application.
- Easily erased and smudged for delicate shading.
- Best for: Initial sketches, loose gestures, and underdrawings.
Compressed Charcoal
- Made by compressing charcoal with a binder, creating a darker, richer tone.
- Produces bold, intense blacks but is harder to erase.
- Best for: Deep shading, dramatic effects, and high contrast work.
Willow Charcoal
- Similar to vine charcoal but softer and more delicate.
- Perfect for light sketching and soft blending.
- Best for: Gentle shading and preliminary outlines.
Charcoal Pencils
- Encased in wood for easy handling and precision.
- Available in different hardness levels for varied effects.
- Best for: Detailed work, controlled shading, and crisp lines.
Powdered Charcoal
- Loose charcoal powder that can be applied with a brush or sponge.
- Ideal for creating soft gradients and background shading.
- Best for: Large-scale work and atmospheric effects.
📌 Tip: Consider having a mix of different charcoal types to experiment with various textures and techniques!
2. Best Charcoal Brands for Artists
Here’s a curated list of the best charcoal for drawing, based on quality, usability, and artist reviews.
1. Best Overall: General’s Charcoal Pencils
- Smooth application and deep, rich blacks.
- Available in different hardness levels (soft, medium, hard).
- Best for: Sketching, realistic portrait work, and fine details.
🛍️ Shop Now: General’s Charcoal Pencils
2. Best for Beginners: Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal Set
- Includes vine, compressed, and charcoal pencils.
- Offers a variety of textures for different techniques.
- Best for: Learning charcoal drawing with versatile tools.
🛍️ Shop Now: Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal Set
3. Best for Deep Rich Tones: Nitram Charcoal
- Premium quality compressed charcoal.
- Smooth, blendable, and less brittle than other brands.
- Best for: Expressive artwork with intense blacks.
🛍️ Shop Now: Nitram Charcoal
4. Best for Fine Details: Derwent Charcoal Pencils
- Sharpenable pencils that allow for precise strokes.
- Less messy than traditional charcoal.
- Best for: Sketchbooks, controlled techniques, and detailed artwork.
🛍️ Shop Now: Derwent Charcoal Pencils
5. Best for Large-Scale Work: Raven Powders Premium Charcoal Powder
- Soft, powdery texture ideal for smooth shading.
- Can be used with brushes and erasers for unique effects.
- Best for: Background shading and large compositions.
🛍️ Shop Now: Raven Powders Premium Charcoal Powder
3. How to Choose the Right Charcoal for Your Drawing Style
Not sure which charcoal suits you best? Here’s a quick guide:
- For beginners: A mixed set with different types (like Faber-Castell Pitt Set).
- For portrait artists: Charcoal pencils & compressed charcoal (General’s or Nitram).
- For expressive art: Vine or willow charcoal for loose sketching.
- For professional fine details: High-quality charcoal pencils (Derwent).
📌 Tip: Consider your preferred drawing style and level of control when selecting charcoal!
4. Essential Charcoal Drawing Tools & Accessories
To make the most of your charcoal drawings, invest in these essential tools:
- Blending Stumps & Tortillons – For smooth, professional shading.
- Kneaded Eraser – Easily lifts highlights and corrects mistakes.
- Fixative Spray – Seals the charcoal to prevent smudging.
- Textured Paper – Helps charcoal adhere better for richer effects.
📌 Tip: Check Out this shopping list with these tools for everything you need.
🛍️ Essential Shopping List for Charcoal Drawing
Charcoal Types:
✅ Vine Charcoal – General’s or Winsor & Newton
✅ Compressed Charcoal – Nitram or Faber-Castell
✅ Willow Charcoal – Coates or Derwent
✅ Charcoal Pencils – General’s, Derwent, or Faber-Castell Pitt
✅ Powdered Charcoal – Winsor & Newton or General’s
Blending & Erasing Tools:
✅ Blending Stumps & Tortillons – Set of various sizes
✅ Kneaded Eraser – Prismacolor or Faber-Castell
✅ Fine Detail Eraser – Tombow Mono Eraser
Paper & Fixatives:
✅ Textured Drawing Paper – Strathmore 400 Series or Canson Mi-Teintes
✅ Fixative Spray – Winsor & Newton or Krylon Workable Fixative
Additional Accessories:
✅ Charcoal Sharpeners – General’s Sharpener or X-Acto Knife
✅ Sketchbook for Practice – Moleskine Art Collection or Strathmore Toned Sketchbook
5. Charcoal Drawing Tips for Beginners
If you’re new to charcoal, here are some tips to improve your technique:
✅ Start light and build layers – Avoid pressing too hard too soon.
✅ Use an eraser as a drawing tool – Kneaded erasers can create highlights.
✅ Experiment with blending techniques – Fingers, tissue, or blending stumps work differently.
✅ Try different papers – Smooth paper vs. textured paper can change the look of your drawing.
✅ Keep a sketchbook – Practice makes perfect!
📌 friendly Tip:
Final Thoughts
The right charcoal can make a huge difference in your drawings, from soft sketches to bold masterpieces. Whether you prefer pencils for precision, compressed charcoal for richness, or vine charcoal for expressive strokes, there’s a perfect option for every artist.