Charcoal is one of the most expressive and beginner-friendly drawing mediums—perfect for sketching shadows, creating bold contrasts, and building beautiful textures. This guide breaks down the best charcoal pencils for beginners, the types you should start with, and the top artist-approved brands to help you create smoother, cleaner, more confident drawings.
1. Why Charcoal Is Perfect for Beginners
Charcoal is forgiving, versatile, and ideal for exploring shading. Beginners love it because:
- It blends easily
- Mistakes erase well
- You can build depth quickly
- It works for sketches, portraits, and dramatic studies
- It pairs beautifully with graphite and toned paper
2. Types of Charcoal Pencils to Know
Compressed Charcoal Pencils
- Darkest, richest blacks
- Smooth shading and deep contrast
- Best for dramatic drawings
Vine or Willow Charcoal Pencils
- Lighter, softer marks
- Perfect for loose sketches and underdrawings
White Charcoal Pencils
- Adds highlights on toned or black paper
- Beautiful for portraits, floral art, and dramatic lighting effects
3. Best Charcoal Pencils for Beginners (Top Picks)
1. General’s Charcoal Pencils (Best Affordable Starter Set)
These classic pencils are easy to blend, easy to control, and perfect for every beginner.
Why beginners love them:
- Smooth application
- Inexpensive
- Comes in soft, medium, and hard grading
Shop General’s Charcoal Pencils
2. Derwent Charcoal Pencils (Best for Smooth Blending)
Derwent’s charcoal pencils glide like butter and offer excellent tonal range.
Why beginners love them:
- Easy to blend
- Not too crumbly
- Great for beginners who want cleaner drawings
Shop Derwent Charcoal Pencils
3. Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal (Best for Professional Results)
If you want pencils that feel premium but still beginner-friendly, Pitt Charcoal is perfect.
Why beginners love them:
- Rich, consistent lines
- Minimal dust
- Amazing for portraits
Shop Pitt Charcoal Pencils
4. White Charcoal Pencils (Best for Toned Paper)
Brands like General’s or Koh-I-Noor offer reliable white charcoal pencils.
Why beginners love them:
- Gorgeous highlights on grey, tan, or black paper
- Beautiful for contrast-heavy drawings
Shop White Charcoal Pencils
4. Must-Have Accessories for Charcoal Drawing
These simple tools make charcoal easier, cleaner, and more enjoyable.
Kneaded Eraser
Perfect for lifting highlights and soft erasing.
Blending Stumps / Tortillons
Great for smooth shading and soft transitions.
Art Blenders - Pencil, Charcoal, Graphite, Colored Pencils
Toned Sketchbook
Charcoal looks stunning on tan or grey paper.
Fixative Spray
Helps protect finished drawings from smudging.
5. Beginner Tips for Using Charcoal Pencils
- Start with medium pressure and build layers
- Use the side of the pencil for soft shading
- Keep tissues or stumps for blending
- Work from light to dark
- Add highlights last with a kneaded eraser or white charcoal
- Spray finished drawings lightly with fixative