Sunday 3 July 2011

At the charcoal face

I've just had a revelation and it's called Charcoal.

Seriously, why have I never used this medium before? I've owned a charcoal pencil for about two years that's just sort of languished alone and unwanted in the pencil box under the waxy lushness of my prismacolors.

I knocked this sketch up in around 10 minutes on a bit of paint-splattered scrap paper. Just thrown together without much planning, but look at the depth of shading I managed to achieve.

I've opened up a vein of possibility. Now I am dashing off to open a pristine page in my sketchbook to concentrate on a 'proper' piece.

I'm taking Jane DesRosier's Gritty Jane class....yes, and the Experimental Art class... and I've also enrolled on 21 Secrets... Well, the latter two are self-paced so I can take my time! Jane's first lessons involved blind contour drawing and charcoal. I'm hooked and will share this with the Sunday Sketchers. Hopefully I'll have time today to complete a more careful study, but there's a wall waiting to be painted (with emulsion!), and a tonne of work admin I've been putting off...

Ah the temptations and distractions of art.... how we love them!

PS: If you have time for an extra read, yesterday I wrote something from the heart - a thank you post to all my supportive friends here in Bloglandia.

22 comments:

  1. I love using charcoal...it's a great medium..and if you have a wood bbq the leftovers are free.... love your sketch....

    ReplyDelete
  2. Charcoal is indeed a beautiful thing (if only I could keep it off my face)! Just look at the marvelous variety of textures you've created with it... fantastic!

    I am also taking 21 Secrets... oh and how badly I want to take Gritty Jane's class... I definitely could use some more hours in the day!

    xo
    Kristin

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love this sketch! Charcoal is indeed a wonderful thing. The only thing I don't like about it is you have to frame under glass to keep from smearing and using it in a sketchbook can get messy. I love the way it frees you to draw from your arm and not your wrist. I have trouble doing that with pencil but with charcoal it seems natural.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow I can't believe that took only 10 minutes. It is fantastic and as you said it has such depth!
    Have a great Sunday :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love your charcoal sketch! Totally agree that you have captured amazing depth and expression! Enjoy experimenting and creating more wonderful work with your new found love! Can't wait to see more!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You're a natural Lisa! I wasn't that crazy about the charcoal, but I agree--Love the results when you've got that knack.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The sketch is great and the shading is fantastic. I love charcoal but I am way to messy to use it, I have it everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  8. you did a beautiful piece and I love the shading and details just using the pencil!
    A standout!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Charcoal is sooooo wonderful. It has a great range of moods... dark and broody, sensitive and soft. You've done well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. great shading and lines. I should try charcoal as well and perhaps my color pencils that has been sitting around for far too long.

    have a sweet day.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is charcoal?! VERY, very nice. Wow. Happy SS! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. i did a one day seminar that was all charcoal about 25 yrs ago....I need to try that again, I forgot how much charcoal can say!!
    Love it.
    cheers, dana

    ReplyDelete
  13. ooooh, yes! charcoal looks good with your art! i love that face so thoughtful...looking forward to more and more... also love the idea of paint splattered paper....cool stuff! have a good day, lisa!

    ReplyDelete
  14. OK you sure know how to use the medium - wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lisa this is amazing!! I typically do my sketches in graphite and love it but charcoal is even better. I am also taking Jane's class and love it so far! Although I did skip around I followed her tutorial for a profile sketch and am hooked!! Looking forward to seeing you in class! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the depth and shading on this Lisa...my daughter has just fallen in love with charcoal...I must show her this - enjoy the rest of your week my friend x

    ReplyDelete
  17. I admire your charcoal face, very nice. I have not tried charcoal...I am a pretty messy painter and I have just kept my distance from charcoal..You have inspired me to give it go.

    XO
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  18. This turned out a great sketch and I had a good chuckle when I read that now you'll do a more "proper" piece. For me, this one would have met my expectation for "proper". Charcoal is cool, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Absolutely beautiful Lisa...yay...I love charcoal too!there is something so powerful about your sketch...just wonderful! Strong and powerful!
    Beautiful!
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
  20. i would love to take jane's class! It looks like you are totally enjoying it and doing a great job too!

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is such a good sketch. I know what you mean about charcoals. I think of them as an art class tool. I may have to try them again after seeing your piece! :) Nan

    ReplyDelete
  22. this is wonderful
    yes, the shading is rich
    i look forward to your next charcoal piece, something I have not played with either.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...