Australian How To Paint — Issue 23 2017

DEMONSTRATION

ARTIST’S HINTS AND TIPS

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“Willow Charcoal”
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from willow branches (burnt to
a crisp so to speak) and being
powdery when used it obviously
creates a bit of dust, is messy
and definitely not good for the
nose! However a little care will
solve these problems. (Same
treatment as for pastels).
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ledge at the bottom of the work
surface, and any dust just falls
down to the ledge where it can be
wiped straight into a bin with a
tissue or rag etc. If an upright easel
is not an option, a drawing board
or table easel can be used, just use
a firm piece of paper about 5 or
6cm wide and a little longer than

your drawing paper then fold it

lengthwise - half can be tucked

under your drawing paper and the

other half will form a tray which can

be taken off and emptied into a bin,

wiped as above or just thrown out.

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charcoal stick is rough and

scratchy. Just rub the rough bit on

a separate piece of paper, a piece

of sandpaper or an emery board

and continue using as normal.

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charcoal was scratchy and hard

to work with, and found that they

had been using cheap drawing

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awful) when I provided them

pastel paper to work on they

all thought it was like using a

different medium, and loved it.

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for compressed charcoal, which is

much denser, very black and hard

to move once applied). To soften

regular charcoal, just lightly touch

with your finger, paper stump, tissue

, rag etc, and to remove completely

• first remove the excess the same
  way then use an ordinary plastic
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  remove as suggested then use a
  small piece of plastic eraser (I cut
  off a corner and use the sharp edge).
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  drawn with the side of a thick piece
  of charcoal and finer drawings can
  be easily achieved with a thin piece;
  the sticks come in various sizes and
  a pack of several sizes is very cheap.
  There is no excuse not to start soon
  and the main thing is to have fun!

my finger and a small hog hair brush to

soften the lighter areas where necessary.

STEP FOUR

I continued to fill in and blend with

fingers, working left to right and top

to bottom (as I am right handed).

STEP FIVE

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to the face and blended with fingers, lightest

areas on the face were partially removed

with a paper stump as I felt the paper was

a little bright, the lights were picked out

with a paper stump, e.g. rings and buckles

on gear and highlight in the eye.

FINAL STEP

I altered the eye, adding lashes and

pulled out the highlight with a sharp plastic

eraser, then felt that he was finished, so I

STEP FIVE signed with a fine graphite pencil.