How To Draw A Charcoal Portrait From Life

[@a123386]

Thank you so much for the tutorial! Could you please tell us where we can purchase the same paper you used in this video? I am aware that it is a medium grain Ingres paper by Fabriano, but I could not find the exact same colour. Thank you very much, your reply will be highly appreciated! :)

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

These are the two colours of Ingres Fabriano that I use: www.jacksonsart.com/fabriano-pastel-paper-ingres-50x70cm-off-white www.jacksonsart.com/fabriano-pastel-paper-ingres-50x70cm-cream You can get them from Jackson's Art, but I usually get them from a company called John Purcell who sell them in greater quantities www.johnpurcell.net

[@a123386]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting Alright, thank you so much for your reply! :)

[@PappuDas-fq1ll]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting this is vary helpful information sir.

[@joethepope3]

Quite possibly the best drawing tutorial I’ve seen, so many hints and tips in a fluid manner.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks Joe. Did you see my video on comparative measurement?

[@Michael-hb8nq]

The likeness is so accurate, you really are incredible.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Michael!

[@robertrigel9806]

I've never seen anyone handle charcoal as well as you. That was fun!

[@linear12]

Thank you for that. You kept it short and to the point. The narrative was helpful, too.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@seanfarrellsullivanhasemotions]

One of the most informative and well composed videos on this subject I have ever seen. I would pay to have a collection of your time lapse work lessons. Outstanding!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Sean. I have lots of real time demos on my Patreon channel, tho I haven't done any charcoals on there yet.

[@cryptzzz1188]

This is amazing, thank you

[@Wonderwall1234]

I loved it, thank you, very down to earth, it looks simple, although it is definitely not.

[@markh7523]

Though I hear your quotes from H. Speed regarding the technique when you smudged the dark tones to mid there seemed to be an enormous saving of time and as you say the soft edges as well wonderful

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Yes it is certainly a lot quicker to get a full range darker values than it would in pencil. It's just that it can be a bit messy, particularly as you correct mistakes. I find oils a lot more forgiving. I think speed preferred more renaissance style line drawing, where you hatch to indicate form but you don't go necessarily go as dark as it appears in life. Like the pen and ink drawings by Michaelangelo etc.

[@humberback4451]

I like this tutorial, it's pretty straight forward.

[@MinaAzer]

this is magic!! loved it so much!

[@timclayton8214]

I enjoyed this video, thank you. It is interesting that many of the angle lines remain in the final portrait.

[@hritiksakpal53]

Great work!! ♥️

[@popisivrika6357]

Φίλε μου συμπατριώτη σε ευχαριστώ πολύ που απάντησες στο σχολειό μου. Ζωγραφίζω ερασιτεχνικά και παρακολουθώντας την εξαιρετική δουλειά σου έμαθα αρκετά πράγματα. Να είσαι πάντα καλά.

[@Michael-hb8nq]

This is incredible.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Michael!

[@bernardmallari8313]

i am charcoal portrait ,anime ,painter too, a decent one i can say,i can also copy faces of people.but the way you are doing it,no pencil,the pattern from scratch, is LEVEL INSANE..kudos to you,,more power..

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Bernard.

[@mikeynyc6857]

Incredible.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Mikey!

[@냠냠꿍얌]

so amazing ~ thank you

[@monahabib8068]

Really cool

[@Michael-hb8nq]

I keep coming back to this and the comparative measurement video with the saint Jerome cast. I would love to see the longer nuanced versions of these , the quality of the work is really amazing.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Michael. I intend to ado some more charcoal drawing videos at some point in the future.

[@Tha_Pencil]

Amazing

[@artistaDas-tp8kr]

Amazing work exelent potreait

[@lesley-annmathews7971]

Wow so good! Thanks

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Lesley-Ann! Glad you liked it.

[@artistpkmaurya0505]

Beautiful

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@Beast9894]

I want to try some paper like that!

[@drawholicart]

Great artist

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks!

[@drawholicart]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting your welcome

[@basiliocrespogarcia-baquer4309]

Maravilloso. Maestro.

[@paul_domici]

Amazing approach to drawing!!!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you.

[@tarrrrak]

Underrated.

[@nvandenhurk]

Could you show more demos with charcole , esspecialy the one you draw from the children.

[@rimonhermez4358]

Fabulous

[@mrchristian8782]

I really love this work of yours!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much Christian!

[@ArtandKitchen_]

amazing

[@Oliver-do5sl]

The soundtrack is 🚀🔥

[@luishermosilla951]

Excelente...........

[@artbook4799]

Amazing

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!

[@artbook4799]

Hey guys join art book channel per

[@artbook4799]

Please add my art book channel per

[@MM-jr5sr]

How long did it take to finnish the drawing? Love it 👏🏼

[@MM-jr5sr]

Just heard it in the end 😅 Great job mate

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you. Around 3 hours.

[@AlexKellyArtUK]

Great technique. What do you think of Casey Baugh's approach to portraits in charcoal?

[@bluehacker122]

Outstanding, great technic and skill. Could u possibly elaborate a bit more devices that u are using for this technic? maybe separate video

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

As far as materials go, I'm using soft willow charcoal. The cheapest stuff, the make I like is by a company called Coates. Because I mass in the charcoal and unify with my fingers, I find soft charcoal works best for me. I never use compressed charcoal like Nitram or anything like that. The paper I'm using is a medium grade pastel paper called Ingres by a company called Fabriano. Also, here is another charcoal video (in case you haven't seen it) where I explain more about my drawing technique kzbin.info/www/bejne/ol7Xemytg8qfpcU

[@bluehacker122]

Thanks for the reply i appriciate it a lot! yes i have seen all Your videos including this one, i was just hoping for separate in depth video for Your favorite painting tools(not only choracle technics) since You clearly stand out with Your knowledge from most "artists" here on KZbin.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Yes, I have been thinking about materials videos. But they'll probably be a whole series of videos. I could do several on canvases and making supports as it is.

[@bluehacker122]

Im certainly looking forward for that one, but i like all of the demonstrational videos as well. Its always fun to watch real speed and simplified drawings in process instead of lausy photocopies attempts. Have a nice day Mister!

[@momentarilylapse]

This is a wonderful tutorial and explanation - thank you! I'm wondering, does the charcoal appear this dark in real life, or is that due to the video exposure? I struggle with getting really dark darks in vine charcoal.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

It may possibly appear darker a little darker in the video, but I can get pretty dark. The darkest you can go is to press hard, make a mark an leave it without rubbing it in. If you make another mark, going over the first one, you will lift the charcoal off. So you need to be very definite about where you want the dark accents. I find charcoal on paper, certainly isn't as forgiving as oils.

[@momentarilylapse]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting Thank you! I think that's exactly my issue (and it's so counterintuitive... you'd think two layers would be darker than one!). I appreciate the insights.

[@renzo6490]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting To get darker darks, could one use compressed charcoal?

[@janlappalainen]

Thanks for the vid! I am very curious with charcoal since it is probably the medium I struggle with the most. To me it seems that you need very specific materials for it to work at all. I've tried massing and wiping with fingers on Ingres paper of a different brand and it is impossible to get the same results as seen here - the tooth of the paper stops you from moving the soft charcoal with your fingers, and you also cant lift anything with your fingers, only kneaded eraser which then removes the charcoal completely. I've also found that the papers I've tried will not take harder charcoals at all, they won't even leave a mark, they just scrape away the surface of the paper.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

You can only use this method with soft willow charcoal on Fabiano Ingres paper. You cannot lift off harder compressed charcoal. The trick to it is to rub the charcoal into the paper, then as you wipe it away with your fingers it lifts off very gradually. But then you can also rub in the charcoal too much, so that it scars the paper. It's a really tricky method to use. Also, many people will tell you that you shouldn't ever touch the paper with your hands, as the oils in your skin will leave an acidic residue that will damage the paper over time. This benefit of this method is that it gets you to think in terms of masses, so it translates well into painting. You can also go dark really quickly, I've never gone in for the endless hatching and blending with a stump that you need to do with more traditional academic methods of drawing using compressed charcoal. But there must certainly be more effective methods for using charcoal. I'm currently experimenting with some different techniques, in order to find something that would be easier to teach?

[@jaatni_LT]

Amazing 👌👌

[@mikeynyc6857]

Hey Alex , what paper do you like for charcoal drawings (affordable practice paper) I’ve not found one I can say I love.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I use Ingres paper by a company called Fabriano. It's not the most expensive paper, but it's still usually around £1 or £2 pounds per 100cm x 70cm sheet. I normally buy it in a ream of 25 sheets from a wholesaler here in the UK.

[@jeongs]

아~ 정말 느낌 좋네요

[@Normallifeswe]

You are amazing 👌

[@mmsaint4283]

Wow❤

[@MrExcane]

Love your work. Can you tell me the exact Ingres paper you prefer for charcoal work? Also, do you like Strathmore 300 and 500 charcoal papers?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much! I always use Ingres by Fabriano. I've never tried Strathmore.

[@MrExcane]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting Fabriano Tiziano paper? 20” x 26”? Do you buy it individually or pads? Thanks so much for replying

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

@@MrExcane I usually by them in individual sheets of 100x70cm in seems of 25 or 50. I then cut them down to the size I need. I buy them from here in the UK: www.johnpurcell.net

[@MrExcane]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting Thank you!

[@iprocelee5056]

Hello, I'm your fan. In fact, I've been looking forward to the update of sketch video works. I'm also very aware of the selfless behavior. What brand of carbon strip do you use? It's so deep

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much. The brand of charcoal I use is by a company called Coates. It's soft willow charcoal. I use medium and thin sticks www.coatescharcoal.co.uk

[@iprocelee5056]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting thank you very much for your patience ,LiYi, who has always supported you

[@jomc20]

Thanks for another useful video, Alex! Each one is a treat. Are you going to do any in real time?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Eventually yes. I'm planning to do a full length portrait in oils. But it will be more involved with multiple cameras shooting the palette and close ups etc. I will need to hire a film crew to shoot and edit. So unfortunately I won't be able to give it away for free. But I'm definitely not going to charge as much as some of the other instructional videos and courses out there.

[@derekhoodless6275]

SIMPLIFY Drawing & Painting Please do this, Alex! I’d certainly buy it. I’m fascinated with the method you use in your paintings and this drawing (although charcoal scares me!).

[@tmaslov63]

What is the background chune :)

[@Baltasarmk]

His friend is handsome

[@hellobaby133]

Does the natural oil in your thumb not interfer with the charcoal?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Yes It can do. This method can get quite messy if you're not careful.

[@PappuDas-fq1ll]

Please another charcoal drawing video

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I intend to at some point.

[@EARSOC]

Does anyone know how he is lifting the charcoal? Everytime I try it just smudges. Is it the type of paper that is allowing this?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I’m using Ingres paper by a company called Fabriano. It’s kind of hard to explain but I actually rub the charcoal into the paper quite a bit in order to unify it. That way, when I lift it off it doesn’t remove as much, which gives me greater control. But there is a definite knack to it and when I try to teach this method people often struggle with it. So it probably isn’t the easiest way to use charcoal and it’s quite messy, but I find it effective because it’s basically using charcoal like paint and you can get really dark quite quickly unlike with hatching. The other drawback to this method is that any conservator will freak out when they see how much I use my fingers. The residues left over from skin are apparently quite bad for the longevity of the paper?

[@EARSOC]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting Hey thanks for your reply. You actually introduced me to this technique and I simply fell in love with it. I actually find it superior to more tradition techniques, it allows more focus on larger value shapes and quicker application. Also feels very similar to painting, so thanks for that.

[@rakeshdasari9868]

Can someone mention the link of materials used in this video I can't get those materials in my nearest shops

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

HI Rakesh, I use soft willow charcoal by a company called Coate's: www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/coates-willow-charcoal-pack-of-20-sticks-4-10mm-diameter The paper I use is a make by Fabriano called Ingres paper: www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/fabriano-pastell-papier-ingres-50x70cm-naturweiss

[@iprocelee5056]

like you portrait sketch , 什么时候更新呀， 😭😭😭

[@nellllo]

In the second stage where you’re adding a lot of dark charcoal how are you removing those areas to create white highlights? Thanks

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I'm using either a thing called a "stump" which is made out of rolled up paper. Or, I'm using a needed eraser, but once you use the eraser it leaves a residue so you can't go back over it with charcoal if you need to correct it.

[@nellllo]

@@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting thank you :)

[@lcmr08]

excelent

[@sgbibby]

Which charcoal are you using for the heavy mass block in please Alex ?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

The whole thing is done with Coates willow charcoal. I use medium sticks for massing in and thin sticks for drawing lines.

[@ZainaDancer]

F A N T A S T I C !!!!

[@Filtersloth]

What a great drawing. Just a tip for your camera. If you lock the auto-exposure compensation you will stop the camera from flashing bright and dark during your time lapse video. It jumps up in brightness to try to compensate for your dark shirt appearing in frame. You’ll also get a more true to life exposure for your drawing by locking the exposure, because the camera has been making the picture brighter as you add more dark charcoal, so we never see how dark it should really get, or how bright. The ae-l button or just manual mode would work. You might already know that but thought it might be helpful maybe. Please keep making these great videos.

[@iprocelee5056]

大哥，请问什么时候更新呀

[@anthonypc1]

Sweet music btw

[@essiebunter2350]

Wow

[@FilmbyChris]

What kind of paper is this

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Ingres Paper by a company called Fabriano

[@mariamdraws3996]

When I use my fingers or the stump to take out some charcoal I don’t get it as you do. You clean it, you make the blacks almost disappear. How do you do it? :)

[@diavasmamevroxi]

Do you reccomend the hatching technique?. I feel it contradicts the more loose nature of charcoal and when i try to use that technique the feel its unconsistent since the charcoal does not produce identicall lines like pencil does and you have to sharpen it every 2 seconds. IDK I may be doing it wrong

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I can't really recommend a hatching technique as I don't know how to use one. I use charcoal like paint, massing in the darks unifying them and then lifting off to lighten (whereas with oil paint you'd add lighter paint). The thing about working in charcoal this way is, it is much less forgiving than oil paint. There are only so many times you can correct your drawing before you make a complete mess. I suspect using a more linear approach to drawing, like you would with a pencil, working with outlines and shading, might be easier to control. The linear approach is the way most people learn to draw. The problem with the linear approach is it doesn't work for painting, with paint you have to be able to see things as large masses of colour. The author I mention in this video, Harold speed in his book the "practice and science of drawing" goes into detail about both approaches. He recommends mass drawing for painting but not drawing with other media. Having concentrated on learning mass drawing over the last decade of so, I have actually forgotten how to work in line with a pencil. Which is unfortunate because really admire work in pencil and pen and ink etc. Hope that makes sense?

[@diavasmamevroxi]

Yes i understand

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

You may have already watched this, but if not I thoroughly recommend Harold Speed. Most of what I teach is based on his books kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5OxYXehiLianbM

[@chitrakarsanket]

how to find our own style of sketching? I mean how do you found yours?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I learned this way of using charcoals in masses, from a British portrait painter called Nick Bashall. But it originates from Spain where it was taught to him by a Spanish Artist called Joaquin Torrents Llado. It involved using charcoal like paint, massing in the shadows quite heavily and then removing charcoal with your fingers. It gets very messy and I needed a lot of practice in order to properly get the hang of it. I've been teaching this method for years and I find the majority of my students really struggle with it. I've come to the conclusion that it's not the best charcoal technique to teach, tho it's good for introducing people to the principles of painting.

[@keykey1401]

How could i take lessons by you? Is there anyway?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I teach regular classes in London? Though I don't know when they will be starting again with the current situation. I also have an online course on my Patreon Channel: www.patreon.com/simplifydrawingandpainting I am also thinking of offering some 1-2-1 tuition online. probably through my Patreon channel. Depending on whether my classes in start back up in September? If I'm teaching in London, finding time to teach 1-2-1 will be tricky.

[@brucef357]

Great video. Was this done with all vine charcoal or did you mass in the darks with compressed?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks. These was all done with soft vine charcoal. Actually willow, by a company called Coates

[@moaghal]

THIS IS ABSOULUTELY FUCKING BEAUTIFUL!

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you very much!

[@renzo6490]

Post a photo of your model as you see him while you are drawing, please !

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thanks. Yes, I have been posting reference photos of my subjects in all my more recent videos.

[@MrSaadabdulaziz]

You black magicians

[@47EMAIFB]

niceone

[@reddevil211287]

Awesome technique, not an easy medium to draw with

[@williambo5989]

getting a likeness is an achievement or can be gifted too

[@paul-cruciata2728]

Very fast. I can't follow your drawing on this construction.

[@danja7691]

Go to Settings and slow it down to .25x speed. Then turn the sound off.

[@artepaixao7355]

uuaaaa show mem end the very very very good

[@qwertyuiop-ke7fs]

I must be using either the wrong charcoal or the wrong paper, because there's no way I can get that much charcoal to come off with just my fingers...

[@Unseen_ARTist]

There are different types and hardnesses there is soft charcoal which is easier to transfer and smudge there’s hard charcoal which is for sharp lines and medium which is more for shading

[@eloyhbermudez]

it looks like yim mau kun

[@aydakoprulu1404]

🙏👏👏👏👏👏………

[@markbarrera6807]

magick

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you Mark!

[@ericastier1646]

charcoal always looks like wizardry, i can not convince myself that the cubism straight lines initial step helps in anything or maybe something happens in the brain of the drawer. And then how magically a decent portrait is obtained from the initial mess is almost irritating when trying to learn the technique.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

I use charcoal the same way I use paint. The line are basically guides for where to place the larger light and dark masses.

[@jcepri]

I thought that charcoal is an excellent medium for portraits because it's so malleable. I would think the oil from your fingers would harm the paper.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Supposedly yes, the acid from oil from my fingers will damage the paper in time. An art conservator would tell me off.

[@battulgaulaankhuu4182]

т

[@vagelissevastakis7417]

Insted of charcoal and the rectricted mediocrity of its moral francness why dont you try clay.It will multiply your substactive skills ro deal with the secondary tonalities,and the head-bust question, of a real artistic efford which charcoal masses avoid..Who knows what knowns will be born out of the known! Τσίριο!

[@itismeivan2804]

confused unga bunga

[@KpxUrz5745]

Not the way to draw in charcoal. Way too much time and "work" invested, only to produce such an unappealing result.

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Agreed. There are many artists with a better charcoal technique than me. I can be pretty heavy handed. But I don't agree when you say "too much time and work". I think mine is pretty lifelike after only 3 hours. Have you seen any of those academic drawings where students take 30 hours? Btw do you draw? please let me know where can I see some of your work, or are you just a conniossuer?

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Did you go to art school Russia by any chance? Their technique is the best in the world IMO

[@kyletwebster]

I could not agree less with this user's rude comment. I think your demo is excellent and the result is quite appealing.

[@TonyBraun]

.....KrapUrz5745.......keep your shit to yourself......

[@jessewyllychuk8516]

He's showing you HIS technique as it relates to HIS method of mass painting, he never states that this is the way to draw in charcoal. There are plenty of tutorials describing other methods, let's not discourage people from sharing their own techniques. There are different elements from all methods that we can learn from and apply to our own work. The reason this method is quite valuable in my opinion is because people don't always have the time to paint, or time to LEARN how to paint. This method of drawing with charcoal is a good way to practice seeing the masses of value shapes that is required in realist oil painting without taking the time to set up for painting. This is a great way to learn as a preliminary to oil painting, without having to worry about the nuances of painting all at once. Thank you Alex. It's incredibly helpful to see different approaches to drawing and painting.

[@sadiipixie]

amazing work. I’m in love :)

[@samulesaxo]

Beautiful

[@SIMPLIFYDrawingandPainting]

Thank you!