Let's Talk about Drawing with Charcoal

[@sylvain_st_pierre_2019]

Wait.... i listened to other videos on charcoal, but this one has to be to clearest and most instructive. Thank you sir.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks! Glad that you found it helpful.

[@staceygrimes4107]

TOTALLY agree!

[@thestaz8564]

ty for info, and beautiful drawings!

[@sharit7970]

Very well explained- thanks for sharing!

[@terryhand]

Thanks Jeff. It would be quite interesting to hear you talk about surfaces.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Terry, that's a great idea. I may just do that.

[@Hohmann2000]

Danke Jeff ! Das ist großartig !!!

[@incognito3620]

My first comment is your voice. I can listen to you recite the phone book. Very sultry and deep. Second I have used compressed charcoal for years and only after watching your videos did I move into vine or natural charcoal. Man, what a difference! Thanks for this vid. I now use both. Start with vine and finish with compressed. I don’t like fixing charcoal. Leaves a dotted effect Oh! And it is messy. But a wonderful drawing medium.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Right? Once I started using willow a lot I didn’t want to do my initial sketching with anything else. I often use pencils in the later stages too. Glad you like the video!

[@jcepri]

And just think, you can pretty much create a voice like this with AI already.

[@robertchristian1258]

Amazing! From childhood I always wanted to be an artist but my perfectionism has always got the best of me. Watching your videos has inspired me to continue to try. It’s like you’re speaking to my soul. Please keep making videos.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Robert! Perfection is overrated and can be kind of dull in a way. I'd much rather be interesting than perfect. Keep drawing dude!

[@odedonn3912]

Great video Jeff ❤ very instructive and made me itch to create a new charcoal portrait 🙏

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you! Glad you liked it :)

[@recreepy]

Bravo! You've left me thoroughly impressed.🥰🥰🥰

[@shawnsauve7537]

Thank you for clearly explaining use of natural and compressed charcoals. So helpful!

[@JeffHainesArt]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@rolfarnquist8343]

A very informative and educational video! Thank you Jeff!

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@pereiraadilson]

Great video. Thank you!

[@michaelmcewan432]

Very informative video, excellent as usual

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Michael!

[@finwefingolfin7113]

Well presented Jeff. I greatly admire your work and your videos. This video is a nice seductive attempt to introduce people to the joys charcoal. I've noticed, when attending life drawing groups , that a lot of people are frightened of charcoal because it is difficult to control at first and you have to psychologically loosen up and not worry too much about individual marks but treat it more like an impressionistic painting with large flat brushes in which the form gradually emerges from the mess. If you worry too much about having total control and you treat it like a pen or pencil drawing then you deny yourself access to the expressive beauty which is unique to this medium. Another benefit which you did not mention is that you can draw incredibly fast with charcoal ( and soft pastels sticks) in comparison to other dry media. This is especially useful during time restricted life drawing or getting quick impressions of transient effects of nature down on paper.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you. I think natural charcoal is one of those mediums that people use once or twice in an art class and never use it again, which is a shame because it's so nice once you get used to it. I agree with about working quickly too, and the life that working quickly brings to the equation. Thanks again!

[@Nevermore941012]

What a beautiful video

[@Starrgazed]

Loved this❤

[@jeffreykeeney5363]

Great Video. TY

[@DrawCartoons]

You are very knowledgeable artist 🙏👌

[@Leila.Allameh]

Hi Jeff! I love your videos, your approach towards charcoals and your sense of humor! Thank you for the great insights and I keep confusing your voice with Marshal Vandruff's! You two sound so similar, it's insane! Even your intonations! wow

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much Leila! Glad you like the videos and the voice :)

[@Leila.Allameh]

😊🙏

[@Toto-NaoWinter]

Thank you for clarifying the difference between natural charcoal and compressed ones. Could you kindly let me know if you have added water to your natural charcoal drawing ?

[@Nelz459]

That Rod Sterling voice combined with instructional wisdom makes for the perfect learning platform in which to grow in skill and knowledge. Well done. I'm inspired to persevere in this new, artistic journey that I am on. Thank you, Mr. Haines.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much for the kind message! I love hearing that. I wish you all the best with your art.

[@gregscottcampbell]

Love the videos!! Would you be able to do more tutorials on drawing from reference and getting proportions etc.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks! Working on some of those now actually.

[@saebsaqer]

Thank you Sir !!!!!

[@christianejehanneravallec]

Merci beaucoup 😀

[@aliyutube]

your talks are great! more videos pls

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks! I will do that :)

[@jmarcguy]

Just bought some willow charcoal. Trying to see what I can do with it. Very fluid medium.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Good luck with it. Willow is probably my favorite medium.

[@csnobbe]

Have you ever tried powdered charcoal? It makes for interesting effects, but forget spraying it with fixative. It just blows away. This video was very helpful. Your work is beautiful and I am inspired to get my charcoals out again.

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you! Glad you liked it. I haven't messed around with powdered charcoal much other than the powder that accumulates as I draw with the sticks. I've seen it used to great effect though, and I have a little container of broken vine and willow stubs that I think about crushing into a powder and trying it. :)

[@lisalynch629]

Thanks!

[@jaymcguire9116]

Good video.

[@TonySwaby]

Great video my friend :)

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Tony! Another sunny day in Yorkshire? :)

[@TonySwaby]

@@JeffHainesArt I know, freaky👍 might have to take my vest off😆

[@coryshaw1975]

@@TonySwaby @jeffHainesArt Appreciate what you both do and have done for me through your sharing of your skills and approach. Thanks - from the "ever sunny" Los Angeles. This was sarcasm - we have had UK weather for the last 5 months here :(

[@JeffHainesArt]

@@coryshaw1975 Thanks Cory! Happy you like it.

[@musicswede1]

Thank you sir

[@hannavalenta6717]

Wonderful video Jeff! Best one on charcoal out there. When you say that using an easel makes a world of a difference, how do you mean? For the better or worse? And why?

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you Hanna! Having your work on an incline (or an easel) keeps you hands out of your drawing better, gives you a better view, and allows you to work at arm length. Check out the 'Are you Drawing, or Writing?' video on my channel for a better explanation. (I don't think I can post links in the comments)

[@R_O_T_A]

C'est rare de tomber sur une video aussi claire , heureusement que les sous titres sont disponible , le français que je suis n'aurait pas pu profiter de cette video interessante . Merci

[@JeffHainesArt]

I'm glad the subtitles were available and glad that you enjoyed it!

[@RobbinsExodus]

Thank you so much!! Simpily out of curiosity, is this your true voice? Love it too!

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks! Yes, it's my real voice, haha. I've never had anyone think my voice was distinctive until I started making KZbin vids :)

[@JohnMattador]

Thanks for another great video Jeff. How would you achieve areas of light , consistent value with even rendering, apply it darkly and the remove and smoothen with a brush?

[@JeffHainesArt]

Hi John, spreading the charcoal around with a brush produces a nice even tone, and then re-stating the darks works pretty well. Thanks for the comment!

[@juanbolivar8327]

I agreed with everything, since I have been slowly learning how to use both compressed and natural charcoal, and it is really liberating for me, I don't use graffite anymore, but I think it is because of my style, I found myself better with charcoal than with graffite, even though I like a lot the metallic tone that graffite makes, I really feel my way with charcoal, it challenge me as well

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks Juan, I agree!

[@mikenow3050]

I have so many art supplies. But now i will have to get some natural charcoal. My wife will just roll her eyes.

[@190brolly]

kkkkkkkk

[@abatosart2163]

MÁSTER! ABRAZO DESDE PERÚ

[@ForeverArt0]

thnx

[@SarahWarom]

This is so helpful thank you! Do you have any brands you would recommend?

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thank you Sarah, different brands of soft charcoal can actually be quite different and it's a matter of preference really. The brand I use mostly is 'Coates' for willow.

[@gerryclarke9795]

Hi Sarah, Sennelier, Winsor Newton, Daler Rowney, Faber Castell and Nitram all do soft charcoal, all very good quality, Nitram a Canadian manufacturer make a wide range of thicknesses and degrees of hardness,they are more expensive here in Ireland. My favourite compressed charcoal is manu. by Cretacolor, they make these in a round and a flat shape I think the flat is better they are about 1cm x 5ml x 7cm. very intense dark! I apologise for intruding on your question to Jeff. PS. i also use Coates, very economical, loved Jeff's drawings!

[@SarahWarom]

@@JeffHainesArt thank you!

[@SarahWarom]

@@gerryclarke9795 thanks ever so much for that Gerry. No intrusion at all, your suggestions are very much appreciated!

[@chun-hohung1773]

Thank you Jeff! This video is super informative! I also recently switched from graphite to charcoal, and I find that i can finish a drawing much more quickly by its very own nature. I have a question about doing refinement like handling edges, transition between around mid tone, and details like a human eye. I've been using my fingers to do smudging, which is OK, but I wonder if I should start looking into other tools like a paint brush for a smoother transition and a more refined control? Also, it feels like for really fine details like eye lashes and pupils, it seems like we would need to use charcoal pencil / compressed charcoal to finish them. Do you have any tips for blending the natural charcoal powder with compressed charcoal?

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much! I use a variety of 'stumps' and a brush sometimes too. Each has it's place depending on what you're doing. I use charcoal pencils some too for a bit more control and/or detail, as you said. Good luck!

[@KartunOke-tg8jf]

Nice pictures

[@cryptzzz1188]

Very inspiring channel. I find some of the art community to be kind of... meh, pretentious, inflated, sometimes gatekeeping. I used to draw a lot as a child, later on a bit less, then I stopped and did it only ocassionally. Now I'm coming back to it, I usually draw people. Sometimes I feel that it's useless, that there is no point in doing it but I guess it is what it is. If you're drawn to do it, you will do it no matter how you sometimes feel about it. Charcoal seems to work well with my personality. Thanks for the videos

[@JeffHainesArt]

I agree. Stuffy, pretentious attitudes take all the joy out of it. Draw because you want to, you don't need a better reason. Glad you like the videos!

[@MeeraRanjit]

Hey Jeff. I’m a big fan. I started charcoal after watching your videos. I’m not that bad but I struggle a lot with finding good references and painting/drawing eyes and lips. Please helpppp

[@JeffHainesArt]

Thanks so much! Image sharing sites like Unsplash can be good but still requires alot of searching. Pinterest also has good practice images. I wish I could help more but I spend a lot of time searching for good refs too.

[@sodawannabe9423]

How many years have you been working with charcoal? I’m learning how to use the medium and I’m excited for the journey.

[@JeffHainesArt]

I've been drawing forever, but mostly with charcoal for 8 years or so. I hope you love this medium as much as I do!

[@biswajitseth1922]

Hey How long did it take to master the charcoal?

[@derekcutsinger3511]

For the love of god will someone please explain what kind of paper to use? This seemingly simple thing is hard to find an answer for lol

[@staceygrimes4107]

I’d love to know the correct way to prepare a canvas for a combination of charcoal and acrylic. ♥️

[@JeffHainesArt]

Haha, sorry I forgot to talk about paper. I might try to make a video on surfaces. Short answer: I use Strathmore 300 & 400 series drawing paper. medium finish. Just a little tooth but not as textured as 'charcoal ' paper.

[@staceygrimes4107]

@@JeffHainesArt thank you Jeff!

[@afreeman5609]

Stacey, if your working with charcoal and acrylic you might want to apply a finish over the charcoal prior to using acrylics. I would suggest working in that order as the acrylics will build texture that will heavily influence the charcoal work over it. BTW, using acrylics after using charcoal that's been cleared over is a beautiful effect that opens the door to a lot of wonderful effects. Have fun.

[@AbidHussain-b6p3s]

Which types of pencil ✏️ did u used😊

[@JeffHainesArt]

I usually use 'Generals' charcoal pencils

[@brookzera218]

Hmmm expert talking !

[@aelfie_8734]

What is your favorite type of paper to use for charcoal?

[@JeffHainesArt]

I use Strathmore 300 and 400 series drawing paper for 'everyday' drawing, but not always.