Realistic Charcoal Drawing Tutorial

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All music in this video: Composed by me

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Do you guys prefer charcoal or graphite for drawing? Let me know in the comment. 😃

[@aarophimu9892]

I prefer more on graphite

[@kuNal247.-__-]

Ball pen 😅😅😅

[@bobbyv4451]

Both

[@zaizailiang223]

I use charcoal .But I think graphite is more smooth ！ Like your art 😛

[@jip7971]

Maybe a bit off topic, but I would really like a video on backgrounds. Like what works to enhance the drawing and what methods to use. Thank you in advance🙏

[@philhall1701]

One of the best portraits I have viewed recently, lovely sensitive rendering;fantastic job

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

I really appreciate the kind words! Thank you so much!

[@philhall1701]

@@ArmadaLiuArt your welcome, they are well deserved

[@jeanhanson8744]

Thank you so much for this video. Just beautiful 🤗

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much for checking the video for me. 🤗

[@ptj4620]

Stunning. You make it look so easy

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much. 🙏🏻 It's definitely not as easy. At the beginning of the video I didn't know what to do.

[@artbykanwargitesh5490]

absolute beautiful

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much!

[@WhittleDude]

I like drawing with charcoal too. It is like painting in grey scale. This is how I really learn values. With practice, I may be able to draw as good as you. And I love the music.

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Yeah right? Especially when using paper stumps, it feels like holding a brush with dry paint. ☺️🙏🏻

[@belbolser9671]

I definitely prefer charcoal to graphite as I love the softness it produces. Your drawing is incredible! Thanks for sharing your techniques, the use of the sofft tool for blending is a nice touch.

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

I was scared drawing with charcoal at first because it's easier to smudge, but not I prefer charcoal too. Thank you so much for checking the video for me. Much appreciated. 🤗

[@nicolab9565]

A fabulous portrait and it is always fascinating to watch you draw. I usually use graphite because I thought I had more control. Recently I have seen some amazing charcoal drawings so I'm thinking of trying charcoal. I love your style of drawing and I enjoy watching your videos more than any others.

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much Nicola for the kind words. Oh definitely give it a try! Charcoal could be daunting at first because it handles differently than graphite. But definitely it's just as beautiful medium!

[@barringtonwheater3118]

I'm stunned by your skill!

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

I really appreciate it. Thank you so much! 🙏🏻

[@pradumnarts]

Wow ,so beautiful

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Much appreciated! 😃🙏🏻

[@AdrianPoon-u2q]

Amazing!

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you!

[@Abinash498]

Wow awesome 💯❤🎉

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏻

[@HollaatPapa32]

I don't see Anything wrong with your sketch ..artist to artist keep going

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you. I really appreciate it! ☺️

[@ayushi54]

You are super 🏆✨🔥

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! ☺️

[@tharushachathumal4379]

Wow brother ❤🎉

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! ☺️☺️

[@RoshanKumar-wu4jr]

Wow i really like it ☺

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much man!

[@sararosa5436]

Maravilhoso, suas mãos tem muita sensibilidade, lindíssimo essa pintura, de uma perfeição imensa, parabéns e um grande artista.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💖💖💖💖💖💖😍😍😍😍😍🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

I really appreciate the kind words. Thank you very much! ☺️☺️🙏🏻

[@ohchunglee2987]

Astounding

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Much appreciated!

[@janpergomez8530]

I am a graphite artist sir, but when I saw your videos,I admire your charcoal painting maybe I will try that medium❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Definitely try it! It'll help broaden our drawing skills. ☺️☺️

[@fatimasequeira476]

Magnífico ❤️👏👏👏👏👏

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! 😃

[@updatepencildrawing]

Beautiful

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you very much! 😃

[@user-ip9cv4te9f]

畫的好美！精緻的畫功！

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! I can't speak mandarin though I'm chinese. But 谢谢 ☺️☺️

[@MayaDrawingArt]

Nice 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! 🙏🏻

[@aakriti_arts007]

Realistic art 🎉❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much!! ☺️🙏🏻

[@NgLiongHo]

Muanteb Da!

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! Much appreciated! 🤭🤭

[@NgLiongHo]

@@ArmadaLiuArt 😄

[@jip7971]

Thanks you for sharing, this has been very helpful. Personally I prefer charcoal video's. I like to loosen up my art work, but still stick to realism. Maybe there are benefits in both charcoal and graphite and get the best of each medium if you combine them in your artwork. So a 'combined' video would also be interesting. Your art is amazing!❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

I will consider this. This sounds like a good strategy combining charcoal and graphite! Thanks for the input! 😃😃

[@EamINCb]

Nice ❤❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much!

[@karakters7905]

subbed man i just discovered your channel I am an artist from Philippines, omg i love your art style, combination of soft edges plus solid drawing, this is what I am trying to look for a long time couldn't see one because all of them draw like a damn printer which... is not good in my opinion, please keep uploading more!!!

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

May I ask how you found my channel? Did it just pop out or did you search for something specific like charcoal drawing? Sometimes I wonder how people discover my channel. 😅 Thank you so much for the sub. I really appreciate it. I'm currently working on another similar portrait.

[@karakters7905]

@@ArmadaLiuArt nice to hear that, it just popped up on my recommendations, probably the algorithm picked up the I am an artist too

[@ranwonderlandt7744]

Your works are crazy! 💫🥹🤍

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

☺️☺️🙏🏻 thank you for the compliment. ☺️

[@yuihanima]

❤beautilfull

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! ☺️

[@claudeouellette5988]

Merci!

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much Claude! Merci! 🙏🏻🙏🏻😃

[@Indu_Ghritlahare]

I use graphite but I too want to try charcoal.

[@iggy6841]

Beautiful picture. Do you use a fixative after its finished?

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Yes, always, and then I put the drawing in a folder so it doesn't collect dust.

[@priyankamitra9935]

Charcoal drawing❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much!

[@user-li6qd6yv3d]

amazing 😂

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you! ☺️

[@ephraimsanford5042]

Charcoal!

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Turns out it's a really fun medium to draw with! ☺️

[@KhmerPaint-mf7ym]

Wow amazing beautiful girl ❤❤❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you very much! ☺️

[@russellburgess9820]

Thanks

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Oh why thank you so much Russell, I really appreciate it! 🙏🏻

[@sheveja.2527]

I use both. but more graphite

[@Mac9cito]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@maheshtutika2566]

Amazing and beautiful. Thank you for sharing. quick question, do you draw from any reference image or just your imagination?

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much! Always from a reference photograph.

[@maheshtutika2566]

@@ArmadaLiuArt Thank you so much for replying. Can you kindly share the reference images if possible

[@user-wo5vw9bb5m]

I perfer graphite pencil for Drawing, what's that black thing 🤔 Good artwork 😊

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

What do you mean by a black thing? Do you mean my kneaded eraser? 😅

[@user-wo5vw9bb5m]

@@ArmadaLiuArt yeah! 😅 yes

[@leak4706]

🎉what kind of paper did you usually use ❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

I'm using Canson 1557 smooth drawing paper, 180gsm. There's a photo at the beginning of the video if you want to check it. 😃😃 Thank you so much!

[@janetferraroartstudio4234]

I love drawing and painting with charcoal too ! Beautiful drawing/painting ! ❤

[@1mulekicker]

How many hours did it take to complete?

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Took me like 12 hours. I drew several days, one small thing at a time.

[@1mulekicker]

@@ArmadaLiuArt Looks amazing, similar to Olivia Hussey only Asian.

[@stephenmartin6733]

What is that applicator?

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

It's similar to a palette knife in oil painting, but this one is made of sponge. Give it some charcoal / graphite powder and smear it on the paper, it creates a very smooth shading. Mine is from Maries, you can find a similar product on Amazon called Sofft Tools Pan Pastel Applicator.

[@stephenmartin6733]

@@ArmadaLiuArt Thank you.

[@user-ft8hn2xb7h]

Bonjour, artiste talentueux et talentueux, pouvez-vous mettre une traduction arabe ? Je suis arabe et je n'ai rien compris, s'il vous plaît ?❤❤

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Hi, sorry the video is in English as I speak English. But you could try the auto translate feature on KZbin. You can translate my English subtitles to any language you want.

[@user-ft8hn2xb7h]

@@ArmadaLiuArt Yes, this is true, but there is only an English translation

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Go to settings - captions - you will have 3 options: 1. Turn off captions 2. English 3. Auto translate Choose 3. And choose your preferred language.

[@TocharaehD]

Great work, but I'm a tad confused why you thought your block-ins initially were a mistake, and believed that starting out smudging was the correct way to go. With charcoal, how you started was totally fine with the blocking in of values. Smudging has its place, but the issue with starting with smudging first is that it gradually gets harder to correct mistakes thus forcing you to have to darken values. The reason for this is that smudging causes the medium to hold onto the fibers and fill the spaces in between. Therefore, smudging when developing values is generally left to a later process. Starting out with contour lines, establishing shadow shapes and blocking in of values is generally the standard, so what you did was totally fine and not in error for the initial approach.

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation, and sharing with me. Since this was my first charcoal drawing, I really didn't know what to expect. And my goal was to create a smooth drawing look. From my experience, applying the charcoal powder with pan pastel applicator (not paper stump) will produce mid value which is smooth and they're way easier to erase than if I shade my pencil directly on the paper like in the video. (I'm not sure if this is just my pencil or different brands have different permanence). In this video, I thought it was a mistake because it looked messy and not the way I imagined it would be. Thankfully I managed to smoothen out the pencil marks with my paper stump later. On my 2nd drawing attempt, I start by blocking in the values with my applicator and they look smoother and less messy. This is what I imagine my drawing should be. And later when everything is mapped out, I begin drawing and darkening things with my pencil. I guess charcoal is so versatile that we can just start drawing in many ways.

[@TocharaehD]

@@ArmadaLiuArt I really enjoyed watching the whole process. You really nailed it, and I enjoyed how you likened the use of charcoal (my fav medium in addition to chalk pastel) to that of painting. The use of the applicator was really creative, and gave me a new tool to try out. Have you tried actually using a paintbrush? They work surprisingly well. You soft edges are wonderful. You're getting a sub from me for sure. When I'm not drawing I'm always shadowboxing via watching videos like this one. Well done.

[@FuchsiaFire444]

Learning how to use the tools is one thing. But you have to know what youre doing with the tools and this is an innate understanding of the form youre looking at either visually or in your mind's eye. Not everyone is at that level of clarity.

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Yeah I agree with you, understanding how the tools work and how it can help us achieve what we intend to do is half the battle. Perhaps I'll make another video on this topic. ☺️ Thank you so much for watching the video. ☺️

[@allahuddin9466]

Artist ✍ 👌 👍 💯💋💯💋💋💯💋💯💯💯💋💋💯💯💋💯💯💯💋❤💯allahuddin artist drawing

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Much appreciated! ☺️

[@AdrianPoon-u2q]

Amazing!

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Much appreciated!

[@adrianpoon2363]

Amazing!

[@ArmadaLiuArt]

Thank you Adrian! ☺️