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Left to right: charcoal's structure made using wet charcoal powder, charcoal's structure made with a variety of charcoal products, graphite's structure made with graphite pencils.
Drawing

The Difference Between Graphite and Charcoal Explained

Published: 23rd August 2018 by Tegen Hager-Suart  |  Last updated: 15th January 2025
Comments: 29

Graphite and charcoal are two of the most used materials for drawing and draughtmanship. While both are carbon-based, the way they are made means they both have unique qualities and functions. This makes them particularly distinctive as tools. Charcoal can be used for expressive, dramatic work and preliminary sketches and graphite for detailed, exact work. Over the recent years, they have been manufactured in a vast array of different forms, meaning their versatility has dramatically increased. In this article I will explain the difference between graphite and charcoal.


 

Graphite and Charcoal atmosphere, Difference between graphite and charcoal

Graphite and charcoal products available at Jackson’s.

 

The Difference Between Graphite and Charcoal Explained

Contents:

The Chemical Structure of Charcoal and Graphite

Everything You Need to Know about Charcoal

How is Charcoal Made?

What is Charcoal

Types of Charcoal

  • Vine, Willow and Linden Charcoal
  • Charcoal Powder
  • Compressed Charcoal
  • Charcoal Pencils
  • Liquid Charcoal
  • Miscellaneous ‘Charcoal’ Drawing Materials

Everything You Need to Know about Graphite

How is Graphite Made?

What is Graphite

Types of Graphite

  • Graphite Pencils
  • Graphite Blocks/ Sticks
  • Watersoluble Graphite
  • Graphite Powder

 

Charcoal's structure created using a variety of charcoal products, difference between graphite and charcoal

Charcoal’s structure created using a variety of charcoal products.

 

Main Difference Between the Chemical Structure of Charcoal and Graphite

Charcoal

Charcoal is a matt dark drawing material that crumbles easily and is often used for expressive marks. Charcoal’s structure is that of a complex lattice with no distinct or repetitive design. This lack of uniformity causes it to irregularly fold in upon itself creating many little dips and craters within its structure and a vast surface area. This pore structure enables it to be used in scientific processes as a filter as. Depending on the conditions in which the charcoal is produced, the craters can form at different sizes allowing them to adsorb specific molecules (much like a sieve).

This lack of uniformity makes charcoal fragile, causing it to fracture oddly on a molecular level. The result is a dusty, crumbly, matte material that catches in the paper’s texture but can be easily wiped away unless fixed. Charcoal’s flaky texture allows artists to create a wide range of effects, from dense lines with pressure, where many particles are deposited, to softer, powdery lines with less pressure, where the particles spread out. The molecular structure also affects its application — drawing with charcoal feels rough and slightly gritty due to its irregular fracturing on a molecular level.
 

Graphite's molecular structure made using graphite pencils, difference between graphite and charcoal

Graphite’s molecular structure made using graphite pencils.

 

Graphite

Graphite is a slightly shiny material, usually in a grey that is used commonly in pencils and sticks for most writing and drawing applications. Graphite in contrast produces far less dust when being used and adheres to surfaces easier without much need, if any, for fixative. This is because of graphite’s uniform, layered structure as shown above. While the atoms within each layer are bonded very securely, resulting in very stable sheets of graphite, the bonds between the layers are weak. This allows the stable sheets to slip and slide easily over one another (imagine a box of dry lasagna sheets).

When drawing with graphite, the layers easily slip off one another, and therefore off the pencil, allowing the tool to glide effortlessly across the paper leaving perfectly structured sheets of graphite behind. This explains why graphite is less crumbly than charcoal, produces smoother, less dusty marks and is easier to control – although graphite sheets separate from one another they will maintain their uniform structure, whereas charcoal will fracture into irregular shards. Graphite has a slightly shiny appearance and is a dull grey colour – as it is unreactive, it can also be mixed with pigments to create coloured graphite pencils.

A fascinating fact that proves how closely related these carbon allotropes are is that if you heat charcoal to 2982 degrees Celsius, it turns into graphite!

 

Left to right: charcoal's structure made using wet charcoal powder, charcoal's structure made with a variety of charcoal products, graphite's structure made with graphite pencils, difference between graphite and charcoal

Left to right: charcoal’s structure made using wet charcoal powder, charcoal’s structure made with a variety of charcoal products, graphite’s structure made with graphite pencils.

 

Everything You Need to Know about Charcoal

Charcoal is one of the oldest art materials ever used. The first recorded use are cave paintings that date back from 23 000 BC. Since then various technologies and methods have been invented or harnessed to enhance its properties and compensate for its structural weakness.

 

A combination of a variety of charcoal products available at Jacksons, difference between graphite and charcoal

A combination of a variety of charcoal products available at Jackson’s.

 

How is Charcoal Made?

Charcoal is made by burning incompletely natural matter such as plants, wood or bone, over a long period of time in a chamber, pot or kiln that has restricted airflow. This leads to the incomplete combustion of the material and production of the form of carbon we know as charcoal.

 

What is Charcoal?

Charcoal is a dry medium that can be used in its raw form as sticks or powder, or mixed with gum or wax binder to make it easier to handle. It can create a wide range of tonal marks from intense matt black to very light greys. It’s structure makes it easy to remove from a surface with the brush of a hand, although it can leave some staining due to dust getting trapped in the surface texture. It can be applied to smooth or rough substrates with ease and the correct amount of pressure.

 

Types of Artist Charcoal

The wood, preparation, binders and format dramatically change the texture and application of different forms of charcoal. So this explains the main types of charcoal and their applications.

 

Vine, Willow and Linden Charcoal

 

Charcoal sticks in a variety of sizes, difference between graphite and charcoal

Charcoal sticks in a variety of sizes.

 

Vine and willow charcoal are both made by heating actual vines and pieces of willow in a kiln or chamber. These sticks tend to be fairly thin and long and are always slightly irregular restricting some of the marks you can make. The different wood produces a different charcoal with vine charcoal creating a dark grey and willow charcoal creating a rich, deep almost velvety black.

Willow charcoal tends to have a more uniformed, consistent mark and finer particles than vine charcoal. It is available in a range of widths, usually named thin, medium, thick and chunky or jumbo. These vary between 3 to 24mm. Often the willow used for artist charcoal grows quickly and only needs a single growing system. The sticks are usually heated over a period of three days to make them suitable for artistic use.

Vine charcoal tends to be easy to dust or erase making it perfect for life drawing, quick sketches or compositions that need constant reworking. Vine charcoal is also available naturally in a range of hardness including soft, medium and hard.

Linden is also a wood commonly used to create stick charcoal. It is also possible to make charcoal yourself using ovens that are on for a long time at a high temperature with a completely sealed casserole dish or similar. However, this is a fairly lengthy and involved process.

 

Charcoal Powder

 

Two types of charcoal powder, difference between graphite and charcoal

Two types of charcoal powder.

 

Powdered charcoal is literally charcoal in powdered form. It can be made by crushing up the dust of willow or vine charcoal or be bought as a separate product. It can be combined with other charcoal products or used wet with watercolour to create areas of dark rich black in artworks. You might find it doesn’t create as dark a mark as compressed charcoal so using a combination of forms in a piece can be useful. However, it can be perfect for toning a whole surface or area of a surface. This can be done by using a variety of sized brushes with dry powder and blowing away excess dust or by mixing the charcoal with a small amount of water on a palette.

It is worth practicing if you plan to use wet charcoal as the wrong ratio of water to charcoal can create a muddy effects. Wet charcoal will dry to have the same appearance as applied dry charcoal, meaning you can use multiple application techniques on a work to create a seamless, unified finish. If using wet charcoal you will need a suitable absorbent surface and will still need to fix it as you do with any charcoal piece.

 

Compressed Charcoal

 

Graphite and Charcoal atmosphere, difference between graphite and charcoal

A selection of rounded compressed charcoal and charcoal and white pigment.

 

Compressed charcoal is now commonly used as it breaks much less easily than vine charcoal and is harder to erase (although some artists will enjoy this quality of the stick variety of charcoal). You can also use the side of the stick to create broad consistent strokes, which is completely impossible while using vine charcoal due to its irregular shape. Compressed charcoal is made by combining charcoal powder with a gum binder and pressing it into sticks. This allows makers to control the hardness of the sticks by increasing or decreasing the amount of binder. This also affects the consistency (increased from that of the vine) and the shade of each block and stick. The range of hardnesses is fairly wide going from HB, B, 2B, 3B, 4B to occasionally 6B or alternatively referred to as extra soft, soft, medium and hard.

Compressed charcoal also allows larger sticks to be produced than those available as raw material, these can then be sharpened into a point and are less messy due to the binder than raw charcoal. Allowing a new range of marks in deep black or subtle more controlled gradations.

 

Charcoal Pencils

 

graphite and charcoal, difference between graphite and charcoal

Charcoal Pencils going from hard to soft.

 

Charcoal pencils are made by putting compressed charcoal (so charcoal powder and a gum or wax binder) into a wooden jacket or very occasionally into a paper jacket similarly to a grease pencil. The most common wood used for the jacket of charcoal pencil is cedar. This development for charcoal makes it perfect for producing fine, clean and crisp drawing with very deep black matt areas.

An advantage of charcoal pencils over other charcoal forms is there is a much lower chance of breakage and they are easy to sharpen to a point. For the paper wrapped version you peel away rather than sharpening but you can use a sandblock to shape the tip. Both types of charcoal pencil allow you to make tiny, considered and accurate drawings with a lot of control and potential for minute detail.

They are found in the same variety of hardnesses as compressed charcoal ranging from extra soft to hard, also referred to as 6B to HB.

The combination of charcoal and graphite pencils can enhance a drawing by playing both with tone and with the matt and reflective surfaces of each. Some portrait artists will use graphite for the hair, eyes and accessories and then charcoal for delicate soft skin tone and for softer more luxurious fabrics.

 

Liquid Charcoal

Liquid charcoal is a painterly way of working with the medium. It is made by combining finely ground charcoal with a binder, often a gum arabic watercolour binder, to make a fluid paint. It is sold in tubes like a regular paint.

Liquid charcoal is soluble in water and can be applied with a watercolour brush. Like other forms of charcoal, it has a vast tonal range; it can be used minimally diluted with water to reach dark, deep values, or heavily diluted to get light greys. Liquid charcoal tends to be granulating, which is a textural watercolour effect produced by the pigment particles settling unevenly on the paper. This texture can be amplified by using rough paper and lots of water.

Liquid charcoal dries to a matt finish, and usually remains watersoluble after drying. It can be fixed with a general purpose fixative to prevent smudging. It is an excellent alternative to dry charcoal as a medium for underpainting. One of the great advantages of liquid charcoal is that it can be used in combination with sticks of dry charcoal. It adds a painterly touch to a drawing practice, helping to build up a variety of textures and tones.

 

Miscellaneous ‘Charcoal’ Drawing Materials

White Charcoal:

Some white artist pencils are referred to as white charcoal however they have no relation to traditional charcoal and in fact contains normally Titanium White pigment or calcium carbonate and a clay binder or alternative binder inside a wood sheath. White charcoal does legitimately also exist, it is a Japanese variety also known as ‘Binchōtan’. This charcoal is a lot lighter than traditional charcoal but is more of a light grey, ashes colour than white.

 

Carbon Pencils:

Carbon pencils are sometimes mentioned in the same breath as charcoal products, however these are made of a different form of carbon than either charcoal or graphite. They are made with lampblack, a pigment made by gathering up the soot left over from burning oil. They have a more even consistency than charcoal since the material is purer and smoother and they are available in the same variety of hardnesses as compressed charcoal and charcoal pencils.

 

Everything You Need to Know About Graphite

Graphite is one of the most familiar inorganic, yet naturally occurring, materials that artists use, even though in its most common form, the pencil, it has only been used for the last 600 years. The reason we refer to a pencil ‘lead’ is that graphite was thought to be a type of lead until 1779 when a Swedish chemist discovered it was a mineral form of carbon. The term graphite comes from the greek word ‘graphein’ meaning ‘to write’.

 

A combination of various graphite products available from Jackson's, difference between graphite and charcoal

A combination of various graphite products available from Jackson’s.

 

How is Graphite Made?

Modern pencils are made by creating a paste of clay, purified graphite and water that is partially dried through a filtration process. This is then extruded and fired at 1038 degrees Celsius. These porous strands are then soaked and filled with wax allowing a smoother line and better adherence. These are the leads that are typically used in a pencil or a lead holder.

The first appearance of graphite encased in wood dates from around 1565, close to the time natural graphite was first discovered in Cumbria. Other natural sources exist in Siberia, Germany and in the USA. However graphite is now artificially produced by heating cokes (another carbon allotrope) at high temperatures.

This synthetic graphite tends to be less reflective than mineral ‘flake’ graphite, additionally synthetic graphite’s grey hue can be altered by changing the size of the particles that make it up. The shape and size of the particles affect the reflectivity and textural differences of the marks and thus the final piece. This explains the effect of different pencils and how they can be used to build up a piece. It also tends to be slightly more granular and less platy than its natural counterpart and this means it has a slightly different texture when used as a drawing material.

 

What is Graphite

Graphite is a metallic, grey mineral that is used for writing or drawing. It is a soft yet brittle substance, so unless used as a drawing material in powder form, it requires a protective shell or a binder. It is used mixed with other ingredients to enhance its composition, strength, hardness or hue. Many artists find graphite essential to produce sketches, final pieces and work on final details. It can be buffered, smudged or erased to create different effects and can be sharpened to a very neat fine point or be bought in a soft hardness that can be easily manipulated.

 

Types of Artist Graphite

Like charcoal you can get graphite in many different forms for artistic use. Some of these preference control and detail while others are useful for shading, bold marks, gradiation or quick expression.

 

Graphite Pencils

 

Graphite pencils demonstrating range of hardnesses from 9B-9H, difference between graphite and charcoal

Graphite pencils demonstrating range of hardnesses from 9B-9H

 

The word pencil comes from the latin ‘pencillus’ that means little tail and originally referred to a small brush used for working in ink during the medieval times. Our modern pencils earnt this name by having a wooden pencil and a small pointed tip like a tiny brush, or ‘pencillus’, would have.

Graphite pencils were originally blocks of raw graphite, mined from the ground, that were shaped into sticks and wrapped with string. Shortly after the discovery of graphite it was clear the amount of naturally occuring graphite was finite leading to people experimenting with combining powdered graphite with gums, resin and glues to extend them. This mixture was then pressed into grooved wood, it wasn’t entirely effective.

Nicolas-Jacques Conte (namesake of the Conte brand) supposedly made the first modern pencil for Napoleon in 1795. This pencil is made by roasting clay, purified graphite and water in a kiln and then putting it is a wood sheath. Joseph Hardmuth, then improved the technique by discovering you could change the hardness of the pencil by varying the amount of clay used.

The degrees of hardness that apply to artist pencils are completely down to the amount of clay added. The more clay the harder the lead is but the lighter the overall line. You can use these different hardnesses to create detail, change the appearance of line or create dark and light areas. Artist graphite pencils are measured in hardnesses between high Hs the hardest and high Bs, the softest leads. F or HB is seen as the neutral hardness of pencil, in general artists will use 8B to F but this is dependent or what effect the artist desires or needs.

 

Graphite Blocks and Sticks

 

Several graphite holders, graphite blocks, leads and sticks, difference between graphite and charcoal

Several graphite holders, graphite blocks, leads and sticks.

 

While our modern graphite sticks are fairly new, graphite was originally sold in pieces for marking stone and sheep. Later it was shaped into sticks, which resembled today’s artists’ graphite sticks. Today’s sticks, however, are not pure graphite, but a mixture of powdered graphite and clay that has been fired at a very high temperature. The amount of clay present determines the degree of hardness; the more clay, the harder the stick. The variety of hardnesses is a lot smaller than that of pencils, ranging between 2B and 6B.

Graphite sticks come in a range of sizes varying from a block or to ones mimicking the shape and size of a pencil, which you can use a sharpener with. Brands of ‘woodless pencil’ are also made using a similar procedure but with a heavy resin coating around the outside that needs to be sharpened away like you would with a standard pencils. One of the advantages of graphite sticks is you can create broad strokes, rubbings and distinctive dark lines easily.

 

Graphite Powder

 

Graphite powder available at Jackson‘s explaining the difference between graphite and charcoal

Graphite powder available at Jackson‘s

 

Graphite powder, which is often a by-product of the manufacture of synthetic graphite for other purposes, can be used similarly to charcoal powder and can be an interesting as well as very useful material. You can use it wet or dry and apply it with a variety of brushes to get different effects. If used with water you can apply it in washes similar to that of ink or watercolour. This makes it great for toning areas of a surface in preparation for a sketch allowing you to work in highlights quickly using an eraser on a consistently toned sheet. You can also use smaller brushes to add fine details.

Another alternative is to apply using a tissue or a small piece of leather all these methods will give the work you create a completely different texture. It is also particularly useful for knocking back highlights by applying it dry, gently to a whole piece without disrupting details. Be aware however the more you rub it the shiny and ‘polished’ the whole surface will become as it buffs the particles.

 

Collection of charcoal and graphite items available at Jackson's

Collection of charcoal and graphite items available at Jackson’s

 

Watersoluble Graphite

You can use watersoluble graphite in a similar way to traditional watercolour. It is made by combining powdered graphite with a watersoluble binder, and is available in pans, blocks, or tubes.

The pans and blocks can be activated with water, like a watercolour pan, and applied with a watercolour brush. An additional possibility with watersoluble graphite block is that it can be used to draw directly onto wet paper, producing darker, denser marks than are possible with dry graphite. Tubes of watersoluble graphite can be used exactly like a regular watercolour paint, either diluted with a little water to make a strong, deep grey, or heavily diluted for paler shades.

Watersoluble graphite tends to have a metallic, slightly shiny finish, especially when it is used thickly with little dilution. Some types remain watersoluble after drying, and others dry to a water-resistant finish which can be painted over without reactivating. All types can be fixed with a general fixative. Watersoluble graphite can be used alongside other forms of graphite, including graphite sticks, pencils, and powder. It is a great addition to a traditional graphite drawing practice, offering new possibilities for mark-making.

 

Graphite and charcoal are both exciting mediums on their own, and combining them with the wide range of available formats allows you to find the best working method for your needs. By considering the different formats, hardness, and tone of each product, you can often solve sketching or drawing challenges by simply introducing a new tool to your collection. Whether it’s wet graphite powder for a neutral ground, a carbon or charcoal pencil for rich dark tones in a graphite drawing, a hard graphite stick for metallic details, or a vine stick to outline an oil composition, each form offers unique possibilities.
 


 

Further Reading

Nitram Liquid Charcoal: Where Painting and Drawing Meet

Holbein Artists’ Coloured Pencils and Meltz Pencil Blender

Choosing a Rubber: Comparing Erasers

For Those Who Love to Draw: Four Artists Test Our Drawing Materials

 

Shop Graphite and Charcoal on jacksonsart.com

 

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Tegen Hager-Suart

A former member of the Jackson's Blog team, Tegen wrote about projects within the world of contemporary art, whether it's kick-starters, conceptual activism or exhibitions. In her own work her focus lies in experimentation, and unearthing the true potential of the materials she works with.

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Comments
  • Lesley Price 22 October 2018 at 9:41 am

    Brilliant in-depth article. Enables
    an informed choice of materials.

    • Tegen Hager-Suart 25 October 2018 at 4:16 pm

      Thank you very much for the feedback Lesley, always good to hear it’s useful.

  • Mike W 5 November 2018 at 9:29 pm

    Yes, very helpful, both as background
    and guidance.

    • Tegen Hager-Suart 12 November 2018 at 10:39 am

      Thank you very much, I’m glad it’s been useful and interesting.

  • S 6 December 2018 at 1:29 pm

    Thank you for a very well organized and informative article!

    • Lisa Takahashi 7 December 2018 at 4:45 pm

      Thank you!

  • Theresa Newby 6 June 2019 at 3:31 pm

    My son will be working on a large piece-
    5ft by 5ft charcoal and graphite drawing of
    an Indian man. the drawing will be on a
    neutral light canvas that will be framed.
    Question how do I go about sealing it, or
    do I ? Also the canvas is a very tight weave
    and I am not planning to paint it prior to
    the drawing so that the graphite and
    charcoal get deep into the natural fibers.Is
    that what I should do?

    • Tegen Hager-Suart 10 June 2019 at 9:09 am

      Hi Theresa, we recommend if you want to draw on canvas first priming the canvas as this will offer a more suitable texture. Graphite and charcoal if used dry usually stay on the surface of the substrate they’re on so I would be surprised if they sink into the fibres as you desire, although using them wet or wet versions of this would definitely facilitate it. Sealing charcoal and softer grades of graphite is a good idea, I’d recommend using an acrylic based spray varnish. This article (https://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2014/08/29/fixatives-are-not-all-the-same/) gives a comprehensive list of fixatives and why you’d choose each one. I would be aware if the canvas is unprimed the varnish is likely to seep into the fibres meaning you’ll need to use more varnish to provide a good protective covering.

      I hope that helps and please get in contact if you’d like further guidance.

  • Jessie Fries 29 June 2019 at 3:13 am

    Excellent information. Thank you.

    • Tegen Hager-Suart 1 July 2019 at 3:23 pm

      Thank you Jessie, for your feedback.

  • Texas US 6 August 2019 at 1:34 pm

    Thank you for the very clear writing and
    information! Quite helpful on choices
    and uses of those 2 products.

    • Tegen Hager-Suart 6 August 2019 at 4:33 pm

      Thank you for your feedback, I’m glad to know it’s useful and clear. I think the history of both is fascinating.

  • Dlamini Lindokuhle 12 November 2019 at 1:22 pm

    Hi! I’m from Swaziland my main aim is to
    implement a plant in my country to
    manufacture pencils as we are importing all
    those items abroad.So please advise me
    which way can be cheaper for between the
    two (graphite and charcoal).

    • Tegen Hager-Suart 15 November 2019 at 9:30 am

      Hi Dlamini, I imagine charcoal will be cheaper to source as a raw material however it’s harder to handle during manufacture. If cheapness is your aim, it might be worth going for graphite as you often you can mix a filler or clay in with the graphite to make it harder or softer and to keep costs down. That being said I’m unsure of the import costs of materials into Swaziland.

  • Peter 1 January 2020 at 9:19 pm

    Excellent article. Always interesting to
    get in depth information.
    I have a question, l make lots of travel
    sketches, usually ink with watercolour.
    Now l am looking for a charcoal to
    replace the ink. So watercolour with a
    charcoal drawing. I am looking for a
    dark, distinct and waterproof line…2 mm
    or less..I only tried the 5.6 mm Ciaconda
    ( charcoal. not graphite, l think ) lead.
    What would be very dark and water
    resistant ?
    Thank you

    • Evie Hatch 2 January 2020 at 12:03 pm

      Hi Peter, Derwent’s inktense outliner pencil is waterproof and I think it would work really well for you. wax-based drawing tools- like oil pastels or wax crayons- are waterproof and would act like a resist. They aren’t made from charcoal or graphite so they may not be exactly what you are after, but they could be worth experimenting with.

      • Sarah Wilde 18 August 2020 at 1:51 am

        I love this question! I’ve spent the
        last year or so experimenting with
        watercolor and charcoal/ graphite/
        colored pencil/ hard pastels, trying to
        figure out a way to incorporate very
        “sketchy” and very “washy” marks in
        the same piece–finally getting closer,
        I think! There are lots of options if
        you’re okay with doing the watercolor
        “layer” first; much trickier if you want
        to sketch first, then wash, as it’s not
        easy to find a sketching tool that’s
        basically waterproof. The outliner
        pencil is good, but it’s definitely
        sheen-y graphite. And it’s a pencil,
        which has a fairly limited range of
        marks, compared to, say, charcoal
        sticks. Been finding lately that
        colored pencil-type products are
        looking promising–surprising!

  • marisa vitiello 30 May 2020 at 3:02 am

    I love this article. Thank you. A couple
    questions. 1: what about the water soluble
    graphite sticks and other products? how
    does the composition differ? Also, I have
    been using a charcoal that doesn’t feel
    dense like compressed but it’s not totally
    ethereal like vine, is there another category
    in between? I’d love to find more of what I
    have. Thank you!

    • Evie Hatch 1 June 2020 at 10:34 am

      Hi Marisa, thank you for your comment. Watersoluble graphite pencils and sticks are made using a water-soluble binder (like aquarelle pencils) which makes them easily activated with water (you’ll find that most graphite pencils are blendable with water- though not as easily). The charcoal you’re using should say on the packaging what kind it is- it could be compressed charcoal with a relatively low binder density, or it could be thick willow charcoal, which is less fragile than vine charcoal. I hope that helps!

  • Sharon Moroney 16 July 2020 at 6:07 am

    I really enjoyed this article, thank you. You
    don’t often get so much information in one
    place. I like to understand the materials I
    use. Great work!

    • Evie Hatch 16 July 2020 at 10:35 am

      Thank you, Sharon! I’m glad you found it helpful

  • Sarah Wilde 18 August 2020 at 2:04 am

    VERY helpful!!! Thank you!

    • Evie Hatch 21 August 2020 at 11:22 am

      So glad you found it useful, Sarah!

  • Roberta Leidal 2 November 2020 at 11:00 pm

    Although this was a very good
    article, I would have liked to see
    more about the end result of each
    form. Similar to the comment
    about graphite having a more
    shiny effect than charcoal. If
    there were more like this
    comparison it shouldn’t be buried
    in the text.

    • Lisa Takahashi 19 April 2021 at 1:54 pm

      Dear Roberta

      Thanks for your feedback, we will endeavour to offer more information on results and effects of materials in future articles.

      Best wishes
      Lisa

  • Andrew Coslett 5 January 2022 at 6:11 pm

    Very informative article, I have learnt a lot
    from this, many thanks.

  • Areil Anderson Bacher 12 January 2022 at 12:03 am

    Very useful articles. Thank you for the info.

  • Avineet singh 16 January 2022 at 12:28 pm

    Before I start with a new medium, I
    always dig deep into its properties to
    better understand it’s applicability for
    laying out a composition with translates
    irrefutably. This is a very fine article I
    came across, very much thankful.

  • DEVALS 22 February 2022 at 8:22 am

    Merci beaucoup. L’article est très
    intéressant, complet et bien expliqué. Il me
    servira longtemps.

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    Make a Deep Turquoise by mixing 40% Phthalocyanine Make a Deep Turquoise by mixing 40% Phthalocyanine Blue (PB15), 40% Phthalocyanine Green (PG7) and 20% Titanium White (PW6).
 
Unlock the potential of your paint with our Colour Mixing series. Discover Artist Colour on our website - link in bio. #colourmixing #artmaterials #pigments #painting
    JACKSON'S PLEIN AIR DAYS⁠ ⁠ We're hosting a se JACKSON'S PLEIN AIR DAYS⁠
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We're hosting a series of Plein Air Days across the UK, taking place on the 1st Friday of every other month. ⁠
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Artists of all ages and skill levels are invited to experience the magic of making art outdoors. Whether you paint, draw, print, or work with any other medium, everyone is welcome! Connect with fellow artists, share techniques, exchange ideas, and be inspired by the beauty of some of the UK’s most picturesque locations.⁠
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To register your interest, email us at pleinair@jacksonsart.co.uk⁠
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Please note that some locations may have limited availability.⁠
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#pleinair #painting #artmaterials #artevent
    Screen Printing is the process which involves appl Screen Printing is the process which involves applying very thin and even layers of colour onto a surface. The colour is pushed through a fine mesh screen, which is stretched over a square or rectangular frame. An image is made by masking areas of the screen to stop the colour from going through those parts of the screen. This article offers some tips on how to get started with screen print, using basic equipment which is easy to use at home or in a small working area. Read the full article 'Getting Started in Screen Printing Using Paper Stencils' on our blog - link in bio. #screenprinting #printmaking #artmaterials #printing
    Based in the US, Speedball have been making high q Based in the US, Speedball have been making high quality printmaking products for over 75 years. Pioneers in the use of water-based inks for printmaking, they have gone on to produce a wide range of inks, mediums, and accessories trusted by professionals and beginners alike. In 2012, they added Akua inks to their range. Discover the Speedball Sale on our website - link in bio. #speedball #akua #printmaking #artmaterials
    Pigments have not only been used to make beautiful Pigments have not only been used to make beautiful works of art, they have also been used in the beauty industry for centuries. Learn more about pigments on our website - link in bio.
 
Filmed by the Jackson’s Team in the Jackson’s Studio. This film features @evie_hatch, Studio and Materials Specialist at Jackson’s Art Supplies.
 
#leadwhite #cezanne #arthistory #pigmentstories #artmaterials
    An essential staple for the artist’s studio, Jac An essential staple for the artist’s studio, Jackson’s surfaces include a broad choice of paper products and a comprehensive range of canvas and painting panels, providing a wide selection of supports for techniques of every kind. Discover the Jackson’s Surfaces Sale - link in bio. #surfaces #canvas #paintingpanels #artmaterials
    KAWECO PENCILS GIVEAWAY⁠ ⁠ Three winners will KAWECO PENCILS GIVEAWAY⁠
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Three winners will receive two Kaweco pencils.⁠
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Kaweco clutch pencils and calligraphy pens combine classic design with modern functionality, offering long-lasting precision tools ideal for sketching, writing, and expressive lettering. Learn more about Kaweco on our website - link in bio.⁠
⁠
How to enter:⁠
1) Follow @jacksons_art⁠
2) Tag a friend in the comments below who you think will like this giveaway⁠
3) Share this post to your story⁠
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This Jackson’s competition runs from Thursday 8th May - Thursday 15th May. The winner will be announced on Friday 16th May.⁠
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*BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS⁠
There are a few accounts impersonating ours on Instagram and Facebook. We kindly ask that you do not respond or give any of your details to them. If you are the winner, you will be direct messaged from this Instagram account (jacksons_art). If you are a Facebook winner, you will receive a direct message from us on Facebook. We will never direct you to a link, or ask you to sign up for something, give bank details, in order to receive your prize. Please direct message us on Instagram or Facebook with any questions.⁠
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This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The competition is worldwide.⁠
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#giveaway #artgiveaway #artmaterials #kaweco #drawing
    PRICING YOUR ARTWORK - EXPERT COACHING WEBINAR WIT PRICING YOUR ARTWORK - EXPERT COACHING WEBINAR WITH CLAUDIA KENNAUGH
 
Over the past few months, we asked the Jackson’s community what they wanted to know most about building a career in art. Based on your responses, we’ve created six webinars in collaboration with artist coach Claudia Kennaugh to explore these key topics. Each session is packed with valuable insights to help you grow and succeed as an artist, with a live Q&A where you can ask your own questions.
 
In our webinar on Wednesday 25th June, Claudia will share a four-step guide to pricing your artwork, exploring the key factors that influence pricing, helping you confidently establish or re-evaluate your rates.
 
Come and get involved with your questions or come and listen to learn from fellow artists. We would love to see you there!
 
Tickets are available on the Jackson’s Art website - link in @jacksons_art bio.

Filmed by the Jackson's Team in the Jackson's Studio. This film features Claudia Kennaugh from @artandppl 
 
#artistcoaching #artexpert #artistdevelopment #artmaterials
    Priming your canvas with a black gesso instead of Priming your canvas with a black gesso instead of the traditional white can create a sense of depth and add atmosphere and drama to your painting. The paint colours are changed by having a black ground shine through instead of white, so you’ll need to be aware of the transparency and opacity of your oil or acrylic paints. Read the full article 'Using Black Gesso for Depth in Your Painting' on our blog - link in bio. #blackgesso #painting #acrylicpainting #oilpainting #artmaterials
    Aquatint is an etching process that allows you to Aquatint is an etching process that allows you to create areas of tone within a print either alone or alongside other forms of mark-making such as hard and soft ground etching, drypoint, and engraving. In this article, printmaking expert Jill Hutton explores affordable ways to use aquatint. Read the full article on our blog - link in bio. #printmaking #aquatint #artmaterials #etching
    Make a Deep Pine by mixing 60% Phthalocyanine Gree Make a Deep Pine by mixing 60% Phthalocyanine Green (PG7) and 40% Hansa Yellow Light (PY3).
 
Unlock the potential of your paint with our Colour Mixing series. Discover Artist Colour on our website - link in bio. #colourmixing #artmaterials #pigments #painting
    Thank you to those that took the time to enter our Thank you to those that took the time to enter our ⁠Schmincke Primacryl Set Jackson's Art Giveaway.⁠
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One winner has been chosen at random, congratulations to @martabsousa who will receive a Schmincke Primacryl Paint Wooden Box Set. Discover the set on our website - link in bio.⁠
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#acrylicpaint #schmincke #giveaway #artmaterials
    Kaweco clutch pencils and calligraphy pens combine Kaweco clutch pencils and calligraphy pens combine classic design with modern functionality, offering long-lasting precision tools ideal for sketching, writing, and expressive lettering. Discover the new arrival, Kaweco pens on our website - link in bio. #drawing #pens #artmaterials #calligraphy
    Enjoy April's top blog articles. From diving Insid Enjoy April's top blog articles. From diving Inside The Sketchbook of Katja Farin to learning about Afonso Rocha's rich and varied painting practice. Read the full articles on our blog - link in bio. #sketchbooks #watercolours #artprize #pigments
    Based in Portland, Oregon, in the US, Gamblin have Based in Portland, Oregon, in the US, Gamblin have been producing premium oil paints, mediums, and printmaking inks since 1980. Their highly researched products address the needs of contemporary artists and are developed in consultation with painters and esteemed art institutions around the world. Discover the Gamblin Sale on our website - link in bio. #gamblin #oilpainting #printmaking #artmaterials
    Laura Boswell is a UK-based printmaker and Cranfie Laura Boswell is a UK-based printmaker and Cranfield ambassador known for her traditional Japanese woodblock and linocut techniques. Her work is distinguished by its elegant lines, harmonious colour palettes, and graphic precision.
 
Laura shares her expertise through workshops, online tutorials, and publications, helping artists understand the process of relief printing. Discover Laura’s Artist Insights film and her favourite art supplies at Jackson’s - link in bio. #woodblock #linocut #printmaking #artmaterials
    Pens are an indispensable artists’ tool, whether Pens are an indispensable artists’ tool, whether you’re sketching on the move, working with inks, or using them as your primary medium. From vibrant, paint-filled markers and precision fineliners for detailed line work to the beautiful swirls and curls of calligraphy pens, we stock a comprehensive range of pens for all artists. Discover the Pen Sale on our website - link in bio. #pens #markers #sketching #calligraphy #artmaterials
    JACKSON’S MAY GIVEAWAY⁠ ⁠ This month two win JACKSON’S MAY GIVEAWAY⁠
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This month two winners will receive a set of Unison Colour Soft Pastels. One winner will receive a Robert Dutton Moorland Set of 36 (slide 2 top set), and the other winner will receive a Gail Sibley Set of 36 (slide 2 bottom set). Unison Colour Soft Pastel Sets are made in Northumberland, UK, and contain only pure pigments. Discover Unison Colour on the Jackson's Art website - link in @jacksons_art bio.⁠
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Jackson’s launched the #ForThoseWhoLoveToPaint giveaway campaign to unite artists through a love of art.⁠
⁠
How to enter the Jackson’s Giveaway:⁠
1. Make an artwork or sketch⁠
2. Tag @jacksons_art and add #ForThoseWhoLoveToPaint to your post.⁠
3. In the comments below, tag a friend who might be interested.⁠
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Your entry can be a work in progress, or a finished artwork. Three winners will be chosen at random, either from Instagram, Facebook or our Facebook Groups.⁠
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You can enter multiple times, but they must be posted on either Instagram, Facebook or our Facebook Groups between Thursday 1st May - Tuesday 27th May. Whether you win or not, tagged artworks may be reposted by Jackson’s, therefore it must be your own artwork and should be an original, high quality image that you enter.⁠
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The winner will be announced by Jackson’s on the Thursday 29th May.⁠
⁠
This Jackson’s giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. The competition is worldwide.⁠
⁠
BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS⁠
There are a few accounts impersonating ours on Instagram and Facebook. We kindly ask that you do not respond or give any of your details to them. If you are the winner, you will be direct messaged from this Instagram account (jacksons_art). If you are a Facebook winner, you will receive a direct message from us on Facebook. We will never direct you to a link, or ask you to sign up for something, give bank details, in order to receive your prize. Please direct message us on Instagram or Facebook with any questions.⁠
⁠
#giveaway #artgiveaway #artmaterials #unisoncolour #softpastels
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