A beginners piece in charcoal at University

[PaintBoss]

I was searching through some of my portfolios.This is something I did the second year of university in about 1992. The professor had a bunch of beat up items that he put on a table on a white sheet and he closed the blinds, turn off most of the lights, and said pay attention to the dark and the lights and the shadows. So that was the lesson to this large charcoal drawing.
Thought I would post it. It’s a good exercise. Note that none of these items had details like labels, etc.. and it’s a reminder that still life can be any old thing at all.

 

[Grapes]

Was this done with nitram cold press charcoal or vine charcoal which I think is softer and also not sure if that's how it's called. I'm only familiar with the first one nitram charcoal.

Interesting story and good objects to practice and excellent work!
Ah, I was also that year doing my second yr at the University but not arts, I wish I would have, tho.

 

[PaintBoss]

Both vine and regular compressed black charcoal.

 

[Donna T]

Nice one, Christine! I’m sure this brings back lots of good memories from when you were in school. I only survived my college days because I took some art classes and enjoyed them more than the science classes I signed up for. Charcoal is great for exploring values.

 

[PaintBoss]

Thanks, Donna.
Yeah, I really encourage it for people doing any art. It’s really fast and accessible with very little prep or cleanup. Vine charcoal can be a little harder to find these days in some of the regular stores. I don’t know why. But it’s important to try because it’s so soft with the grays. Using just compressed charcoal it’s gonna be far too black and frustrating if you need those middle tones. There is a willow charcoal, but it’s a little darker. And it is not the same as vine. Some of the staff at some of our larger art stores had no idea what vine charcoal was and we’re trying to give me Willow instead. Willow is fine for tiny little details when you get them in the little sticks but again you need some softer grays and vine is tge best option. Of course, another fun exercise to do is to take hard compress, charcoal, and cover your whole sheet with dark black -put it on rub it in. And then use an eraser /all sizes- wide to small- to draw. Looking for the lights and the highlights. Always putting something underneath your work for the fine dust of charcoal that can fall there. You don’t want to ruin a carpet. Other than that, all you need is soap. Maybe a little mask if you’re sensitive to the dust. With charcoal, dust tends to fall really easily.