by Lisa Larrabee
There is a strong overlap between drawing in charcoal and painting. Both processes allow you to add and subtract, blend, manipulate and build from simple shapes to subtle details. However, it never occurred to me to actually paint in charcoal until I purchased charcoal powder.
In my post, Paint with Charcoal, I detail a process that I use when I begin with intention. The images below were my very first experiments.
Painting with charcoal creates a versatile cross-over between drawing and painting. I could move the charcoal powder in subtle washes and bold brushstrokes, then blend, erase and build the drawing using traditional charcoal methods.
I began my experiments with absolutely no plan other than to play with the charcoal powder and water on watercolor paper and on Gessoboard. My goal was to create as much variety as I could.
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| Experiment 1 on watercolor paper |
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| Experiment 2 on Gessoboard |
I wanted to see how much I could manipulate the media after it was dry. It turns out that you can lift and blend the charcoal easily on either surface. I blocked in portraits with the intention of allowing the abstract shapes to interact with each face. I was able to draw with compressed charcoal, add details with charcoal pencils and lift out with a variety of erasers.
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| Experiment 1 on watercolor paper |
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| Experiment 2 on Gessoboard |
It's a great reminder that you never really know what you can do with a new (or familiar) medium until you try. Never stop experimenting!
~ Lisa
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