Charcoal Drawing for Beginners: Pencils, Sticks and Powder

Charcoal gives deep, velvety blacks and soft greys that pencil can’t match, which is why art students use it for portraits, still life and quick sketches. This guide to charcoal drawing for beginners explains the different types of charcoal, which one to start with, the paper and tools that help, and how to keep finished drawings from smudging.

Types of charcoal

• Willow charcoal sticks: made from natural willow. They are light, easy to blend and easy to erase, which makes them good for loose sketching and blocking in shapes.
• Compressed charcoal sticks: charcoal powder pressed with a binder. They give darker, bolder marks than willow and are harder to erase.
• Charcoal pencils: charcoal in a pencil, often in soft, medium and hard. They give more control and less mess, which suits details such as eyes and hair.
• Charcoal powder: loose charcoal for smooth, even backgrounds, applied with a soft brush or tissue.
• White charcoal: for highlights, usually on toned, grey or black paper.

Charcoal drawing supplies we stock

• Charcoal pencils: Marie’s Charcoal Pencil (Neutral), Mont Marte Charcoal Pencil in soft, medium or hard, and Nyoni Colour Charcoal Pencils for coloured charcoal work.
• Willow sticks: Nyoni round willow charcoal in 4–5mm and 7–9mm, Nyoni square sticks in 3–5mm and 7–9mm, and the Superior Willow Charcoal Set with a range of thicknesses.
• Mixed sticks: the Charcoal Sticks Set (Soft & Medium) for broad, expressive marks.
• Powder: the Nyoni Charcoal Powder Pack for smooth tonal backgrounds.
• White charcoal: Bomeijia White Charcoal (Medium, 3 pcs), Worison White Charcoal (2 pcs) and the Mont Marte Signature White Charcoal Pencil.

Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price. Browse all charcoal drawing materials, or go straight to charcoal pencils and charcoal sticks.

Which charcoal should a beginner buy first?

A simple starter kit is: one willow stick for sketching the big shapes, a soft or medium charcoal pencil for details, a kneadable eraser and a blending stump. Add white charcoal and powder once you are comfortable.

Paper and tools for charcoal

• Paper with some tooth (texture): it holds charcoal and lets you build layers. Fabriano Accademia, such as A3 240gsm, is a popular choice; see our Fabriano Accademia paper guide.
• Erasers: a kneadable eraser lifts charcoal to make highlights, and an eraser pen picks out fine details. Our guide to erasers for drawing explains each type.
• Blenders: Art Nation Paper Stumps or Nyoni Blending Stumps smooth tones without using your fingers.
• Fixative: Kuelox Fixative 180ml or 300ml reduces smudging on finished drawings.

Basic charcoal techniques

1. Sketch the main shapes lightly with the side of a willow stick.
2. Block in the big areas of shadow, keeping your marks loose.
3. Blend mid-tones with a stump or tissue.
4. Lift out highlights by pressing a kneadable eraser onto the paper.
5. Add the darkest darks and sharp details last, with a charcoal pencil.
6. On toned paper, add highlights with white charcoal at the end.

Keeping charcoal clean

• Work from the top of the page down, and from left to right if you are right-handed, so your hand doesn’t rest on finished areas.
• Tap loose dust off the paper rather than blowing it, and avoid breathing the dust.
• Spray fixative lightly in a ventilated space, or store finished drawings between sheets of clean paper.
• Wash your hands before touching clean paper.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between charcoal and graphite?

Charcoal is darker and more matt, and smudges more easily. Graphite pencils are shinier, cleaner to use and easier to control. See our pencil grades guide for graphite.

Can I erase charcoal?

Willow charcoal erases quite easily, especially with a kneadable eraser. Compressed charcoal and very dark pressed-in marks may only lighten.

Do I need fixative?

It’s not essential, but it helps reduce smudging. Spray lightly, as heavy coats can darken the drawing slightly.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you put together a charcoal drawing kit.

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