Introduction to Charcoal and Pastel Drawings
Charcoal is a dry, natural black powder obtained by burning wood, peat, bones, cellulose, or other carbonaceous substances with little or no air. It is a highly porous microcrystalline graphite made of amorphous carbon, used as a painting medium due to its vibrant black tone. Charcoal can produce exceptionally brilliant or strong black lines, allowing artists to explore higher contrast and develop visually rich toned artworks. Charcoal drawing has ancient origins, with evidence dating back at least 30,000 years. Modern charcoal drawing began in the 17th century, with artists like Albrecht Durer, Robert Longo, William Kentridge, and Dan Pyle utilizing charcoal as a primary medium.
On the other hand, pastel painting creates artworks with a velvety texture and a lot of lusciousness. Pastel painting involves the use of pastel sticks made from powdered pigment and binder. The word "pastel" originates from the Medieval Latin "pastellum," meaning "woad paste," and the Late Latin "pastellus," meaning "paste." The term first appeared in French in 1662, with pastels originating in northern Italy during the 16th century, used by artists like Jacopo Bassano and Federico Barocci. Pastels have been used since the Renaissance, gaining popularity in the 18th century thanks to artists like Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Odilon Redon.
Composition of Charcoal and Pastel
Charcoal sticks are primarily manufactured from charcoal powder, such as burned willow or grapevine, and a binding agent like wax or gum. Charcoal is a brittle, dry art medium made of finely crushed organic ingredients held together by a gum or wax binder, or produced without binders by removing oxygen from the material during manufacturing.
In contrast, pastels are made up of color pigments ground into a paste with water and a minimal amount of non-greasy binder, such as Tragacanth gum or Methyl Cellulose. This mixture is used to make different types of pastels like hard and soft pastels, which are then rolled, pressed, or extruded into sticks. Pastels come in five main forms: hard pastels, soft pastels, pastel pencils, water-soluble pastels, and oil pastels.
Specific Properties of Charcoal and Pastel
Charcoal can produce exceptionally brilliant or strong black lines, but they are difficult to remove entirely. Using charcoal allows artists to explore higher contrast and develop visually rich toned artworks. Charcoal painting is popular due to its versatile properties, such as a scratchy texture that leaves a less permanent impression. Using white charcoal pencils or white powdered charcoal along with black charcoal also provides versatile output.
Pastel, on the other hand, is used to create paintings with a luscious, velvety texture and a deep, rich glow. Pastel painting can be done without many tools, just the pastel itself. In pastel pencils, the binders and pigments are already combined in the right proportions, making it a portable medium.
Key Features of Charcoal and Pastel
Charcoal is a dry art medium available in powdered form or stick form. It can be applied to various surfaces from smooth to rough. In charcoal drawings, fixatives are frequently used to harden the position and prevent dust from being erased or rubbed off.
Particularly, oil pastels are easily blendable and can be blended using a blending stump, cloth, or fingertips. The final color appearance of pastel colors is closest to that of dry, natural pigments compared to other painting techniques.
Suitable Surfaces for Charcoal and Pastel Drawings
Charcoal can be applied to almost any surface, from smooth to very coarse, such as paper, wood, and canvas. Like pencil sketching, paper is the most commonly used surface for charcoal painting. The quality of the paper can vary; rough texture paper adheres more charcoal, and for higher contrast, charcoal is often used with oil pastels.
Pastel painting requires a surface with some degree of abrasion for the pastel particles to rest on. The pastel stick is dragged across a rough or toothy surface to create a painting or sketch. Suitable surfaces for pastel paintings include laid paper like Ingres, Canson Mi Teintes, abrasive surfaces like pumice, marble dust, or rotten stone, and velour paper.
Other Specialties of Charcoal and Pastel
Professional artists use various forms of charcoal such as sticks, crayons, powder, and pencils. Sticks, also known as compressed charcoal, can be firm or soft, producing bright or dark lines depending on their hardness. Charcoal powder is used for creating patterns and pouncing, transferring patterns from one surface to another. Charcoal pencils, made of compressed charcoal enclosed in a hardwood jacket, are used for fine, crisp, and detailed sketching.
Pastel painting, unlike other painting techniques, involves mixing and blending the medium directly on the working surface, making it challenging. There is no way to check the colors on a palette before applying them to the surface, and pastel errors cannot be covered in the same way as paint errors. Pastels must be handled with caution, as they do not firmly adhere to the paper's surface. They can become easily smudged unless protected by glass or fixatives made of glue or gum solution.
Toxicity and Vegan-Friendly Considerations
The charcoal stick or powder used for charcoal painting is extracted from natural resources like willow or vine (typically grapevine), making it non-toxic and vegan-friendly.
Pastel fixatives, however, are often toxic. Many color pigments, such as brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds, are derived from toxic materials like cadmium. Additionally, pastel colors employ oil or fat as a binder, and some pastels contain animal fats, making them unsuitable for vegans.
Conclusion
In summary, both charcoal and pastel drawings offer unique artistic possibilities and benefits. Charcoal drawings provide higher contrast and visually rich tones, while pastel drawings offer a luscious, velvety texture with a deep, rich glow. Each medium has specific properties, surfaces, and techniques that artists must consider to achieve their desired results. The choice between charcoal and pastel drawing depends on the artist's preferences and the effects they wish to achieve.
Additionally, GranNino offers a free art hosting platform where artists can upload unlimited artworks, including charcoal and pastel drawings. This platform provides a supportive community for artists to showcase their work, receive feedback, and connect with other creatives. For more information and to start uploading your artworks, visit GranNino
Happy creating! 🎨
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