Tips On Understanding Charcoal Drawing

Charcoal is burnt organic wood, which is used by many artists. There are a few different types of charcoal to choose from including vine and compressed. Vine charcoal is usually made up of burnt willow wood. It can easily be spread on a surface and just as easily erased. However, due to this effect it makes a much lighter mark, when drawing which can be undesirable for many activists. It also smudges very easy, but this can be used as a benefit.

Compressed charcoal is much darker and it has a gum binder that holds it together. Compressed charcoal is available in a pencil form, round stick, or a square stick. Vine charcoal is always available in a round stick. Some compressed charcoal can be pigmented. For instance, white compressed charcoal is pigmented.

Tools You Will Need

When choosing to draw with charcoal, it always helps to have a few other tools at your disposal. First off, you want to make sure you have a variety of different charcoals like the compressed and vine charcoal, along with the pencil form. Any variety of these materials will be acceptable to work with, but this still depends on what you are drawing.

You are also going to need a kneaded eraser, which is a special type of eraser that will lift the charcoal material off of the surface. These types of eraser work really well with charcoal materials.

A blending stump may also be very handy, but is not needed. A blending stump gives you full control over blending and smearing the charcoal. You can simply create your own blending stump by tightly rolling up drawing paper to form a point.

It also helps to have a roll of paper towels handy, as you may know charcoal can be very messy, but the paper towel can prevent you from smearing your work. All you have to do is place the paper towel between your hand and the surface you are drawing on.

Properly Holding Charcoal

A charcoal stick will be held in your hand much differently than a pencil. Of course, every artist has his or her own preference, but it is recommended to hold the charcoal with your thumb and forefinger. Also make sure your palm is facing the surface you are drawing on.

By applying this holding technique, it gives you the ability to use your elbow and shoulder, rather than just your wrist. However, some artist will hold the charcoal stick like a pencil to make little detailed marks.

Choosing Your Oil Paints

While most veteran artists have already chosen their favorite oil paints to work with, beginners have not made it this far. Well, you will be surprised to learn that there are other ways to replicate Van Gogh’s popular creation, Starry Night.

Tips On How To Improve Your Painting Skills

 If you are an avid artist or just diligently wanting to improve your oil painting skills, you will need to learn new techniques. While it is never easy to adapt to these new techniques, it is important to continue riding the waves, since it is imperative in order to master your oil painting skills.

Oil Painting for All Beginners

As an oil painting newbie, you may be under the impression that using a ruler to draw will automatically improve your skills. Well, this is only a myth, because there is so much more to it and it will require a lot of dedication and practice, as well.

Limit Your Paints

It is important to select only 8-10 different oil paint colors, because mixing the paint together to create a specific color will be a challenge. Only select red, blue, and yellow as your primary colors, but you have to use white and try to stay away from black. By selecting a limited number of paints, you will be decreasing the challenge of mastering the paint mixing techniques.

Preferably Small Canvases

When you first start out, you may feel like you are ready to challenge your skills, by painting an extremely large mural or canvas. Instead, you should gradually work your way up to the larger size. You should also learn how to stretch your own canvases, since this can save you a lot of money in the long run. Purchase your stretcher bars and a roll of un-stretched canvas and practice, practice, practice.

Reading and Studying

Take the time to educate yourself on oil painting. As a matter of fact, you will find some educational material that focuses on the works of the old oil painting masters. If you take the time to replicate their style, you will become a skilled oil painter in no time at all, but again it is important to be patient and diligent.

Discover the Outdoors

If possible, you should discover the outdoor environment and challenge yourself to paint Mother Nature’s wonderments. Monet loved to paint the outdoors and so did Van Gogh, which is how their art became so popular. Many individuals choose to welcome nature into their home.

Conclusion

It is important to have fun, so you can master your oil painting skills, without the frustration and anxiety. If you push yourself too hard, you may grow to dislike the hobby all together. Allow yourself to grow gradually, so you will improve your confidence, as well as your ability to master oil painting.

Famous Contemporary Artists - My Best Contemporary Artists

Hey there guys. I know there are a lot of people out there that are looking for contemporary artists. By seeking out and becoming a fan of contemporary art, your obsession can be more personal, since these artists are still alive, kicking and many are active online! Plus, you will still have the opportunity to seek out these artists online and attend their shows. With this in mind, I have put together a short list of some of the current famous contemporary artists. These are some of my favorite and by no means an attempt to put together a complete list.

Kerri Houston Impressionist Art

Hello there guy and gals! My name is Kerri Houston and I absolutely adore impressionist art and works of the old masters. I hope to be able to blog about my love for art on this website! I truly hope that you'll follow me for the ride, because it is going to be one of many hues! Cheers :)