Charcoal drawing is frequently compared to specific painting methods by artists who practice it. Charcoal sketches can be soft and gentle, or they can be very realistic.
The softest charcoal is called willow charcoal. This specific kind of charcoal is usually used in the early phases of adding another layer to our charcoal drawings.
The toughest and deepest form of charcoal is compressed charcoal. It has a gum binder that holds it together and generates clean, dark lines, tones, and textures.
With toned paper, you could use nearly any color; even so, you must use black and white charcoal pencils to generate full value among both highlights and shadows.
The texture of the charcoal paper is fine-ribbed and thick. Comparable paper materials to charcoal paper can be found in the form of pastel and watercolor paper.
To wipe away charcoal, a kneaded eraser is used. It can be molded like clay or putty to create various forms that produce interesting marks, lines, and forms when applied to paper.
You can start by holding your charcoal pencils like you would a pen or pencil or pen, but there are many other possible manners in which to hold charcoal.