How to Sketch a Charcoal Drawing

Charcoal drawings can be a beautiful representation of reality. They can be simple to sketch and easy to display. Having the right tools can ensure your charcoal drawing looks professional and well done. When complete a charcoal drawing should be expertly shaded and realistic.

• Ensure you have the correct tools. There are several kinds of charcoal pencils, each of which produce a different level of gray. Some charcoal pencils may be ideal for shading while others are intended for outlines. You will also need a delicate eraser, like a putty eraser, to correct any mistakes.


• Find a subject. The subject of a charcoal drawing is usually an inanimate object such as a vase or plant. Fruits, animals and people are other items that can be used as a model for a charcoal drawing.


• Draw the outline of the subject. Look at the subject and draw a rough outline of where the subject will appear on the paper. Draw lightly so that the marks can be erased later if they are not needed. At this stage, some artists may sketch the shaded areas to remind themselves to shade certain parts of the drawing later.


• Complete the drawing. Fill in the outline and develop a solid idea of how the completed sketch will look. At this stage, begin noting where the shading will be located. Pay particular attention to how the light is hitting the subject to ensure a realistic shading.


• Shade in the drawing. Using several types of charcoal pencils, shade in the sketch to indicate how the light is being reflected onto the subject. The more detail in the shading, the more realistic the drawing will appear.