VAHSDRPR.2.d, f; VAHSDRPR.3.a, b, c, e

 Charcoal is a dry drawing material that is found in various forms:  Vine charcoal – Soft, thin, delicate. Easily smudged, smoothed, and erased.  Compressed charcoal – Made from ground and compressed powdered charcoal. Numbered to various degrees of softness. Usually found in squares.  Charcoal pencils – Thin sticks of compressed carbon encased in wood. Also numbered to various degrees of softness. Suitable for detailed work.  Powdered charcoal – May be sprinkled onto work and smudged/erased to achieve desired texture.  Conte crayons – Smooth sticks in various colors. Not powdery.

 LINE helps establish the edges found in the composition.  STROKE is a heavy line that gives weight, structure, and strength to the drawing.  TONE allows you to establish negative space and shadows quickly.

 After the demonstration, make marks with each form of charcoal available. Be sure to label each type of charcoal.  Draw lines  Smudge – try using your finger, a blending stomp, and a paper towel  Use an eraser to make negative space

 You’ve worked with toned paper before, but did you use the paper tone as a good “middle” value?  You can use newspaper to be the “middle grey” in a image.

 Rip a piece (or pieces) of newspaper to fit a page in your sketchbook. The newspaper does not have to fill the entire page – you will create a small drawing on top of the newspaper.  Pick a simple object to draw on top of the newspaper. Shade the object using charcoal of your choice.  Remember that the paper will serve as the middle value in the drawing. Use white charcoal to create highlights.

 This is your summative/test grade assignment for the charcoal unit.  Step 1: Pick a page of newspaper. Use spray adhesive to adhere the newspaper to mat board or cardboard.  Step 2: Sketch a composition that has a wide range of values in your sketchbook. The subject matter can be whatever you choose, but you are encouraged to do a portrait. You may want to practice using charcoal on that composition before beginning on your final image.  Step 3: Pick a simple object to draw on top of the newspaper. Shade the object using charcoal of your choice.  Step 4: Remember that the paper will serve as the middle value in the drawing. Use white charcoal to create highlights.