To use water-soluble charcoal, you can apply charcoal marks to a surface and then use a soft paintbrush and water to create washes and dissolve the charcoal.
Water-soluble charcoal allows you to combine drawing techniques with painting effects. Unlike traditional charcoal, it reacts with water, enabling you to spread the pigment, create gradients, and achieve tonal variations not possible with dry application alone.
Based on the provided demonstration, a simple way to begin is by applying the charcoal to your drawing surface.
Basic Steps for Using Water-Soluble Charcoal with Water
Here's how you can start using water with charcoal, as shown in the reference:
- Apply Charcoal: Just make a little scribble a drying of any sort on your news print. This creates the initial charcoal marks on your chosen surface, such as newsprint.
- Prepare Brush: and take a nice soft paintbrush. Like this one with really soft bristles. Select a soft brush suitable for spreading water and pigment.
- Add Water: Apply water with the soft paintbrush to the charcoal marks on the paper. The water will activate the water-soluble properties of the charcoal.
Effects Achieved with Water
Applying water to the charcoal allows you to:
- Create Washes: Spread the charcoal pigment across the paper, similar to watercolor.
- Blend Tones: Soften edges and blend areas of charcoal seamlessly.
- Develop Gradients: Create smooth transitions from dark to light or between different charcoal applications.
Using a soft brush ensures gentle application of water, helping to control the spread and intensity of the charcoal wash. The amount of water used will affect the resulting tone and transparency; more water creates lighter, more transparent washes, while less water results in darker, more intense effects.
Comparing Dry and Wet Charcoal Application
While the reference primarily shows the wet technique, understanding the contrast highlights the versatility of water-soluble charcoal:
| Feature | Dry Application | Wet Application |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Sharp lines, textured | Smooth washes, blended |
| Control | Precise, detailed | Flowing, expressive |
| Technique | Drawing, shading | Painting, washes, glazing |
| Tool Example | Charcoal stick/pencil | Soft paintbrush with water |
By starting with a simple charcoal scribble and adding water with a soft brush, you can begin exploring the unique possibilities of water-soluble charcoal.
