DRAWING WITH CHARCOAL
my methods
some example in detail, explained
Since returning to Vienna, Austria in 2011, I began to work intensively again with my art, in particular with drawings. Some of the drawings were done in charcoal, a medium I used only sparingly before, except for sketching a lay-out on canvas for a painting, or in art class figure drawing studies. But these could not be considered refined finished pieces, but rather quick sketches in preparation for paintings, or quick studies such as 30 second gestural movements, for example.
What I like to show you here are charcoal drawings worked out in great detail, and the various methods I use.
The above is a detail from my large drawing KRIX-KRAX SPIRIT GUIDE
In this case, I used various charcoal sticks on gesso panel. Some sticks are flat and broad, others round, which are in a holder and sharpened for finer details. I also save the shavings from sharpening the sticks, which can be used to rub onto the support. For scumbling I use the usual stumps - and once they are really saturated, you can also sort of draw with them for softer tones, and stiff brushes, like a large stencil brush, for blending. I use a variety of erasers to work from dark to light. What works great with pencil also does, to some extend (but not as good), with charcoal: I use kneaded erasers to pick up textures (wherever I can find them - I have a cornucopia full if items I can use for that) and then dip them into the dark area of the drawing to lift away. Electric erasers are used extensively, as are various hard pencil erasers (typewriter or ink erasers). Some of those pencil erasers are hard to find, good ones, that is, and I was lucky that my friend Andrew Gonzalez, who also uses them in his airbrush paintings, gave me a few that he had found on Amazon.
A great way is also to sort of "paint" with charcoal: I use a spray of water to wet down an area covered with charcoal (see above, using the shavings) and then you can manipulate it with a brush, or with your fingers (rubber gloves). In a way this is somewhat similar to David Heskin's Mana Prima Method. You can also use a small balloon, foil wrap, crumpled newspaper, to achieve some textural effects. This dries rather fast. You can spray it again and again for further manipulation. Once dry, it is fairly stable and then you can work it again with erasers etc. I also use fine grain sandpaper to push back (lighten) certain areas. It is all up to experimenting and see what works.
this is what I mean:
and a detail thereof
Untitled Charcoal 1 - I had not published it on any of my websites yet.
Another piece I like to introduce to you is this:
NUBIAN CORE
here are some details from the unfinished work:Particularly the KRIX KRAX SPIRIT GUIDE I actually meant to be the under drawing for a painting, but I got so carried away with working on the details, I though I rather leave it that way.
You see, there are successes and failures. And here below is a piece I worked on (and still am working on in stage 2 of the process) that only exists now as a photo copy of the finished drawing, since wanting to paint it over, when putting on the imprimatura, I had not adequately fixed it, so I sort of wiped out most of the detail I worked hard to achieve. I should have, after fixative a couple of times at least, also gently sprayed it with a acrylic glazing medium clear-coat. I know better now next time!
So here it is
BOGOMIL'S AVATAR - REVISITED
This is it for today, I hope you found it interesting
but I am working on it for a painting
- and that will be subject for another post!
The details are fabulous, Otto. So rich! Shared.
thank you Kathleen!
Even if I prefer to "waste my time" on the computer I always like your ancient way of visualizing your fantasies. But in the end I think that you could agree that art isn't about the tools used to make it but in the organization of color, line, form, composition, rhythm and the interplay of all these in support of the subject matter or intent of the work itself.
These are the basic tenants of visual art and as fundamental to digital art work as to the cave paintings of Lascaux.
I do also work with digital art, basic stuff actually, dipping my digital brush into details of my existing drawings and paintings to recombine them - a example actually is my profile banner, which is derived from the first detail drawing of this post.
...well well Otto, I can see what you're talking about but you shouldn't refer to this kind of work like "wasting your time". Years ago we have been friends on facebook and sometimes you made some kind remarks to my art made with digital tools...the better you look the more you see
Two of my 3 account on FB are in FB jail (for not letting them nosy bastards scan my computer - long story)...... I never said I was wasting my time doing digital art - I did say however that I am wasting my time on the computer, by that I mean hanging around on Facebook and otherwise surfing all over. My digital stuff is mostly used for merchandise - for whatever little that brings in (Zazzle, deviantArt, Fine Art America etc) - it certainly does not pay the rent, lol
It is so eye opening and inspiring to see exactly how you work. Off to gesso a bunch of panels now, don't mind me.
it is great that you feel inspired - a tip: don't get too fancy at first, get a feel for the material and see what you can do with it. Test things out, try variations, make it your own! I am still struggling with it, even though it does not show so readily in these examples. As long as we are making mistakes and learning from them, we are progressing. If we do the same old, same old, we are stagnating, and that I find boring.
I am totally blown away...the motion that you are able to create is beyond talent...it is truly inspired...the first close ups of that you shared remind me of the movement and flow from the storms on the surface of Jupiter. Thank you for explaining your creative process as well as the medium that you use. Will be avidly following everything you post. Upvoted and followed. Thank you.
Thank you very much, and I am happy you will check my future posts - I try to live up to my reputation.
Those are so good, I dig so much the mind boggling textures and that dark mythical psychedelic atmosphere. I have not used charcoal since long but wow these effects with the water, that's sublime.
Also I had never heard about electric erasers :D
Thanks for sharing the tips!!!
you are welcome - I have 2 different types of electric erasers - the basic one is from Dervent, I have another one with additional different types of tips. They are basically like a miniature Dremel tool. Battery operated.
Excellent!!
Awesome drawings! You are a master of this technique even you make some mistakes. But what is beyond technique, is the creative spirit. This is another reality! Of course very weird and creepy.
That's what it is all about. Technical ability alone does not amount to much, and the creative spirit can't go far without having the technical ability to make it visible. So you need both together. This weird and creepy is still a residue from my "scare the neighbors" phase decades ago. I still indulge in it, but with a nudge and a wink.
Wow this pictures looks so amazing :) I love them :D Thank you Otto :)
Geiler Profilname....@komischername !!! Hahaha! Nice!!! Gut zu merken auf jeden Fall! Cool ausgesucht
haha, ja, komischername ist wirklich ein komischer Name!
Komisch und doch einprΓ€gend cool! Juht Wahl! Den kann man kaum vergessen! Du kannst auch deutsch! Mega cool!!!! Ein deutschsprachiger artist!!!! Niiiiice man
Ich nehme das mal als Kompliment an :D
Danke, danke :) Manchmal kann ich auch kreativ sein ^^' Auf Steemit-Meetups ist mein Accountname auch der Burner xD Immer wieder witzig anzusehen wie mein gegenΓΌber denkt er hat einen komischen Namen ^^'
Du bist ja n Knaller man!!!! Herrlich! SchΓΆner Humor! :-))))) Hugs to you und mach weiter so!!!
Amazing charcoal technique. I love charcoal. It's one of my favourite things to use when doing life study drawings. The quick line the smudge of the hand to give a gradient shade, it gives back a lot when doing a quick study. And the delicate particulate matter often left when sharp lines or the side of a charcoal stick is used is almost magic, as if place to land by the God's of art themselves. Like many an art teacher said, 'happy accidents'.
I love the detail and one could get lost in the eye of that surreal bird.
I do remember my 'lucky accidents' and try to incorporate them into my repertoire. For that reason, I never throw anything out, it is my reference.
great artwork my dear!
Wow! Just wowowow!
Great one!
The details
The lines
Shadow and light work!
Full respect!
Hugs and Steem Aum ;-)
thank you very much - more to come soon (as soon as I find the time, because I do aim for quality content, so what I post often takes me hours to put together).
Wow. Marvellous . That is absolute genius from you sir. Painting through charcoal thats a very high level thinking.I oraise your work because of your sense of humour and also your perfect execution of this tremendous drawing. WELL DONE SIR..
thank you very much!
Instead of adding to the much deserved comments on the art itself, let me just say that I had zero idea there was such a variety of erasers. Especially electric ones.
Wow speechless this is a gorgeous post, your technique is incredible!
Amazing dude!
Incredible work!
beautiful :)
OMG. you're a mystic!
Interesting GIF .....
I never called myself that, it was tagged on to my name at a solo show decades ago by the curator who wrote the catalog essay. So I kept it.
It has a Lovecraftian feel to it