H Charcoal for Drawing - Why Use It?

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by: preyank4u
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Word Count: 724
Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 Time: 3:06 AM

When you use charcoal for drawing there are several different types you can choose. Why would Nitram Fusains H charcoal be a good option for you?

There is nothing more incredible than seeing completed charcoal drawings that have been put together by an experienced artist. The level of detail in their work can be quite spectacular. It is hard to believe that such detail can go into a drawing that has been created by using nothing more than charcoal.

But of course there is more to charcoal than meets the eye. There are three distinct types of charcoal you can buy, and they all have specific letters on them. If you explore this market you will see that Nitram Fusains H, HB and B is considered the best charcoal for drawing.

Magda Almay of Ravenswood Atelier in Chicago writes "At my studio/school (ravenswoodatelier.com) you can see many examples of drawings done with Nitram Fusains. We sharpen each baton it to a point or a blade to get more control over the line quality and the 5mm Nitram batons work best for that.

For many artists Nitram Fusains H allows them to do things they would not be able to do with the softer vine and willow charcoal.

But why should you consider using an H charcoal for drawing? What does this particular type of charcoal have that the other two versions do not?

The difference may not be easy to see when you have the three different types of charcoal batons laid down next to each other. But when you pick them up and use them to create charcoal drawings, you will soon be able to see how different they are. You may not even be able to feel the difference in your hands, but when you touch the charcoal to the paper or canvas you are using, you will immediately notice the difference.

Many artists will use a variety of different charcoals to complete a picture. But the H has a role all its own. The H charcoal is harder than the HB or the B charcoal, and this makes it the ideal choice for laying down the details in any picture that is being drawn. From putting in those fine facial features to adding in the final touches to a landscape scene you have been putting together for several days, the H charcoal is perfect for all charcoal drawings.

Some people get the mistaken impression that charcoal is too messy and not precise enough to be used for anything other than broad strokes and outlines. They believe it can be used for large rough drawings and not for anything small and delicate. But when you have experimented even just a little with the H form of charcoal sticks you will see that this is not the case. The H charcoal gives you plenty of control of your drawing skills, and when it comes to charcoal for drawing it will pay you dividends to have the H as one of your tools.

The other advantage you will get by using the H charcoal for drawing is that you can sharpen it to a fine point. No matter how small the detail is that you need to add to your drawing, you can achieve just what you want simply by sharpening it carefully before you begin. Imagine the life that will be injected into your pictures, simply by the use of this fine and carefully made form of charcoal.

Some artists focus on using just one form of charcoal in their drawings. Meanwhile others will use a whole range of them, dipping into their selection of charcoal to select just the right tool for their needs. Sometimes they may have very precise needs indeed, such as the top of the range Nitram Fusains fine art charcoal.

You are not restricted to just one level of color with the H charcoal either. Indeed if you thought that charcoal could produce nothing more than blacks and dark grays you would be wrong. The H version of charcoal for drawing enables you to lay down the lightest lines and tones of gray, enabling you to produce more detailed charcoal drawings than ever before.

About the Author

Nitram Fusains - The finest artists charcoal in the World. We ship our charcoal sticks to all over the world. Nitram Fusains Academy line comes in H, HB and B hardness. This allows the artist to create a broad range of tones. Nitram is now becoming available around the world in stores that sell high quality artists materials.

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