Portrait Sketching In Charcoal (brush Techniques)

[CarlyHardy]

We have a new article on the front page by Gavin Banns. Join in the conversation after reading the article!

Portrait Sketching in Charcoal (Brush Techniques) (http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/9583/454/)

Thanks Gavin for a great article! :clap:

[oramasha]

Did anyone get any error messages when they tried to open the video? :crying:

Gavin, thanks for taking the time to explain in words as well. (I remember that experience in the art store. Luckily, the manager and I have become quite friendly, and I am grateful for his patience with me!)

[bjs0704]

I also received messages that it violated Angelfire's Terms of Services.

I'm really looking forward to going through the whole article more closely.
It really looks interesting. It will be great to try my hand at it.

Barb Solomon :music:

[Zarathustra]

That's more than a little unfortunate. :( I have a very slow modem, and spent hours trying to upload everything to the Wetcanvas server, but it seemed to refuse any video over 2mb, and so I found a free hosting service, and spent a morning uploading there. Although it worked, by the afternoon my account mysteriously 'disappeared', so in the end I found Angelfire, and testing the links, which all worked, but evidently I can't use them either!
I'm afraid until I can find a host that will let me upload and share, I can't do much about it. :(

Thanks for stopping by anyway Oramasha and Barb. Hopefully the tutorial isn't completely wasted. ;)

[loulou]

[QUOTE=oramasha]Did anyone get any error messages when they tried to open the video? :crying:]

Same message as everyone else: ''The page you are attempting to access has been removed because it violated Angelfire's Term of Service''

Too bad, but instructions are so clearly spelled out that I can dispense with the video demos. very:cool:
Thanks for sharing ;)
Loulou

[bjs0704]

I suppose that the problem is going to be finding a server that will be willing to maintain space for the video clips. Video, even in short segments, uses incredibly large chunks of storge space.

I was really looking forward to seeing the tutorial - your presentation of art lessons appeared very inventive.

Barb Solomon :cat:

[Zarathustra]

Barb, once upon a time these servers existed everywhere. I even recall when geocities had no pop-ups or adverts on your pages!
If the Wetcanvas article extras upload worked as it should I could have used that. Scottb had told me there was no limit on file size.
The extras file is currently empty: http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/9583/454/extras/

All the links worked when I tested them just before publishing... :(
Angelfire had suggested that you could upload mp3's and movies to share with your friends, but obviously I did something to violate their TOS, which have probably changed since the many years ago in which I last visited their site.

If anybody happens to know of a site that does allow the uploading of files to share, please let me know. ;)

[Zarathustra]

I've just checked my server, and they allow just enough space for me to upload the videos. They also say it's unlimited bandwidth, which is fortunate. The unfortunate news, is I can only host them as a temporary solution - perhaps a month or two.
Will post more when I have them uploaded and the links amended.

[bjs0704]

Sounds great! I'm glad to hear the good news - even if it is for a limited time. I promise to be one of the first to read it.

Barb Solomon :clap: :clap: :clap:

[bjs0704]

I just finished your article. It is very detailed and informative.

I am noticing that you seem to work reasonably large when using this procedure with charcoal and brush. Would it be that difficult to work in half-sheet size or quarter-sheet size watercolor paper?

It may take me a couple of days, but I am definitely trying this process.

Barb Solomon :cat:

[Zarathustra]

Hi Barb, Should have the rest of the videos uploaded in the next day or two.
Glad you're inspired to give it a try. :) In answer to your question: there's no reason why you couldn't work much smaller - just use a smaller brush. ;)

[bjs0704]

Great!

I am stretching my watercolor paper now. :clap: :clap:

Barb Solomon

[Zarathustra]

:D

[Sonia]

Great demonstration. Really clear instructions and photos (I must admit I thought the lack of video clips was due to my technological ignorance until I read the other comments).

Thanks - definitely a technique to try out.

[Zarathustra]

Thanks Sonia.
I've uploaded the videos, changed the links and resubmitted the article, so hopefully it will be functioning any time soon.

[fayanne]

Did anyone get any error messages when they tried to open the video? :crying:

Gavin, thanks for taking the time to explain in words as well. (I remember that experience in the art store. Luckily, the manager and I have become quite friendly, and I am grateful for his patience with me!)


Yes, I got those error messages too. What a pity. It#s such an interesting, well-written article, I' d have liked to see you in action, Gavin!:music:

[Zarathustra]

Yes, I got those error messages too. What a pity. It#s such an interesting, well-written article, I' d have liked to see you in action, Gavin!:music:

Thanks fayanne. ;)

The video's are all available. I resubmitted the article and sent a PM, but it seems nothing has been done about it thus far...

The video's can be found here:

http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/01gesso.mov
http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/02toning.mov
http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/03outlines.mov
http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/04start.mov
http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/05block1.mov
http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/06erasing.mov
http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/07block2.mov
http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/08block3.mov
http://www.helotsoftware.co.uk/wetcanvas/09finishing.mov

[Geoff]

Wonderful thread.
I've used a brush with graphite on portraits and figure studies after seeing the technique used by street artists in London.
Most of these artists, though, seem to use a sienna powder, rather than black or red pastel.

[bjs0704]

Years ago, I had a professor who would have us tone the paper we used in figure drawing. He would have us take an exacto knife and scrape it across pastels as a source of colored powder.

It seens to me that another variation of Zarathustra's technique would be to take powders in the colors Geoff has suggested.

I know that there is a tradition in pastel of limiting work to black, white, grey and sienna and bistre a combination that is great for figure work. It seems like someone could do quite a bit of exploring based on this basic idea.

My paper is toned and ready. I hope that later today I will be able to make a sample. I am going to promise to post it, however it turns out. :D

Barb Solomon :cat:

[Zarathustra]

I've heard of something called "sauce", and heard it mentioned again in drawing/sketching forum some time back... Nobody seemed quite sure what it was, though somebody described it as a type of dry oil paint - I believe it was applied with a brush.

Barb - I look forward to seeing how you get on with it. :)

[bjs0704]

Here is my attempt. I just wanted to try the technique and get a feel for how it worked, so I copied an old photo from a fashion magazine.

Barb Solomon :cat:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/11-Feb-2004/11410-charcoal.jpg

[MonicaB]

Excellent article, Z, even without videos (I didn't even try as I was so entertained by the article!). Thanks for taking the time to share.

[arlene]

excellent article...thanks!

[Zarathustra]

Hey Barb, great of you to give it a try. :) How did you find it? I know you were planning to work quite small, so I imagine trying to put features onto the face could have been very challenging? I wonder if a tiny wet watercolour brush could be used to paint the charcoal on as delicate features to make life easier? Your results are very good (I've worked small before, and it can be a real challenge!), and if you stick with it, each attempt becomes easier.

Thanks Monica and Arlene.

[cjord]

Great demo! And interesting technique..I do something similar, I work in pencil on canvas and brush in the graphite.:clap:

Charlie

[bjs0704]

I did like it. First, I did draw the face with charcoal. Faces require a bit of care and I didn't know what to expect.

Still, the brush and water has a different texture. It does expland the range of effects possible with charcoal. By going back and forth, between vine charcoal and brush applied charcoal things could be built up quite detailed.

Or one can have a fairly detailed piece created fairly quickly.

I am definitely going to do some more.

I use to sometime do pastel sketches, with water and a brush. It worked out quite similar. It was fun to do as a change of pace.

Barb Solomon :cat:

[Zarathustra]

Thanks Charlie. ;)

Barb, I can imagine that pastels work well too! :)

[CarlyHardy]

The article has been republished....so hopefully the new links will work for everyone!

Enjoy,
carly

[Classical Vince]

Gavin! Ive been away too long! What a great article! I have been interested in this technique for pastel work using a brush but I see it translates just as well using other materials.

I'll have to take some time to watch all the videos. Got through the article and just found the new links. You ought to copywrite these! ;)

[Zarathustra]

Thanks Carly - I've tried them and they link correctly. :)

Hi Vince, nice to see you, and cheers for stopping by.
It does seem to work with pastel. I'm working on another charcoal / white pastel drawing today (landscape and figure), and the brush technique is producing a reasonable result.
I think all the stuff is copyright by default anyway, but if anybody were to plagerise it, what can you do - the Internet is an open source! :)

[Zarathustra]

I gave the brush technique another try yesterday, to draw this piece after Caspar David Friedrich. 15" by 11".

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Feb-2004/9583-caspar-mist-charcoal1.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Feb-2004/9583-caspar-mist-charcoal2.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/15-Feb-2004/9583-caspar-mist-charcoal3.jpg

[Classical Vince]

Hi Gavin. This has a really nice painterly effect. You just cant get this same effect using regular ol' charcoal. I understand why you use the opaque pastel because the white charcoal would be uncontrollable.

I know the pastel probably covers the charcoal easily but how does the charcoal hold up on covering the whites for refinements? Really nice job on this.

[Zarathustra]

Hi Vince,

What is white charcoal exactly? People mention it, but I can't envision the burning of any tree part that might produce 'white' charcoal - unless the term is just figurative? :)
I didn't really try any charcoal over the white pastel - the white pastel was left to the end you see. I think it would probably work however.

[Classical Vince]

Hi Vince,

What is white charcoal exactly? People mention it, but I can't envision the burning of any tree part that might produce 'white' charcoal - unless the term is just figurative? :)
I didn't really try any charcoal over the white pastel - the white pastel was left to the end you see. I think it would probably work however.

Hey there Gavin. I was just as confused :confused: by the name too. Its under the Generals brand and it has less covering power than pastel. I've been warned that it fades if you use fixative. You cant exactly layer the white on top of the charcoal bc it mixes horribly. Ah, now I see, the white was placed last in your piece ;)

[Jogle]

Thanks Gavin for giving me a bit of inspiration in trying this technique. I am predominately a charcoal artist, I dabble a bit with hard pastels. I have plenty of sturdy paper and a jar of ground up charcoal so I am eager to give this a shot. I'll let you know of my results. Thanks again.

Joe
(my pieces can be viewed here http://jogle64960.deviantart.com )

[Zarathustra]

Wow, this thread is a blast from the past! Forgotten about its existence until now.

Hey Joe, you're very welcome and I very much look forward to seeing how you get along with it. Oh, and if you come up with any new tips or techniques during your experimentation please share those too. ;) Thanks.