Kids Can Create Nitram Charcoal Masterpieces Too!

Finger painting is fun, but for kids, drawing with Nitram charcoal can be a blast!
It’s easy, economical, educational, and best of all- it’s fun.

The material requirements are simple- Nitram charcoal, paper, a blending tool, plastic cookie cutters, artist or masking tape (optional) and an apron or old shirt for clothing protection. Don’t forget the water and paper towels for clean-up.

First and foremost, it’s important to show children that the charcoal will come off their hands. A good way to do that is to allow the child to use a baton to scribble on a piece of scrap paper and let them run the tips of their fingers over it. Let him or her wash it off alone. Once they are confident that the charcoal will come off easily, they are ready to proceed.

Place a cookie cutter on a sheet of clean paper and using a soft charcoal baton, instruct the child to trace along the outside of the design. A cookie cutter is much easier for a child to use than a stencil because the cookie cutter is raised, so there’s less chance of the charcoal slipping under the design. Plastic cookie cutters often have a rubbery surface at one end that helps prevent it from moving when placed on paper. A few pieces of masking tape can be adhered to the inside of the cookie cutter, and attached to the paper to anchor it in place, if need be.

It’s best to have the child use a shorter baton for tracing. It fits easier in a small hand and there’s less chance of breakage. Once the child has traced the outside of the design, the cookie cutter can be removed and the inside can be drawn or decorated.

For those more adventurous kids, they can leave the cookie cutter intact and fill in the background of the paper using the charcoal and a blending tool. This has a great effect, especially when using cutters in the shape of stars, circles or both. There’s no limit to the number of cookie cutters that can be used, depending on the size of the paper. Just be sure they are spaced far enough apart so that the child can easily maneuver around them.

Another fun activity for kids is to use a rubber stamp. The design can be either stamped on the paper with ink, or transferred with charcoal. To do so, simply rub the stamp with the side of a Nitram charcoal design until there is enough coverage for the transfer to paper.

For those more daring, freehand drawing with charcoal can paper can be a rewarding experience, especially when the child is allowed the creative freedom to blend, blend and blend. Kids are easily attracted to the blending tools and the ability to transform darkness to light.

Charcoal drawing isn’t just for adults, and the earlier a child learns to master the medium, the more likely they are to carry a love of charcoal into adulthood. Give it a try!