This gorgeous preliminary study by Federico Barocci allows the viewer a rare glimpse inside the creative process of a renowned master who lived and worked centuries ago.
Charcoal and graphite can produce some interesting results with the combination of the matte of charcoal and the gloss of graphite. Together, the matte and glossy look creates a unique drawing that can sometimes look different depending on the angle its viewed from. Charcoal and graphite each have their own characteristics and reflect light differently.
Understanding how to shade properly helps us to offer a more three-dimensional look in our art. Values, or tones are just varying shades of grey and using a variety of different values is where you begin when you start shading.
Figure drawing class, properly run, should feel welcoming and inclusive, warm, safe, and subdued: a sanctuary of peace, quiet, and unpressured concentration.
Virtually all public spaces conducive to drawing from life remained off-limits to unchaperoned women of the upper class, who alone possessed sufficient wealth and leisure to allow for artistic pursuits.
One of the biggest questions that any teacher or artist working with charcoal gets from those just starting out is, “What sort of paper should I use with charcoal drawing?” The answers are as varied as the artists that are being asked.