Description

Generals Compressed Charcoal sticks are handcrafted from high quality carbon for extra smooth drawing providing a rich dense colour. Available in black & white.

Generals compressed charcoal is primarily used by artists for drawing, sketching, shading and blending to create high-contrast. Great for use in dramatic and expressive artworks. Unlike willow or vine charcoal, compressed charcoal is mixed with a binder (like gum or wax) making it harder, darker and more permanent. This leads to more detailed, precise lines and deep, rich black or white tones.

1. Black Compressed Charcoal

• Deep Shading & Contrast: Used for creating intense, velvety, and deep black tones in shadows, as well as bold, expressive marks.
• Detailing & Precision: Because it is harder than vine/willow, it can be sharpened to a point to add fine lines, texture and intricate details to a drawing.
• Broad Strokes: The sides of the square sticks are excellent for covering large areas quickly.
• Layering: It is ideal for building up layers, which is necessary for creating depth in subjects like portraits or landscapes.

2. White Compressed Charcoal

• Highlights: Used to draw in bright highlights, especially on toned (grey or tan) or black paper.
• Reverse Drawing: When used on black paper, it allows for a “reverse drawing” technique, where the artist builds up light rather than shadow.
• Blending & Mid-tones: It can be blended with black charcoal to create a range of grey, “cool-toned” mid-tones or to soften transitions between light and dark.
• Creating Depth: Using white to accentuate light sources makes objects appear more three-dimensional.

Combined Use (Black & White)

• Toned Paper Drawing: A common technique involves using black for shadows, white for highlights, and using the toned paper as the mid-tone.
• Velvety Effect: When layered together, they produce a distinct, silvery, or velvety surface quality.
• Fixing & Manipulation: Due to the binder, these materials are harder to erase. They are often used for finished pieces that need to be protected with fixative sprays.