Charcoal vs Graphite: Which Medium is Best for Your Art?

Bold and messy or subtle and precise-what steals your attention and seems powerfully captivating? When it's charcoal vs graphite for artists, the competition gets tough!

While graphite lovers are infatuated with graphite art, the admirers of charcoal drawings seem to survive on the medium. So, the question that haunts the creative psyche is: Which medium is best for your art?

In this blog, you’ll discover the answer to this question and explore more about the mediums and the important differences between the two.

What is Charcoal?

Charcoal is burnt wood and carbon in its purest form. Dark grey in color, solid and porous, the benefits of this medium cannot be overstated. From barbeques to treating drug overdoses, its dynamic uses will take you by surprise.

Since the era of cave paintings, burnt sticks were used to create scenes from daily life. However, the real use of this medium in creating detailed outlines kick-started during the Renaissance.

From creating preliminary sketches to photorealistic self-portraits, charcoal drawings have diversified over the years. As an artist, you must already be acquainted with its varieties. Today, vine charcoal, pencils, and powder are the ones on the trending list!

How to create art with Charcoal?

Follow this step-by-step guide to create art with the multiple varieties of this medium:

1. Pencil: To create a basic outline, a charcoal pencil can come in handy. Sketch a loose contour line for lighter areas and visible lines for high-contrast ones.

2. Powder: Spread out the powder over the artwork and mop the area with a brush and a paper towel. To highlight the darker areas, retrace them with a charcoal pencil.

3. Kneaded Eraser and White Pencil: Use a kneaded eraser to whiten the area for highlights if needed. For sharper edges and black-white gradations, a white charcoal pencil will do the trick.

4. Pencil: To darken shadows, use a pencil with a softer shade.

5. Blending Stumps: For a cast shadow appearance, use a blending stump.

6. Fixative: To seal a charcoal painting, using a fixative is necessary. Doing otherwise will result in a smudged and messy art.

How do you make Graphite?

Petroleum coke, heated to an extremely high temperature, produces graphite. Soft and slippery, graphite is mixed with clay to make it hard and firm for pencils.

The first graphite pencil, the natural ones, were used to mark sheep. With the accidental discovery of synthetic graphite, lead pencils came into fashion.

Non-toxic and brittle, pencils glide on paper, making them perfect for sketches and drawings.

What are the Differences between Graphite and Charcoal?

Features/Characteristics	Charcoal	Graphite
Natural	More natural	Synthetic
Texture	Soft, irregular and crumbly	Hard, non-brittle
Finishing	Matte	Metallic, reflective
Color	Black	Grey
Durability	Less durable	More durable
Usability by Beginners	Can be messy	Perfect for beginners
Erasers	Kneaded erasers for the dustier ones	Traditional erasers
Blending Stump	Smooth, diffused effect	Muddy, blotchy effect
Fixative	Needs a fixative for sealing	Can use tracing paper for smudge-proof
Messy	More likely	Less Likely

Which is better, Graphite or Charcoal art?

As the preferences of artists vary, determining which medium is better out of the two is quite challenging. While some creators consider lead as their favorite tool, others might enjoy charcoal drawings.

So, let’s explore the art tools from an unbiased perspective and try to figure out if one wins over the other:

If you want to avoid getting messy with art and want a pristine look, lead can be your perfect choice. On the other hand, if you are looking forward to photorealistic art, the second option would be a better alternative.

Charcoal pencils can come to the rescue if you are aiming to minimize the mess. A graphite pencil can also be a useful tool to create a photorealistic effect, but for a darker appearance, it's better to go with the other option.

However, it’s good news that with a fixative spray, you can seal in the mess that is created.

Invest in a kneaded eraser if you want to avoid smudge-proof charcoal art. A traditional eraser works fine with lead artwork. Also, a kneaded eraser can be used not only to remove lines or strokes but also for adding highlights to the artwork.

For dramatic, high-contrast shading and bold strokes, go for charcoal art, but for gradual shading, fine details, and precise lines, graphite would be a better choice. So, if you are aiming for a controlled drawing, opting for a fine texture like that of graphite pencils is ideal.

With pencil art, you can achieve layering for added depth and dimension. For smudging, blending, and erasing, the other medium can give you a variety of textured possibilities.

Conclusion

Whether it's charcoal art or graphite drawings, both can be flawless and stunning in their final look. While the preferences of artists may vary, making one win over the other is a challenging feat.

Their distinctive uses make them unique and suitable for the occasion they demand. While a graphite pencil can give a subtle appearance, charcoal art is more on the bolder and classy side.

As an amateur, you can get started with beginner-friendly art supplies like graphite and gradually move on to a vinyl version. While several differences set them apart, they are also united by similarities.

If you are unsure of your art options, it's ideal to have the best of both worlds, where the two mediums can merge to create stunning results! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How to seal Charcoal Drawings?

To seal charcoal drawings, the first step is to brush away any loose particles before using a fixative spray about 2 feet from the paper. It’s better to test its usage on a practice paper before trying it out on your artwork. For full coverage, spraying from opposite directions is ideal.

2. How to protect Graphite Drawings?

For graphite drawings, use a fixative spray, and if you are looking for a simpler option, placing an acid-free tracing paper over the artwork will make it long-lasting. Read the instructions before you use a fixative spray in a well-ventilated space, preferably outdoors.

3. What is the difference between Graphite and Charcoal Pencils?

A graphite pencil is metallic and reflective on paper, while the other one has a matte finish. Although less messy than sticks, charcoal pencils are perfect for a dramatic and contrasting appearance. These are more fragile when compared to leads that combine both graphite and clay for durability.