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AnndreaLeeann — Charcoal portrait tutorial
Published: 2009-10-17 21:47:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 43531; Favourites: 761; Downloads: 1820
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Description
I hope this tutorial helps you with charcoal in some way :]...:/....o.OThe brushes I use are Loew-Cornell 1812 in size 9 and 3 but any brush that's soft should work fine. I use a rounded brush as apposed to square because it's easier to blend and square leaves little lines. The charcoal pencils *the woodless ones Ive found work better* are Art Alternatives brand but General's brand are studdly as well :]
For paper I recommend Strathmore Drawing. It's not too pricey and seems to work really well.
The subject used in this tutorial is Bert McCracken from The Used and
The drawing used to make this tutorial:
Works done with these techniques:
(If you drew a charcoal portrait and used this tutorial, please send me a link and I will add it here! Or if you don't want it to be added, I'd love to see and fave.)
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Comments: 324
This tutorial looks fantastically and utterly useful. I attempted something of this sort about a week ago, and while it wasn't a total fail, it was enough to make me throw up my hands and look for a tutorial. Thanks for making this one
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I'm so glad you found it even a tiny bit useful!! You are so welcome!
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Very nice tutorial, very nice drawing
(btw I also love The Used 
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I looove the used! Thanks!
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I've recently given a lot of thought into learning how to draw using charcoal, and to my elatedness, Lo- and behold, under this great portrait, is just what I've been looking for. It's also great to read your tutorial, and then once again bask in your marvelous portrait, seeing your own advice to fruition. Bravo, hoorah, and well done.
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Oh my, thank you!! I did this tutorial in hopes of having just a handful of people give it a lookover and think "ah, that's how she does it" but I got a lot more than that-to my utter surprise! Thank you so much for your kind words, and I hope that it helps you out!! Good luck on your charcoal endeavors, that is if you decide to go forth!
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You're very welcome.. And thank you again.
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Great tutorial, it gave me alot (to think about, since I'm pretty new to all of this). But tell me, what kind of brush do you use to blend? I've got an old Harolds (number 9) one, but I think its hair is to soft for this.
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Actually I think the softer the better, I use a plethora of different brushes, cheap soft round tip ones. try it out on a scrap piece and see if you like how it moves the dust around ;]
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great tutorial. using it make a portrait right now. just wish you had put some more info about the mouth!
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Well I treated I mouth as I did the eyes, light outlines where the shadows first lay and dragging them into the light ever so softly, just not blending or brushing as much into the shine or teeth. If you need any help please ask :] I will help as best I can!! Please send me the finished product Id love to see!
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well its finally up and thanks for your help... picture quality not so great though...
[link]
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Even colored it's gorgeous!!
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Why thank you :] I'm glad you like it!
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Good tutorial. ^_^ it really helps. :>
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that's all i wanted was for it to help ;]
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I've been thinking about using charcoal for a while now but I've never had much luck with it, when I get some time off I'm deffo using this tutorial
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Awesome! That's what I like to hear!! :]]
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this is a good tutorial. Maybe I should have checked it before I ruined my drawing character's hair... 
that's the thing with charcoal... you cant really erase
but still: great tutorial!!! thank you
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No, you can't
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I can't really make it part of the drawing because I think I ruined the anatomy of the face xDD lol. xD
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Ohhhhhhh I see, well make it abstract? lol XD I hate messing up it sucks!
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This is amazing. I'm experimenting with realism at the minute (mostly using pencils) and my pencil drawings look kind of flat (which is why I haven't posted them) I got aset of charcoal shades for christmas and haven't used them yet, I am VERY tempted to have a go now
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Good luck!! Remember to use shadows, shine and midshades and every value in between, that helps to round out the faces :]]
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LOL I hope so!!
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Ahhhhhh, this is so HELPFUL!!!
Thank you so much for making this!
I got pencils like those for christmas and like NEVER used them, cause I didn't know how, but now i finally can!
helpfulhelpfulhelpful
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I am so glad it helped you!! Tell your friends :3 haha XD
Good luck!!
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Aw, thank you!!
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awesome! this is definitely the tutorial I was looking for
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That's what I like to hear!! :]
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I love this tutorial! It was definitely helpful since I just started out.
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I am so glad!! I just wanted to slap something together to show people how I draw, I never imagined it would help so many people! Thank you for giving it a chance!
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Trust me, it was my pleasure!
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That's really awesome! I'm gonna use this this weekend, seriously! This should be fun...nice choice in pictures, bu the way.
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Thanks :] Let me know how it goes!!
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Ha, okay, so I sat down to draw the other day. Half-way into the portrait, I realized I had no idea who I was drawing (which is okay and absolutely normal for me) and that I was doing a really sucky job compared to how I normally do. I'm gonna work on it this weekend...and hopefully get something slightly better done.
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o.o How would you do blonde hair?
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I have a tutorial on that as well. [link]
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Would it be possible to explain the charcoal shavings? Like, you use the exacto knife to sharpen them and somehow use the brush with them? like a powder? Sorry I lost you with that...
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Sure thing, sorry that I lost you lol
I sharpen my charcoal pencils, *not the wood mine you, just the charcoal* and I collect the shavings which is a fine powder now, and collect it in the container. Then I dip a dry brush into the dust, shack off any excess and lightly drypaint with the dust on the brush. The more dust on the brush, the darker *and messier!* it becomes. Less is better for you can always build up :]
Does that help explain? If not let me know!
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Ohhh! I imagined shavings like a pencil shaving even though you were using the knife! I understand now! I plan on testing this out very soon, so thank you!
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Thank you very much for this tutorial, it's really helpful. I'm unfamiliar with charcoal, so this helps me a lot. ;a;
Oh-- Do you only use pencils, or do you use the stick ones, too? o:
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