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Charcoal Reduction Tutorial
Published: 2007-05-06 22:46:48 +0000 UTC; Views: 34236; Favourites: 480; Downloads: 731
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Description
GASP! Thank you `znow-white for the DD!
All my charcoal works can be found here: [link]
I've had a bunch of people ask me to make a tutorial on how I go about my charcoal works. So here's a write up of how I make them.
If you've still got questions or think something isn't clear enough, just let me know. I consider this a 1.0 version and I'm sure I'll hack into the file to edit it at some point. And please check for typos. I checked a bunch of times, but I'm sure I missed something here or there.
If you're interested, you can see the finished artwork here: [link]
All charcoal works in my gallery were made using this technique. I have anime fanarts, cartoon fanarts, game fanarts, animals, realistic portraits, and still lifes. I have pieces that use only charcoal and pieces that incorporate a lot of pastels as well.
The fullsized 1000 pixel wide version is on download. So click download if you want that version.
Some examples:
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Comments: 195
This tutorial is awesome! I'm working with charcoal in art class right now, so this is helpful. Thanks! Oh, congrats on the DD, by the way.
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Thank you!
I learned this technique in an introductory art class. Best thing I learned in that class.
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I tried this technique once last year, and it actually looked pretty good. We weren't allowed to use out fingers since the teacher said it would repel the charcoal from the paper and make it harder to work, and I only had three hours and a very old knead eraser to play with. Oh, well, this year I'm given a week and I have my own tools now, so hopefully it'll turn out better this year! Hahaha.
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My teacher insisted we use our fingers, get the charcoal ground in as much as possible. 
I had 6 hours for my first one. I wonder what I could do with a whole week's worth of class time.
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One week for us is five hours. -sigh- Well, I'm doing a giant eyeball (my friend's, haha!), so it should be relatively easy to look dramatic. I'm using paper and loose charcoal, because it's easier for me to build up slowly and it gets ground into the "grain" of the paper, so it's pretty interesting... texture, I suppose?
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Oh my, a giant eyeball? That sounds fun.
I had to work on a giant still life. (this one [link] if you're interested). I usually end up working between 3 and 5 hours on a piece. I think the most was about 7, because I got so far then blackened in everything and started over.
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I tend to be very picky and meticulous to a fault (hence taking a lot of time), and it drives my teachers crazy. Eh, well, I'll loosen up on this one.
And Ja, it's a cool giant eyeball. Very pretty, and perfect for my bedroom wall when done... framed, of course.
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I think I'd freak out if I had a giant eyeball on my wall. Even dolls freak me out, staring at me all night long.
Charcoal is an interesting medium, because it's really hard to get those finer details without smudging everything. I had to learn to not worry about things so much, like I would if I were making a graphite piece.
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They don't bother me all that much, I know they're not real. I used to be freaked out by them, though.
Interesting is a very well-placed word! Haha. I have almost no experience with it, only that one project last year that I didn't even finish. I hope that this one will turn out well.
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i really don't know that way to make a pic ^^ Awasome! I want to try much but i haven't used charcoal before or had some charcoal T__T A pity, but i should try with pencil, it's ok???
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My graphite reduction came out like this: [link]
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Wow! 5B! I haven't used it ! I'll try
Thank u ! ^^
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D: Wow. Great stuff! Super cool tutorial, and the end product is fantastic!
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Thank you so much!
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Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the community .
Congratulations
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Oh my thank you so much! 
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I am really happy to hear that.I am sure it will encourage more members to use these medium
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I hope so. Some actually commented that they were going to try.
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thanks for this great tutorial
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I'm so glad you found it useful
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Your wonderful tutorial has been featured here.[link]
Thank you for providing the gallery with such awesome Resources.
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Oh wow, thank you so much!
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Wow, that looks like so much fun! I am definitely going to have to give it a shot sometime.
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I love it; I'm always trying to convince people to use charcoal now.
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Awesome! I'm so glad to hear it.
And wow, you've got the best screenname ever, I think. Inconceivable!
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You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
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great! 
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You're welcome
You can use pencils but you'll use them really fast in the first step. Other than that they are very helpful. I always keep some pencils around.
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sure, that i will surely do. and perhaps i have to grab those things that you mentioned in the tutorial. that might give me the results i've been looking for in my works ^_^
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I wouldn't have known about the condensed charcoal if I hadn't taken an art class at OSU. They sticks are very helpful, and really cheap
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do they come in brands, the condensed charcoal? actually, i was ill-equipped when it comes to knowledge regarding charcoals. that's why i really found the tutorial really helpful. ^_^ thanks again!
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I had to look at my unused charcoal to see what brand it is. 
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now, i see 
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nice sig, btw.
i actually am an English major, explains why i have little knowledge on charcoal and stuff, lol. and perhaps that's the reason why i have not done drugs before, lol again.
^_^
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^_^
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My fellow grads and some of my professors know to always ask me what I think about something if they want to pick it apart. I get to do it for my dissertation as well
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a regular academic, eh?
that's nice to hear. most of my friends who're still in college seek my help in their theses. that's because they're topic has something to do with rock music. perhaps i could do my own dissertaiton as well with regards to that subject matter.
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That you can.
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yeah, and God knows we are gonna kick asses with our turfs!
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HOLY SNAP
you rock > w <~
I didn't know you could make that sort of work with charcoal <3~
And the contrast makes this look so dynamic :3
Oh I wish I could try it~
think it would be possible with acrylics? @ w @~
would it be OK if I tried colors in the background too @ w @
most of my art supplies are with a friend of mine so most of what I have left are pastels and stuff
so thank you so much for this tutorial <3~
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