Capturing Character with Charcoal Contrast

Charcoal is one of the oldest and most versatile drawing mediums, used historically for everything from quick studies to detailed finished works. Its deep blacks, broad tonal range, and ability to be blended, smudged, or lifted with erasers make it well suited for portraiture. The Charcoal Portraits collection applies these traditional techniques to create two studies that emphasize structure, contrast, and clarity without the use of color.

The Process
Each portrait began with a light pencil outline before charcoal pencils and sticks were used to establish tone and form. Emily’s portrait features a dark, fully developed background created with layered charcoal stick, keeping her face in the straw hat lighter by contrast. Her features are shaped with blended charcoal pencil to define structure against the shadowed backdrop. Kathryn’s portrait uses long, deliberate strokes—particularly in her hair, styled in an up-do—to create sharper definition and emphasize posture and facial structure. Both works were built using expressive sketching, layering and blending, reflecting a straightforward, traditional charcoal drawing approach. Krylon Workable Fixatif or a matte clear finish spray helps hold pencil in place between applications and on the final piece to prevent smudging.

Inspiration & Meaning
These portraits were inspired by family-member-like reference photos found online. The goal was to capture likeness and individuality through simplified tonal structure, allowing each figure’s character to come through without relying on color. Though different in appearance, Emily and Kathryn share similar qualities of strength, presence, and deliberate pose. Charcoal supports this focus by highlighting expression through value alone. The frames introduce a subtle touch of color and character that complements the artwork, while the medium itself reinforces the intent: to convey each portrait through a direct, expressive, and traditional method.