Charcoal sketches [soft charcoal]

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After almost a gap of 2 years, I did these few sketches in soft charcoal and it is absolutely fun. Though I used simple photocopy papers, this fluid medium works amazingly even on these cheaper papers which hardly has any teeth to absorb the charcoals. I loved how easy and versatile this medium is to play with soft and hard edges just by smudging with hands or paper tissues or by adding stokes. Also lifting lighter areas including highlights and adding dark patches is quite easy. It's called a medium between drawing and painting as it is very fluid like paint but the application is like drawing. I am going to give it some serious try on proper surface. Till then, enjoy these small sketches.

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Just to add, since it has been raining a little bit here in Bangalore these last few days after a long and dry spell for months, the sky has suddenly become beautiful with fluffy clouds of different shapes, sizes and values making it one of the pleasing elements to observe now. And I think charcoal is one of the most convenient medium to explore and study and capture this element!

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The 3rd one from the exploration with soft charcoal. I was trying to capture mood and atmosphere with light and this dry but fluid medium is excellent to play around as it can be smudged, edges can be softened or defined and tonal values can be lifted or added at will!


mediums: Soft charcoal on bond paper.
size: A4
Source: Imaginations

© Dhruba Mazumder, 2014. All rights reserved.
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