There are some interesting effects to be had when you start with a charcoal blackened paper and then use your eraser to lift off some of the charcoal. This is called the Additive - Reductive technique. A kneaded eraser works best, and can be used to erase a (relatively) thin line or a vast area. White charcoal could be used afterwards to add highlights. Do note that it is much more difficult to draw precise details with this technique. Not to mention, it can get quite messy as you first need to get enough charcoal on the paper and rub it in thoroughly to achieve a uniform blackness (latex gloves are highly recommended!)
Here are some drawings I did using the Additive - Reductive technique for a recent class assignment. Any feedback is welcome!
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| Additive reductive technique using charcoal |
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| Still life (Charcoal) |
On a related note, I discovered the importance of quality art supplies when doing this assignment. I had a charcoal stub from before which was of inferior quality. Even though the charcoal looked blacker, I had such trouble achieving a gradual shading and gray tones in this drawing here. Lesson learnt!
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| Still life (Charcoal) |
