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CREATING TEXTURES IN CHARCOAL LANDSCAPES – Stuart Jarvis
Reference Image
Materials
Charcoal (a variety of different types)
Erasers (standard classroom, putty, retractable)
Heavyweight paper
Blending tools
Fixative Spray
Ruler
Soft brush
Find these items at cassart.co.uk
Getting started
Start by covering the entire sheet with a charcoal ground. Using a broad piece of charcoal, hold it flush against the paper and rub it evenly across the surface. This serves two purposes: first, it removes the intimidation of a stark white page, and second, it establishes a mid-tone from which both highlights and shadows can be built. To fix the charcoal into the paper, lightly press it into the surface with a cloth or your hand, ensuring an even foundation.
Sketching out the composition
With the ground prepared, sketch out the composition using a technique called ghosting. This involves making very light marks that can be easily adjusted or removed with a simple swipe of the hand. Holding the charcoal on its side creates clean, straight lines, which are useful for mapping out architectural elements such as buildings, pillars, or bridges. Using the reference photograph, identify key anchor points in the landscape and place them proportionally on the page.
Introducing highlights
Once the composition is established, begin introducing highlights. A standard eraser is excellent for crisp, sharp edges, while a putty rubber, which can be moulded and shaped, is better suited for soft, organic forms. Using the eraser, lift out areas of light where the sky or reflective surfaces break through the composition. For a sense of realism, observe where light falls naturally—on the tops of structures, along edges, or filtering through trees.
Top Tip: Dragging the eraser across the surface can create the appearance of dripping paint or weathered textures, adding to the richness of the drawing.
Adding in shadows
To deepen the shadows, apply another layer of charcoal, pressing firmly to achieve darker values. Fixative can be used to set the charcoal in place before adding even deeper tones. Spraying fixative locks the existing layer, allowing a fresh application of charcoal to be worked over it, producing the richest blacks possible. However, because fixative makes areas permanent, ensure all desired adjustments are made beforehand.
Delicate textures
For more delicate textures, such as fine tree branches or distant architectural details, a blending stick (or tortillon) can be used to smudge and refine the charcoal, creating subtle transitions between light and shadow. Holding charcoal upright and dragging it lightly down the page is a useful technique for drawing trees, with pressure increasing as the strokes near the base to create a natural tapering effect.
Graffiti and textured surfaces, such as crumbling walls or weathered concrete, can be suggested rather than precisely drawn. Using quick, gestural marks, scribble lightly over the area before partially erasing them to create a layered, worn effect. This technique ensures that the graffiti reads as texture rather than overpowering text, blending seamlessly into the scene.
Finishing touches
For the final stage, add finishing touches that enhance depth and drama. If the reference image includes a sunburst or strong directional light, use a ruler or straight edge to pull out radiating lines from a central point, mimicking the effect of light piercing through the landscape. Smudging some areas while keeping others crisp will create contrast, drawing the viewer’s eye to key focal points.
