Basics of Willow and Vine Charcoal
Basics of Willow and Vine Charcoal
The modest stick of charcoal is easily overlooked. Charcoal is the oldest drawing medium and yet, little has changed since our ancestors first pulled charred sticks from the fire to make marks on a cave wall! Charcoal dates back nearly 30,000 years. It is made from ground organic materials like grape vines and willow. These materials are held together by a wax binder, or can sometimes be produced by eliminating the oxygen inside the material.
Using charcoal produces a deep black mark, brilliant for bold and expressive studies or it can be soft to produce a wispy, light effect. There are various types and uses of charcoal as an art medium, but the commonly used types are: Compressed, Vine, and Willow. Grumbacher makes Willow and Vine Charcoal in varying degrees of softness:
Willow and Vine Charcoal
Grumbacher extra soft vine charcoal is created by burning hand-selected vines at high temperatures to produce a rich, dark stick. We use high quality vine to create a charcoal that is rich, blend-able and lays down smoothly.
Willow charcoal has a look and feel that is quite smoky and light. You’ll struggle to get strong darks with willow charcoal though. Grumbacher willow charcoal is made from burning natural, uncompressed willow rods to create charcoal in a range of diameters. Willow is ideal for laying down preliminary sketches for paintings and drawings.
The sticks tend to be slightly distorted and curved, part of the natural effect of burning them to a specific hardness.
Vine charcoal is similar but instead of willow, grape vines are used.
One famous artist who was known for her work with charcoal was Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945). She was a German artist, who saw much suffering throughout her life. Kollwitz depicted her experiences through expressive art, which included the use of charcoal.
Living in Berlin throughout the first World War, the events of the time prompted her to depict her struggles with hunger and poverty through art. Kollwitz was primarily a graphic artist, confining her work to black and white imagery. The world that she depicts in her art is veiled in shadow, and rarely touches any sight of color. As such, it is no wonder that charcoal was a frequently used medium of hers throughout her work. Kollwitz’s art makes such incredible statements, whilst only using bold strokes of light and dark charcoal.
Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945)
Extra Soft Vine Charcoal, 3 pk
Grumbacher® extra soft vine charcoal is created by burning hand-selected vines at high temperatures to produce a rich, dark stick. V40 measures approximately .25 (.635 cm) in diameter.
Soft Vine Charcoal, 3 pk
Grumbacher® soft vine charcoal is created by burning hand-selected vines at high temperatures to produce a velvety stick with a slightly less intense black than our extra soft V40. V41 measures approximately .25 (.635 cm) in diameter.
Medium Vine Charcoal, 3 pk
Grumbacher® medium vine charcoal is created by burning hand-selected vines at high temperatures to produce a smooth stick with a very dark gray color. V42 measures approximately .25 (.635 cm) in diameter.
Hard Vine Charcoal, 3 pk
Grumbacher® hard vine charcoal is created by burning hand-selected vines at high temperatures to produce a dark stick that sharpens well, and is ideal for fine lines and detail. V43 measures approximately .25 (.635 cm) in diameter.
Jumbo Vine Charcoal, 1 pk
Grumbacher® uses high quality vine to create a charcoal that is rich, blendable and lays down smoothly. V9 vine charcoal is a medium degree, extra large stick with a dark gray color that measures approximately .625″W x 5.75L (1.58 cm x 14.6 cm).
Square Vine Charcoal, 2 pk
Grumbacher® uses high quality vine to create a charcoal that is rich, blendable and lays down smoothly. V16 vine charcoal is a medium degree square stick with a dark gray color that measures approximately .25W x 5.75L (.635 cm x 14.6 cm).
Willow Charcoal Thin 12 Pack
Grumbacher® willow charcoal is made from burning natural, uncompressed willow rods to create charcoal in a range of diameters. Willow is ideal for laying down preliminary sketches for paintings and drawings. Thin Willow Charcoal measures approximately .125” (.3 cm)) in diameter.