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Subject: "Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

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Study and Teach Fine Art Techniques Charcoal and Pencil Drawings - Techniques by J.D. Hillberry Topic #102

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Lita Dawn

Member since Oct-14-02
10 posts, 2 feedbacks,

Oct-14-02, 02:49 PM ()

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"Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

I've been working with charcoal for years. Unfortunately, the brand I love is said to be discontinued. Is anyone familiar with Berol Soft Charcoals? I like that they hold together, are fairly oily and produce rich blacks. Any substitutions or suggestions?

litadawn

Marc Forest

Member since Aug-23-02
285 posts, 14 feedbacks, 27 points

Oct-14-02, 03:52 PM ()

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1. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

Hi Litadawn. I've used General's in the past and have had pretty good luck but they don't have that Oily feel that you speak of. I just started using Ritmo's and they are outstanding!! I think you will really like the HB Charcoal, it has a different feel from the other's it definately has that oily feel you like. It goes on like a pencil, no crumbling, very smooth!

give them a rip!!

Marc Forest.
http://www.marcforest.com

absolute

Member since Aug-24-02
895 posts, 12 feedbacks,

Oct-14-02, 06:58 PM ()

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2. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

,...thats an EXELLENT drawing at the top.,,and i have a question about that charcoal,(wich im almost sure is the same kind mr hillberry uses,,..ritmo right?)..the only kind of charcoal ive experimented with is the cheap stuff,.that leaves tiny white dots behind when you try to make something solid black...are the ritmo pencils smooth like a pencil or are they still pretty scratchy?
just curious.

www.geocities.com/woodart211

absolute

Member since Aug-24-02
895 posts, 12 feedbacks,

Oct-14-02, 07:07 PM ()

3. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

wow!! i just went to your site to see more of your work..i liked everything i seen ...INCREDIBLE.
for something like the cat that you done,did you mainly use just charcoal?

www.geocities.com/woodart211

Phil
Member since Aug-26-02
6 posts, 6 feedbacks,

Oct-14-02, 07:39 PM ()

4. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

Hi Lita

I'm afraid I can't help at all with you charcoal question as I am pretty new to using it and as such dont know an awful lot yet.

I visited your website and was astounded by the quality of the work you have there, It's superb!

Phil

www.graphite-art.com

Lita Dawn

Member since Oct-14-02
10 posts, 2 feedbacks,

Oct-14-02, 11:46 PM ()

5. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

Thanks for your comment on my work. I don't know what kind of charcoals Mr. Hillberry uses. I haven't bought his book... yet, though I plan to. The only ritmo pencils I've tried have a great texture but they're grayer; not "tar" black.

litadawn

absolute

Member since Aug-24-02
895 posts, 12 feedbacks,

Oct-15-02, 06:01 PM ()

6. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

just wanted to say welcome to the forum,and i was wondering if you are working on anything new?if so i would love to see how you work step by step ,or even just advice etc,cause i really admire your work.

www.geocities.com/woodart211

Marc Forest

Member since Aug-23-02
285 posts, 14 feedbacks, 27 points

Oct-15-02, 08:15 PM ()

7. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

Litadawn, Have you tried Carbon pencils? They are really black! And may have the feel your looking for. I believe J.D. Hillberry uses RITMO Charcoals.

Peace.

Marc Forest.
http://www.marcforest.com

Lita Dawn

Member since Oct-14-02
10 posts, 2 feedbacks,

Oct-15-02, 09:39 PM ()

8. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

The cats are rendered in charcoal only (Berol #632 soft).
The piece was a real challenge. The cats would not stay still for photos. They didn't like each other either. One cat was terminally ill and its entire side was shaven from surgeries (which was the reason for the portrait). Fortunately, fur isn't too hard to represent in charcoal. It was an unusual but sad project. Thank you for your enthusiasm re: my site. You've motivated me to add to and update it

litadawn

Lita Dawn

Member since Oct-14-02
10 posts, 2 feedbacks,

Oct-15-02, 09:52 PM ()

9. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

Can you recommend a brand of Carbon pencils?
I really like your logo. What a great image. It pulled me in and next thing I knew I was at your site viewing the rest of your beautiful work. Look forward to seeing your next piece in process.

litadawn

J D Hillberry

Member since Aug-21-02
107 posts, 8 feedbacks, 16 points

Oct-16-02, 01:50 AM ()

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10. "RE: Charcoal-Looking for Blackest Blacks"

Hi Lita,

I have been aware of your work for some time now and am so glad you joined us. Just about everyone uses graphite here so it will be good to have a charcoal artist among us.

The company that makes Ritmo was sold a while back, and the new owners have been fiddling with the formula ever since. They even had to recall some of their pencils. I think it is finally close to what it used to be. If you happened to buy yours when they were lousy, you may want to give them another chance.

As far as carbon pencils go, I like Wolffs Carbon the best.
I often use them in place of the "Ritmos". I am encouraging
everyone to give them a try. The good thing about this medium is it is so inexpensive to experiment! "Wolffs" carbon pencils can be found here:

<http://www.jerrysartarama.com/shop/Catalog.asp?Parent_ID=700&Cat_Level=3>

If that long URL string dosn't work just go here:

<http://www.jerrysartarama.com/> . Then click "Drawing" then "Pencils, Graphite and leads" . They are at the bottom of the page.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work and of course your helpful critiques.

J. D.

J. D. Hillberry
http://www.jdhillberry.com

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