Podolsk Natural Charcoal

Podolsk Art Center produces 2 kinds of charcoal: natural and compressed.

What is natural charcoal?

Although many kinds of wood can be used to make natural charcoal, normally for drawing manufacturers use willow. Charcoal is actually charcoal – residue from burning wood and for drawing purposes to make the material less fragile willow twigs will be burnt without the presence of oxygen. When artists make it by themselves, they simply seal it in a can and put it on fire.

Such charcoal provides moderately soft and smooth application, fine lines and natural shade. Can be spread with water for mixed-media drawing techniques. Works well for drawing techniques as well as for sketching on canvas as it makes very low dust.

Compressed charcoal has a deeper colour, and more value as it’s made from natural charcoal with pigments added.

Made in Russia.