[data-ottawa]

I’ve taken to painting with charcoal lately.

I draw with vine charcoal, smudge and adjust, then wash it on canvas with a brush dipped in water, it makes a nice watercolour style effect. I suppose it’s more like gouache after reading this.

I started experimenting with compressed charcoal crayons too. I dip them in water then rub directly into canvas. It gives a very strong black which is perfect for accents and dark surfaces.

[ynac]

I made some charcoal in a tin a couple years ago from branch ends of an arbutus tree. I didn't realize how much I was really making. It's great stuff. Very enjoyable feel and marks nearly all the papers I use it on.

Never tried the process your describing. I'll try watercolor paper first, and then canvas - I assume you mean a primed / gessoed canvas?

[data-ottawa]

Yes, gessoed canvas.

Canvas isn’t a particularly good surface for charcoal, but I like having a very large work area