Willow Charcoal Sticks, Natural Willow Charcoal for Artists, Beginners, or Students of All Skill Levels, Great for Sketching, Drawing, and Shading, Approx 4-5mm in Diameter, Pack of 25

This charcoal makes my work look better. It makes my lines more crisp. Love it!

I do a lot of work with willow charcoal and I like to keep my work flowing. I don’t like having to switch up my tools to get the desired results. I want one thing that’ll give me light and darkest darks that’s smooth and easily transitions from one tone to the next. I don’t do any blending or use compressed charcoal, but man have I had a difficult time finding the right charcoal/paper combination that would allow me to work the way I want. I’ve used the two higher end brands that everyone raves about. The Ntrm is beautiful with little dust, but even the softest is too hard and far too light. I tried C..tes and while it’s soft and less dusty and does get dark, it doesn’t allow me to layer like this one and so it doesn’t get as dark. This one is just the best one for me, the way I work and the paper I use. (I wish Amazon carried my paper, but alas I have to order it from overseas. I’m not complaining though bcuz I’m so excited to finally have the perfect combination. I bought a slightly cheaper willow that also comes in a tube and thought this was just another generic with a different label. I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong. I can sharpen these to fine point without them breaking and crumbling me. You do have to be gentle with your pressure if you have a sharp tip, but I think that goes for any kind of charcoal. (Aside from compressed.) I don’t like blending these bcuz they’re very loose, scribbled freehand drawings and sometimes it’s the wrong marks that help make it interesting. It’d be a shame to blend all those happy accidents away.

Fantastic charcoal

good

Will buy again.