Why I Only Draw With Charcoal | Portrait Drawing

How did I get into charcoal drawing, and why did I stick with it?

[ZtooG]

I’ve just randomly came across this channel like 30 minutes ago… how underrated is this!? You’re so talented!
God bless you

[SPXXKYPLXYA]

I started drawing with charcoal in highschool for art class. I tried to draw it like you would do a pencil drawing and that didn’t work.

I can draw faces but not really full body drawings (I can it just takes a few hours) so because of this I almost gave up on art completely. Even anime/manga drawings which I’m good at.

When I tried to get back into drawing I hit an art block. it made me hesitant to do art again and also made me rethink what I wanted to be and seeing artist’s drawing that were better than mine made me even more discouraged depressed about art.

I came upon one of your charcoal shorts that you did and I asked my art teacher if we(The class)could do more charcoal drawings. He said “No” as he wanted ME and only me to move away from it to focus on other materials…so I stole a pack of charcoal(6-7 sticks), chalk, and practiced at home using your shorts, tutorials and advice.

My brother later bought me a charcoal kit for Christmas. I couldn’t find any charcoal or pan pastel in Walmart so my very nice English teacher brought it for me. I owe her one.

My art teacher(Whom I learned nothing from as what he was teaching was the basics) let me do what ever after that. We later went deeper into art a little more but that didn’t help at all. NO ONE did art in my school besides me and a few people

His lessons and tips didn’t help with ME but YOURS DID. although everyone learns differently.

My charcoal drawing started to get WAY better but my family thought I had schizophrenia(But they still thought my artwork was cool) but I don’t think they’re that good. I want to improve more everyday until I can’t.

MadCharcoal, you’ve helped me way more than you know when it comes to art. I want to say thank you. Truly. Your talent has made me realize mine.

[carterc]

There are few artists who's work I feel connected to like yours. I appreciate you and your art so much. Praying for you brother!

[amandavanheerden]

All my life I felt a presence (the muse) whispering to me that I need to start doing visual art. I ignored it for most of my life. Recently I tried acrylic, but realised that I'll need to learn to draw first. A dot and and a few marks on a page - the modern age idea of art - is NOT art. What you're doing is art. I see you're using both charcoal and pastels in your drawings - a beautiful combination.
Since I live in a small desert town, my man gave me his beautiful set of graphite pencils, but I wanted charcoal right from the start. I found a pack of 3 charcoal pencils in a tiny craft shop and started immediately doing a free online course. I drew every day. I started 2 weeks ago and I'm already doing basic landscapes! Before I would not even venture to draw a little stick man. That all happened this month! I am a young 70 year old and found a brandnew passion. I'm in love with charcoal and passionate about nature. Nature will always be the master artist imo, but with charcoal it gave us one of its most dramatic mediums to express out love for the beauty it gives us. I'm subscribing because of how you explained your journey, your connection to the medium and your amazing artistry. My journey has just started, but out of all the videos I watched, this one struck a chord that rang true for me. Thank you.

[JonesJr_art]

I came to love charcoal and pastel the same way as you did. I was a pencil guy too. I took a figure drawing class in my 20's and was encouraged to make things with willow quickly. It opened up more gestural art and made me a student of shape, light and shadow. Now in my 50's, I want to try it all, all the mediums. I will always call charcoal and pastel my "home base"
Thank you for doing what you do. You make me feel like a student again and have me longing for my charcoal and pastel. I hope you keeping doing what moves you most!

[pdatnc]

It's amazing that such chaotic mark-making produces such beautiful art.
So full of energy and life!
❤❤❤

[renel]

Thank you for this overview. You are so gifted. I'll need to get my charcoal out. This time I'm wearing gloves.

[drarlenerose]

Watching this awakened something inside me.Thank you

[ndBirth]

I do love how expressive your work is. It's very inspiring. I love the whole look of refinement coming out of chaos. It reminds me of the LORD's world on people like me. All rough around the edges and He is gradually refining us.

[SakutoNoSAI]

You are using the spirit to bring life to the material, providing it a soul within the image of man, and bringing order to the chaos of matter. This is exactly what we are called by our creator to do, afterall.

[EXTRAs]

I don't know why, but I realy got emotional seeing the result. I believe my mind can't process the beauty you created with only charcoal.

[brittm-m]

You totally NAILED what makes charcoal such a powerful and enigmatic medium. Obviously you understand it well. ♡

[Cosmoe]

I too just came across this! I have drawn with charcoal before....but not like this! I can't wait to try your technique! You are very inspiring...keep going.

[linpetite]

Josh, I've been watching your video's and in my life of 72 years and having done lots of drawing and painting, I have to say, you are really an inspiration to me! Love your style! Keep up the good work, thank you🙏👌🏼

[secularpilgrim]

For me, your skill is unfathomable. It`s like a super power. Thanks for sharing your gift with us.

[reeree]

Your art! YOUR ART and Thanks for sharing both, child of God!!!💙❤️💜💖💚

[Giancarlo_DellErnia]

I really like your holistic approach to drawing that encourages greater expressive freedom and leads to more dynamic and emotionally engaging results. I find that this artistic technique has a strong analogy with our vision process, in which the eyes quickly move between different points of the subject in order to perceive the whole before the details. The brain tends to recognize shapes and patterns in exactly the same way you work with masses instead of lines. Fascinating!

[bsdpowa]

I enjoyed this entire video! idk what is it about it but all of it as a whole is really calming

[TheArtbdw]

Watching you create this powerful portrait, looks like a masterpiece in only 14 minutes…. And remembering all the times that I say “I wish I had more time to draw or make artwork “ thank you for sharing this

[cicada]

Thank You, Mad, for sharing this with me. Appreciate your thoughts here.