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VAKT: Picture of an artist drawing with charcoal
The very first CHARCOAL drawings have been found in caves from the STONE AGE. Many historians state that cavemen most likely didn’t make charcoal on purpose to draw something on the walls of their homes. They very likely used burnt BRANCHES and sticks from a fire that had served as a cooking location before. Basically, this is already charcoal, but the point is they probably didn’t make them for ARTISTIC purposes. Later, in the RENAISSANCE (the revival of EUROPIAN art and literature under the influence of classical models in the 14th–16th centuries), charcoal art reached its first peak in its popularity. LEONARDO DA VINCI was one pioneer in using charcoal to draw.
Spell: CAVEMEN Spell: COOKING Spell: POPULARITY
The first charcoal drawings were found in caves from the ________? STONE AGE
Cavemen did not make charcoal for what purposes? ARTISTIC
Who was a pioneer in using charcoal to draw? LEONARDO DA VINCI
Renaissance means the revival of __________art and literature? EUROPIAN
Name one thing the cavemen used from a fire to draw with. BRANCHES / STICKS
Faces were the most drawn subject using charcoal. PORTRAITS had been popular during that time in general, so it is just obvious that they were also focused on charcoal drawings from da Vinci or SARAIVA. Fixatives are used with charcoal drawings to SOLIDIFY the position to prevent erasing or rubbing off of charcoal dust. Today we fix our charcoal artworks with simple sprays especially constructed for that purpose or even regular HAIRSPRAY. In the Renaissance, the complete drawings were usually bathed in gum, which was much more LABORIOUSLY (effortful or in a way that takes considerable time and effort) than our spray method today.
Spell: PORTRAITS Spell: ARTWORKS Spell: BATHED
What was the most drawn subject using charcoal? FACES
What regular product is used nowadays to fix charcoal artwork? HAIRSPRAY
In the Renaissance, the complete drawings were usually bathed in _____? GUM
What does laboriously mean? EFFORTFUL / IN A WAY THAT TAKES CONSIDERABLE TIME AND EFFORT
What task would you describe as laborious?
VAKT: Picture of different types of artists’ charcoal
Artists’ charcoal is charcoal used as a dry art medium. Both COMPRESSED charcoal (held together by a gum or wax binder) and charcoal sticks (wooden sticks burned in a KILN without air) are used. The marks it leaves behind on paper are much less permanent than with other media such as GRAPHITE, and so lines can easily be erased and blended. Charcoal can produce lines that are very light or INTENSELY black. The dry medium can be applied to almost any surface, from smooth to very coarse.
VAKT: Have the client draw (anything) with a graphite pencil on a piece of paper (or with a piece of charcoal if possible)
Spell: WAX Spell: MEDIUM Spell: BLENDED
The marks left behind on paper by charcoal are much less permanent than with other media such as _______? GRAPHITE
Name one type of charcoal used for drawing. COMPRESSED CHARCOAL / CHARCOAL STICKS
To what surfaces can charcoal be applied? ALMOST ANY / SMOOTH TO VERY COARSE
What common drawing tool contains graphite? PENCIL
Let’s have a look at some artists using charcoal as a drawing medium. You can spot NELSON MAKAMO’s expressive portraits from a mile away. The JOHANNESBURG-based artist uses printmaking techniques as well as charcoal, acrylics, watercolors, and oils to create spontaneous works that capture the characters of his native South Africa. His art is a great example of how charcoal can be used with other mediums to create masterpieces. Nelson is particularly interested in representing children; the artist is drawn to the innocence and eternal joy of childhood and believes that the essence of our former childhood selves remains within us all: simplicity, joy, and curiosity.
Spell: PRINTMAKING Spell: NATIVE Spell: MILE
Nelson is particularly interested in representing ________? CHILDREN
The artist is drawn to the innocence and ___________ of childhood? ETERNAL JOY
Name one of the types of paint that Makamo uses as well. ACRYLIC / WATERCOLOUR / OIL
Johannesburg is a city in what country? SOUTH AFRICA
DIANE VICTOR is a contemporary South African artist known for her drawings and prints that explore social INJUSTICE, war, and corruption. Made using charcoal and CANDLE smoke, her portraits of missing children are among Victor’s most ESTEEMED works. Born in 1964 in WITBANK, SOUTH AFRICA, she went on to receive her BFA from the University of WITWATERSRAND in Johannesburg in 1986. Her works are included in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art in NEW YORK, the BALTIMORE Museum of Art, the IZIKO South African National Gallery in CAPE TOWN, and the MINNEAPOLIS Institute of Arts, among others.
VAKT: Picture of Diane using candle smoke to create an artwork
Spell: ESTEEMED Spell: UNIVERSITY Spell: MUSEUM
What interesting medium, apart from charcoal, does Diane use? CANDLE SMOKE
In what town in South Africa was she born? WITBANK
When did she receive her BFA from the University of WITWATERSRAND in Johannesburg? 1986
Name of the things that DIANE VICTOR’s drawings and prints explore. SOCIAL INJUSTICE / WAR / CORRUPTION
Name one place her works are included in the collections. THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART / THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART / THE IZIKO SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GALLERY / THE MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS
From afar, it may seem like the artworks of ELI WUDUFA YUSUF are black and white photographs, but in fact, each one is a HYPERREALISTIC charcoal drawing. The NIGERIA-based artist became an internet sensation in 2019 when he shared a portrait of comedian KEVIN HART on TWITTER, hoping that his idol would see it. Unsurprisingly, the AMERICAN was floored when he came across the piece and offered to purchase the drawing and commission portraits for other CELEBRITIES. Since then, Yusuf has continued making captivating charcoal art that looks just like his subjects.
Spell: INTERNET Spell: COMMISSION Spell: SUBJECT
Who became an internet sensation in 2019 when he shared a portrait of a famous comedian on social media? ELI WUDUFA YUSUF
From what country is this artist? NIGERIA
On what social media platform did he share his artwork? TWITTER
What is the name of the comedian he drew and shared on Social media? KEVIN HART
What does the word celebrity mean?
Name a celebrity you know of.
VAKT: To show that you can draw an abstract and fast picture with charcoal
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yBY7ZAf2tYY
VAKT: To show that you can also draw more detailed and realistic with charcoal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBJs7ajQ8FE
Creative writing:
If you could have any charcoal drawings in your room/house, what would you choose?
Which of the artists mentioned in this lesson’s work do you enjoy looking at the most, and why? (Provide big pictures Appendix)
VAKT: When you have time. Go to the website: https://drawingsbytrent.com/ or search “Drawings by Trent” on Facebook and check out his amusing drawings (he is autistic).
Sources:
https://www.mac-h-creative.com/post/who-invented-charcoal-drawing
https://mymodernmet.com/eli-waduba-yusuf-hyperrealistic-charcoal-drawing/
