A List of Drawing Mediums and Their Characteristics

DRAWING MEDIAdrawings. Charcoal is burnt organic material and is
Drawing is the process or technique used whileusually some type of wood. Charcoal comes in a
medium is the actual material used to create thevariety of different types. Vine charcoal is soft,
artwork. There are a variety of different drawingmakes lighter marks and is easily
media that can be used to create drawings. Eacherased. Compressed charcoal is harder, makes
medium has different characteristics and producesdarker marks and is harder to erase. Charcoal is
different effects. There are also different drawingproduced in both stick and pencil form.
techniques associated with each medium. Many ofColored Pencils- Colored pencils are made of a
these techniques are explored in the video art lessonspigmented stick held together by a waxy
listed above. (Remember that this list of drawingbinder. Colored pencils vary in brand quality and
lessons is added to on a consistent basis, so if an artprice. They are available almost anywhere.
or drawing lesson is not listed above, it may be comingChalk Pastels- Chalk pastels are powdery pigmented
soon. So check back often.)sticks that are held together by a gum binder. Finished
Graphite- most commonly referred to as pencil orchalk pastel drawings can look like paintings and are
lead. Graphite is a grayish material that is available in aoften referred to as paintings. 
variety of different grades. " HB" is most commonlyOil Pastels- are colored sticks that are held together
called a #2 pencil and is found in the middle of theby linseed oil. They can be thinned and spread by
grades. Softer graphite pencils are named "B" pencilsusing traditional oil painting solvents. Finished oil pastel
and range from "B" (soft) to "9B" (extremely soft). "B"drawings are also referred to as paintings.
pencils generally make darker marks because of thePen and Ink- Ink that is applied to a surface through
softness of the graphite. One downside to "B" pencilsthe application of a pen is considered pen and ink. Inks
are that they become dull easily. "H" pencils arecome in a variety of different colors and can be
made of harder graphite and range from "H" (hard) toapplied in a variety of different pens. Hatching, cross
"9H" (hardest). "H" pencils make lighter marks buthatching, and stippling are most commonly the
keep a sharp point for a longer period oftechniques used in pen and ink drawing.
time. Graphite also comes in large chunks that are notMarkers- Markers are typically used for design
in pencils. This graphite is used for covering largework. Markers are generally not permanent, (despite
areas of a surface quickly.what it may say on the marker). Therefore, markers
Charcoal- While graphite is grayish in value, charcoalare used in fashion design, graphic design, industrial
provides rich, dark blacks in the creation ofdesign, and illustration.