In the realm of art, there's a captivating allure to crafting drawing tools from elemental materials.
Why Make a Home Made Charcoal Tool
For Adults: It's a novel medium for expressive creation, offering freedom from perfectionism. Using pieces of burnt wood encased in compressed earth that is slowly crumbling away adds an element of haste. It encourages experimentation and serves as a therapeutic tool.
For Kids: The process is a tactile learning experience that engages all the senses. Children learn about soil, building, sustainability, and art simultaneously, fostering creativity and curiosity
History of Charcoal Use
The use of burnt wood, or charcoal, for drawing and art has a long and storied history dating back thousands of years. Here is a brief overview:
Prehistoric Times: Charcoal has been used as a drawing material since prehistoric times. Early humans likely discovered the expressive potential of charcoal by using burnt sticks from their fires to draw on cave walls. Some of the oldest known drawings, such as those in the Chauvet Cave in France (dating back around 30,000 years), were created using charcoal.
Classical Antiquity: In ancient Greece and Rome, artists used charcoal extensively for sketching and drawing. Charcoal's versatility in creating dark, bold lines and soft shading made it ideal for preliminary sketches and studies.
Medieval Period: Charcoal continued to be used in the medieval period, particularly in the form of charcoal sticks or vine charcoal made from burnt grape vines. Artists in this era used it for preparatory sketches and underdrawings.
Renaissance and Baroque Periods: Charcoal became increasingly popular during the Renaissance and Baroque periods in Europe. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt made significant use of charcoal for their preparatory drawings, capturing the human form with great detail and expression.
18th and 19th Centuries: Charcoal remained a favored medium for artists in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially for academic drawing and life studies. Its expressive qualities were valued for capturing the play of light and shadow.
Modern Era: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, artists like Edgar Degas and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec used charcoal for dynamic sketches and figure studies, often incorporating it into their finished artworks.
Sourcing Your Material
When sourcing earth for rammed earth charcoal drawing:
Backyard: Look for clay-rich soil, avoiding topsoil or organic-rich earth.
Online Marketplaces: Platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist may yield suitable soil.
Exploration: Collect soil from various locations to test different compositions.
By delving into rammed-earth charcoal drawing, artists and enthusiasts celebrate the harmony between creativity and nature, highlighting the diverse applications of elemental materials in artistic endeavors. This innovative approach fosters self-expression and invites exploration of the rich history and potential of raw, organic mediums in art.
How To
Material
Mixing bowl
Plastic mold
Pieces of burnt wood, aka charcoal
Cooking spray
Dirt
Water
Process
Spray the cooking spray onto the plastic mold to make removal smoother
Grab a few pieces of the crushed up and place them at the bottom of the mold. I tested various quantities of charcoal for best results. See the second image for approximate amount
Create you earth mixture but mixing together dirt and water. Start one cup of dirt to 2 tbsp of water, however the mixture we are trying to create is one that has enough moisture that when you condense a handful of dirt into your first it will hold its form.
For best results fill the mold in thirds using your thumbs, fingers, palms, knuckles or anything else to press down the dirt into the mold
Wait 3-4 days keeping it inside warm and dry
De mold the pieces and use your newly made charcoal tools
The Results
Making Art
Rammed earth charcoal drawing opens up creative possibilities beyond mere sketches:
2D Artwork: The randomized charcoal strokes create captivating 2D compositions, with certain earth types transferring color to paper. Water can also be added to create more depth in tone.
Sculptural Pieces: Adding concrete to the earth mixture can transform the process into a sculptural venture, adding a layer of finish to seal the piece off. Similar to the notion of creating a “Souvenir Wall”
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