How do I keep my charcoal drawings without getting them all smudged and ruined?
Also, any tips on getting better at using this material?
>>2534283
You can buy a fixative, it comes in a spray can and stops it from smudging. You only do it once the drawing is finished though.
Also stop using a spiral bound sketchbook. For something that can smudge use either loose sheets of paper or a bound sketchbook.
>>2534283
all you need is hair spray, spray a coat onto the drawing in a well ventilated area, this acts as a very cheap fixative. get unperfumed as an entire sketchbook can be very pungent.
as for getting better having only seen that one drawing there are a few things you need to improve.
first is the contrast of shadow to light, its the easiest way to improve quickly is all about learning how light works and effects shape. secondly your proportions are fairly off so a refresher on anatomy could help, charcoal is all about shape and contrast. I would start with more general lines and get better from there, you seem to be trying to render too quickly.
one last tip is to use brown paper and white chalk with charcoal so you can better see highlights, midtones and shadow
>>2534995
Does anyone know what artists use to get those nice clean looking whites?
I've tried both white gellyroll gel pens and prismacolor pencil crayons and both haven't gotten even close to that sort of result.
>>2535009
normally chalk is used
>>2535020
This. Or white gouache.
>>2534995
Seconding the hair spray, especially if you're just starting. The stronger/more chemically smelling the better. Aqua net is my go to.
>>2534283
drawings crap anyway anon.
You could spray a base over the entire section sealing it, I know a local artist who does realistic portaits for cash that says he does this and even draws over it again with more charcoal so he doesnt loose his progress, you need to use alot though so if you plan on drawing alot might aswell buy a ton of the stuff.
Use a bound pad and a binder clip instead of a spiral pad. This minimizes page drift smudges.
Ideally fix then cover with wax paper if you need to transport.
Don't smudge, create values via hatching/building tone. This will improve planar definition and value control.
If is newspaper: You dont!
If its archival thicc paper: Spray Fixative
>>2534995
Is the drawing OC? The dress looks amazing!
You can go the classic way: buy a bottle of Colophony Rasin solution and spray it with a pipette. I've done this for ages and it works fine. Plus it smells good and is probably less harmful than the chemicals in spray.
