Charcoal as a medium lends itself particularly well to moody urban landscapes.
Caroline decided to draw this snowy street scene
Using Windsor and Newton charcoal, which is a good quality with velvety texture, Caroline began by blocking in the shapes of the buildings. She then lightly rubbed over the charcoal to smooth it.
She applied the charcoal across the road and then used a rubber to erase the tyre marks and show the snow.
She went over the buildings to outline the edges and put in marks for the windows and the arches. It is important to keep your marks consistent as this will make the drawing harmonious.
She determined that the vanishing point was at the meeting of the two sides of the road in the far distance. She then drew light diagonal lines out from the vanishing point to the edges of the paper to get the perspective right.
The focal point of the drawing is the lamppost as it is the area of greatest contrast as it stands out against the bright sky.
Caroline went on to use a thinner piece of charcoal for the details. She put in the snow on the bicycle , and on the signs by using the rubber. Remember it’s easy to rub out and redraw any areas you’re unhappy with until you get the desired result.
