I’ve never really been into using charcoal for sketching. I hated the mess it’d leave on my fingers. I never really knew how to handle the dark and heavy strokes it made either. I always feared that I wouldn’t be able to control my tonal values.

But, because of my sudden desire to draw this afternoon (plus the privilege of being able to stay home), I finally faced my fears. I rummaged through my art stuff, took out my charcoal pencil and one of my old sketchbooks. And as soon as I dusted off the accumulated dust from my sketchbook (I haven’t touched it in almost 4 years!), I sat myself and began to draw.

After almost 2 hours of smudging and getting my fingers all black, I ended up with this (click on the image for a bigger view). I pretty much surprised myself! I was looking through my old sketchbooks and I must say that my sketches have improved a great deal. And considering that it’s my first time to use charcoal again (after 5 years?), I am pretty proud of the drawing. =) Even the hair, which, I’m honest to say, is not at all my forte, turned out better than I espected. ^^;;

Now I’m even more enthusiastic in learning and improving my sketches with the use of charcoal! =)