Regardless of whether an artist is making a simple, quick sketch or creating the initial foundation of an oil painting, charcoal is likely to be the medium that they will opt to use. Since time immemorial, charcoal has been the foundation stone for drawings and artwork. Being the most workable medium, a lot of artists utilize charcoal as it provides them with great control. It also helps them achieve various tones in their artwork.
There are different types of charcoal including powder, vine, compressed charcoal, and the more popular pencil. Each of these charcoal forms has its unique characteristics. We have outlined some of the best charcoal pencils that can be used by both professionals and beginners.
Our Recommendations
- Winsor & Newton – Best Overall
- Speedball 1004 – Best For Portraits
- Derwent Charcoal Pencils – Best For The Masters
- Staedtler Mars Lumograph Charcoal Pencils – Best No-Sharpening Needed Charcoal Pencil
- Mont Marte Woodless Charcoal Pencils – Best Laquer-Coated Pencil
- Original Charcoal Pencil by General Pencil – Best For Still-Life
Winsor & Newton
Looking for something perfect for artists? Then look no further! The pencils from Winsor & Newton are made for artists especially. These pencils are perfect for drawing, sketching, writing, detailing, and anything you can think of!
As stated by Winsor & Newton themselves, the charcoal for these pencils is handpicked so that there aren’t any faulty batches. During our testing, we found out that these pencils gave out good shade and details without too much pressure.
These pencils are also very easy to sharpen. But a warning, try not to put too much pressure as that might break off the lead easily.
Pros
- Perfect for drawing, sketching, writing, and detailing.
- The pencils are quality inspected.
- These pencils gave out good shade and details without too much pressure.
- Easy to sharpen.
- Smooth to draw and comfortable to hold
Cons
- Breaks easily.
Speedball 1004
If you’re searching for a pencil that’s perfect for doing portraits then take a look at the Speedball 1004. Loved by artists, this pencil is renowned for its perfect hues and quality.
The SpeedBall 1004 comes in various sizes. This makes it perfect for portrait artists as they need different sizes of pencils for different tasks. The pencil is smooth to stroke and the shade and details come out well. It’s also very easy to sharpen. One other thing we loved is the rich black hue of this pencil. The hue gave out a classy feeling.
However, it’s easily breakable so keep an eye out for that.
Pros
- Perfect for portraits.
- Stroking feels smooth.
- shade and details come out well
- Easy to sharpen.
- The rich black hue gives out a classy feeling.
Cons
- Easily breakable.
Derwent Charcoal Pencils
Having been founded in 1916, Derwent has been in the market for quite a while and has mastered the craft that is artistry tools and equipment. The Derwent Charcoal pencils are no exception which is evident in the deep black strokes that these pencils deliver when applied on paper.
While testing out the pencils we found out that it felt buttery smooth to sketch and draw with this pencil ( I love that knife through butter feeling!). On top of that, we also found out that the line, shades, and details were perfectly visible through these pencils. This pencil also doesn’t need too much pressure. Putting in normal pressure will do just fine.
One other thing we like about these pencils is how they include 4 shades in one pack. The included shades are white, light, medium, and dark. This is one feature that other companies need to do as well.
However, you might need to use a special sharpener for these printers as they’re prone to break under regular sharpeners. Go for the tad bit expensive sharpeners.
Pros
- Feels smooth to draw and sketch with this pencil.
- Perfect for shading and detailing.
- Doesn’t require heavy pressure.
- 4 shades in one pack
Cons
- Needs expensive sharpeners as they break down while being sharpened by normal sharpeners.
Staedtler Mars Lumograph Charcoal Pencils
Featuring a pull string barrel, the General pencil charcoal pencils are a unique option for artists because they are one of the pencils that do not require sharpening to maintain the fine points. All an artist has to do is peel back the string to reveal more charcoal.
Available in 2 versions, you can either pick the tin or the pack version. These pencils aren’t just good for sketching and drawing but we felt comfortable while writing with these too. The pack of 12 are the best ones in our opinion as you’ll find sizes ranging from 6B TO 4H.
Though the lead wears off evenly and is easy to sharpen, be careful while sharpening because if you can accidentally reveal too much lead you’ll have to break them out later.
Pros
- Does not require sharpening as you merely unwrap and peel off the paper to reveal more charcoal.
- The pack includes a kneaded eraser which makes these pencils relatively forgiving for an artist. The eraser can also be used for adding highlights and niceties to an art piece.
- Great for writing.
- The pack of 12 are the best ones as you’ll find sizes ranging from 6B TO 4H.
- Feels comfortable to hold
Cons
- While the peel to reveal charcoal option eliminates the need for sharpening, the wrapper occasionally reveals either too much of the charcoal which becomes vulnerable to breaking, or too little which is insufficient for drawing.
Mont Marte Woodless Charcoal Pencils
The Mont Marte charcoal pencils are pencils that resemble compressed charcoal sticks but have been shaped to resemble wood pencils. However, what makes these pencils different is the fact that they have a lacquered coating that prevents the transfer of charcoal to surfaces while simultaneously making the pencils heftier than your typical wood barrel pencils.
The Mont Marte pencils are available in soft medium and hard weights and are ideal for artists who prefer using weighty mediums for their creations. Artists can achieve both broad and finer strokes on the pencil as you these woodless charcoal pencils can be sharpened
One other thing to note here is that the fine tip offered by this pencil is a breeze for detailing and sketching. These pencils are also pretty easy to sharpen. Honestly, we wanted to sharpen these pencils to the bottom while testing out!
However, one thing to point out here is that you might find that these pencils aren’t creating a smooth line. So sharpen perfectly as the tip can get uneven easily.
Pros
- They have a lacquer coating which prevents the transference of charcoal smudges to other exteriors and allows for clean handling.
- They can be sharpened using a regular sharpener.
- When placed at different angles artists can create broad lines on their work.
- The tip is perfect for detailing and sketching.
Cons
- They are heftier than your typical wood barrel pencils which make them less ideal for most artists.
- Some users have complained that the pencils have hard points that make the pencil glide less smoothly and results in scratching streaks when applied.
Original Charcoal Pencil by General Pencil
The Original charcoal pencils from general pencils are perhaps the most classic pencil on this list. It comes in 5 sizes, four blacks (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B), and one white the original charcoal pencil by General Pencils features cedar casings.
The pencils are of high quality and deliver a rich black lay down, and the white is excellent for highlighting and dramatic results. The pencils are ideal for still-life drawing, shading, and sketching because they use willow charcoal which has a high carbon content.
They also come pre-sharpened and ready to use out of the box. The glide on these pencils is smooth and you won’t find any sort of hard spots to deal with. However, the pencils are somewhat hard to sharpen as charcoal gets sheared a lot while sharpening.
Pros
- The white charcoal pencil can be used to create a unique wash effect when used together with a wet brush.
- They are pre-sharpened and ready to use immediately after purchase.
- The charcoal pencils glide smoothly over surfaces and do not have any hard spots.
- It comes in 5 sizes, four blacks (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B) and one white
- It delivers a rich black laydown.
Cons
- Users complained that the pencils were challenging to sharpen regardless of the tool they used and that the charcoal sheared a lot during sharpening.
Conclusion
Charcoal pencils have been used to create some of the best pieces of art that the world has witnessed. This is because of how much detail and richness they add to the laydown of art pieces. Charcoal pencils are easy to master as they feel natural and familiar in your hands because they function akin to your typical pens and pencils. However, unlike regular graphite pencils, charcoal pencils are devoid of the shimmery sheen. The ease of use that comes with charcoal pencils makes it less intimidating than the other charcoal mediums. The most critical thing to remember when buying a charcoal pencil is the artistry requirements that you need to meet. Lastly, remember to buy a kneaded eraser in case the brand you opt to purchase does not include it.