Working in much the same way as a traditional pencil, charcoal pencils allow you to work with precision – without messy hands! Put all that together and it's really no wonder that some of my locos have been hesitant at slow speeds.

This will force you to focus on the essence of the composition and create freer, looser drawings filled with excitement. Some white artist pencils are referred to as white charcoal however they have no relation to traditional charcoal and in fact contains normally titanium white pigment or calcium carbonate and a clay binder or alternative binder inside a wood sheath. Derwent Graphitone is a very stylish and pure graphite water-soluble pencil available in 2B, 4B, 6B and 8B. Beginners may find it useful to weigh up the pros and cons of using both drawing materials, before settling on one to start with. As you build up your confidence using graphite and charcoal separately, you could move onto combining them both in a drawing.A holder for the Lyra Graphite and Watersoluble Graphite Crayons, or Lyra Profi Marking Crayon (andany crayons of 12mm) that will stop you getting so messy and allow you to use your crayons right to the stump!

This explains why graphite is less crumbly than charcoal, produces smoother, less dusty marks and is easier to control – although graphite sheets separate from one another they will maintain their uniform structure, whereas charcoal will fracture into irregular shards. Sealing charcoal and softer grades of graphite is a good idea, I’d recommend using an acrylic based spray varnish. Without doubt one of the most exciting media for artists keen on exploring expressive drawing techniques is liquid charcoal. If using wet charcoal you will need a suitable absorbent surface and will still need to fix it as you do with any charcoal piece.Charcoal pencils are made by putting compressed charcoal (so charcoal powder and a gum or wax binder) into a wooden jacket or very occasionally into a paper jacket similarly to a grease pencil. Another popular form of graphite is the woodless pencil, for those who prefer the convenience of a pencil in a long-lasting solid stick. This can be done by using a variety of sized brushes with dry powder and blowing away excess dust or by mixing the charcoal with a small amount of water on a palette. Choose traditional graphite sticks, jumbo graphite sticks, graphite crayons, and watersoluble graphite blocks with hints of color that can be used dry or wet to add splashes of color to your sketches.