Charcoal, an ancient drawing medium consists of burned willow and vine branches and comes in various grades of softness. Charcoal creates beautiful, gracious lines, deep thunderous undertones and feather-like whiffs. This vast array of textures gives the artist an enormous sense of freedom. It is OK to get emotional when working with charcoal – how can you not. And that is exactly what gives it its reputation of a link between sculpture and painting. Like clay, charcoal is blend-able, pliable and shade-able: seemingly 3D. Like clay, it creates depth, texture and surprising warmth – how utterly memorable and rewarding. Unlike clay, charcoal is fragile. Where clay, once fired, is one of the strongest substances around, charcoal smudges easily and can literally be blown away. A drawing may not last, in fact, it may become part of the world of performance art: alive for just a brief second. But in my book that too, ads to its charm…how delicately lovely. To explore what charcoal techniques can do for you, check out the “STRICTLY CHARCOAL” classes I teach every first and second Sunday of the month at http://deb3321.com in Lincoln Heights, just NE of Downtown LA. Prepare to be surprised and enchanted!

Over the years my Sundays have taken me to model sketching sessions, shared with fellow artists. While there is an almost earth shattering silence in the room, loaded with concentration, these mornings are always such great fun. Of course, there is inspirational music playing in the background. Every person has their own unique style and personality, be it as a model, or as an artist.
I recently went from colorful chalks back to charcoal and graphite. What a fantastic medium that is. It allows for very subtle gradations, strong lines, dark thunderous areas and then the light, the shimmer of a sun beam shining through. Our faces have all that: tenderness, expression, strength, light.