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!