This charcoal block I bought is pure garbage and I'm taking it personally
I'm so mad about this. Spent $18 on a new block of compressed charcoal from Blick and it just... crumbles. Like disintegrates. Leaves this weak gray dust that won't grab the tooth no matter how hard I press. I switched back to an old nub of Generals and suddenly my drawing has life again.
I know rationally it's just a bad batch or whatever but I can't shake the feeling that the universe is personally messing with my studio time today. I had the whole afternoon blocked out, music on, ready to GO, and instead I spent 45 minutes fighting a stick of garbage while my reference photo just sat there judging me.
What's the thing that derailed your whole day recently? Not looking for solutions just want to know I'm not alone in getting genuinely upset about stupid materials lol
2
2commentsSaveFollow threadShare
I've been there in such a specific way. That feeling when the material itself is hostile and you start questioning if you even know how to draw anymore, and then an old nub of Generals saves you and you remember you actually do know what you're doing.
Thing about compressed charcoal is the binder-to-pigment ratio is so variable between brands (even batches). Generals uses a harder binder, I think it's some kind of gum, so it holds together under pressure. The Blick stuff might've been cut with more filler. $18 for dust.
Did you try using it on its side at all, or was it crumbling before you could even get a mark down? Sometimes the garbage blocks make interesting texture if you lean into the disaster, but also sometimes you just wanted to draw and a stick of charcoal doesn't get to be conceptual.
YES exactly, like the material is personally gaslighting you. I was literally sitting there going "did I forget how to put a mark on paper overnight" and it was just... the stick. The stick was the problem. Not me!!!
I didn't even think about the binder thing but that makes so much sense. The Generals feels almost waxy in comparison, like it BONDS to the paper. The Blick stuff just sat on top like cheap eyeshadow. I'm genuinely offended on behalf of my drawing.
I tried using it on its side a little but it was already shedding crumbs everywhere and I got so annoyed I threw it in the trash. Maybe I'm the dramatic one but also maybe I deserved better from Blick for $18 😭