Staedtler Mars Lumograph charcoal pencil – 3 grades, 4.5 mm lead

Staedtler Mars Lumograph charcoal – charcoal pencil for deep black sketches and portraits

The Staedtler Mars Lumograph charcoal (art. no. 100C) is a wood-cased charcoal pencil for drawing, hatching and blending. According to the manufacturer, the lead has a high soot and charcoal content and gives a deep black mark that glides smoothly over the paper and is easy to reproduce. It lets you draw expressive sketches and portraits without having to hold pieces of charcoal in your hand.

The pencil comes in three grades: soft (S), medium (M) and hard (H). The lead measures approx. 4.5 mm in diameter, so you can draw lines with the tip and cover areas with the side. The wood comes from PEFC-certified, sustainably managed forests, and the pencil is made in Germany.

Working with the charcoal pencil

For hatching, draw parallel strokes and increase the pressure where the drawing should become darker. Soft transitions appear when you blend the charcoal with a finger, a paper stump or a cloth. According to the manufacturer, the matt, slightly textured mark blends easily. Paper with some surface texture takes charcoal better than very smooth paper. For sharpening, Staedtler recommends the Mars double-hole sharpener 510 25 or sandpaper 923. Sharpen with light pressure so that the lead does not break.

Which grade should you choose?

The three grades differ in the hardness of the lead. As a general rule, softer leads give off more charcoal and suit dark areas and strong blending, while harder leads keep their point longer and suit finer lines and details. If you cannot decide, combine two grades in one drawing, for example a harder one for the preliminary sketch and a softer one for the shadows. Choose the grade from the options.

Staedtler Mars Lumograph charcoal product details

• Manufacturer: Staedtler, Mars Lumograph charcoal, art. no. 100C
• Grades: S (soft), M (medium), H (hard)
• Lead diameter: approx. 4.5 mm
• Mark: deep black, with a matt, textured finish
• Wood: from PEFC-certified, sustainably managed forests
• Origin: Made in Germany
• Contents: 1 pencil

You will also need: For sharpening: Staedtler Mars double-hole sharpener 510 25 or sandpaper 923. For blending: finger, paper stump or cloth.