Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal Set, 24 pieces, metal tin

Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal Set – drawing charcoal, compressed charcoal and accessories in a metal tin

The Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal set of 24 pieces in a metal tin contains everything for a charcoal drawing: natural drawing charcoal as pencils and sticks, compressed charcoal in pencil and stick form, a paper stump and an Art Eraser kneadable eraser. You can sketch spontaneously and lay in areas from small to very large.

The two types of charcoal behave differently. Natural drawing charcoal is regarded as the oldest drawing material in the world, blends and smudges easily and is simple to correct. Compressed charcoal gives a much blacker mark: crushed drawing charcoal, combined with soot and clay, produces a range from light to deep black. With the grades extra soft, soft, medium and hard, you control how much black a stroke leaves. Softer grades release more material, harder ones keep the line finer.

Working with the set

Lay in large areas and first shapes with the thicker drawing charcoal sticks, ideally using the long side. Then add the darks with compressed charcoal. Use the paper stump to blend charcoal into soft gradations without using your fingers. Lift out highlights with the kneadable eraser: shape it to a point or an edge and dab the charcoal away rather than rubbing. Compressed charcoal covers more strongly than drawing charcoal and is harder to remove, so save it for the darkest areas. Protect finished drawings with fixative, otherwise the charcoal smudges easily.

Choosing a set

The 24-piece set covers more grades and two stick thicknesses and also includes a paper stump. The smaller 10-piece Faber-Castell set does not include a paper stump. It is suitable if you would like to try out charcoal first.

Faber-Castell Pitt Charcoal 24-piece set product details

• Manufacturer: Faber-Castell, Pitt Charcoal range, art. no. 112978
• Packaging: metal tin
• 3 drawing charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
• 3 compressed charcoal pencils (soft, medium, hard)
• 4 drawing charcoal sticks, Ø 5–8 mm
• 4 drawing charcoal sticks, Ø 6–11 mm
• 8 compressed charcoal sticks (2 each of extra soft, soft, medium, hard)
• 1 Art Eraser kneadable eraser
• 1 paper stump (tortillon)
• Total: 24 pieces

You will also need: drawing paper with a slightly rough surface, fixative for fixing finished drawings (optional)