Exploring the Creative Spark of Charcoal Artwork: Unleashing Your Imagination

In the realm of charcoal artistry, Matteo Carvone and Francesco Cocco have carved out a unique niche. Their approach to creating captivating, dynamic compositions is as intriguing as the finished pieces themselves.

The duo begins by meticulously layering colour using soft pastel sticks, such as PanPastel, before applying charcoal powder. A 2.5-inch soft brush is used to move and layer the charcoal powder on the page, while a 0.25-inch soft brush carves out shapes from the abstract.

Detail plays a crucial role in their work, with the artists focusing on textures within the characters' clothing and armour to bring each figure to life. Vine charcoal and soft charcoal pencil are used to add dark values, and a firm bristled brush is employed to scrub these in.

Push and pull values are used to help maximize the depth of the composition, and a light touch with an electric eraser can be used to pull out of a black hole if too many darks have been added too quickly. Surprisingly, in this technique, during Steps 5 and 6, the erasing is done with a brush rather than a specific eraser.

The artists are open to making significant changes, understanding that this is a fluid technique. They regularly pause to visualize the whole composition and make adjustments, ensuring the maximum energy needed for the piece is created. New visitors that appear in the composition during Step 9 are worked into the painting, paying close attention to values.

Remembering the importance of inspiration, the artists create multiple abstracts at a time and place them around their house for continuous inspiration. When working on a charcoal painting, a pause is taken to turn the piece upside down or sideways to ensure no other creatures or supporting elements of the painting are missed.

The artists also employ creative tools, like bird feathers, to create texture with charcoal powder. They primarily use hot-press watercolour paper for their artwork, with the paper attached to a lightly sanded Masonite backing board using drafting tape.

To aid in the structural accuracy of their characters' faces and hands, the artists use apps like Head Model Studio and Handy. The workshop to find or clarify the artistic voice, aimed at overcoming creative blockages and discovering and creating new characters, was developed by Matteo Carvone and Francesco Cocco.

In conclusion, Matteo Carvone and Francesco Cocco's approach to charcoal artistry is a testament to their creativity and dedication to their craft. Their unique techniques, openness to change, and continuous pursuit of inspiration make them masters in their field.