How to Make Your Own Art Charcoal

As a painter, you've likely used charcoal at some stage or other, not least to lightly sketch the composition of a painting on a canvas. But have you ever thought of making your own charcoal? Cindy emailed saying: "There are a lot of willow trees along the levee where I used to live and I have always wanted to try making my own charcoal. I know that it has to be cooked for some amount of time, but I don't even cook supper. Do you have anything on the subject?"

Making charcoal is not something I've ever tried, though at the price of good charcoal (sticks that spread smoothly, rather than scratching) it's probably worth a try. Read what I've found out about how to make charcoal...

See Also:
• Tips on Buying Art Supplies
• Top Picks: Drawing Charcoal (From About.com's Drawing/Sketching Guide)