Drawing for beginners : Drawing with Chalk

In this article we will discuss about beginners guide for drawing with chalk.

Drawing with Black Chalk

Black chalk, in the shape of a pencil, is a pleasant medium, but it has one disadvantage, it is very difficult to erase. Therefore the use of chalk necessitates a certain amount of confidence and experience. In other words, do not begin your studies with chalk in preference to lead, but reserve it for your later work.

Chalk gives a rich velvety tone and never a greasy shine, the drawback of blacklead. It is delightful for quick sketches, for materials of a coarse or rough texture, for the sketching of animals, buildings, trees, and landscapes. Chalk crumbles and breaks more easily than lead, and it white chalk gives the highest lights, and the paper itself forms the middle tone.

I know of nothing more interesting than sketching animals, dogs, rabbits, and goats with these three mediums. White chalk needs very little pointing. It crumbles and breaks with the slightest encouragement, and the small pieces are often useful for sharpening up the edges, or touching in the brightest light.

Drawing with Coloured Chalks

Coloured chalks are very simple mediums. Often the baby begins with a box of coloured chalks as a step toward the colour-box.

Chalk does not trickle about the paper like water-colour, and is, moreover, a very direct medium.

A red berry demands red chalk, a blue bead demands blue chalk ; a skein of mixed silk or wool of blue, green, and yellow demands blue, green, or yellow chalk. By placing yellow against blue, or blue against green, or red against brown, we obtain a degree of shading, a mixing of tints, which teaches us to blend our colours. Chalks should not be applied to the paper too heavily, but laid on with a light touch. There is no need to point the chalks. By rolling the chalk in the fingers we can usually find a sharp little edge. Rub the chalk on a piece of waste paper, and on one side only ; that will give a flattened side for sharp and decided drawing.

Check out our article on guide for Drawing with the Lead Pencil, https://www.paaplet.com/post/drawing-for-beginners-drawing-with-the-lead-pencil-622