Drawing in charcoal and crayon for the use of students and schools

by Frank Fowler

THE PAPER.

There are a great many varieties of charcoal and crayon paper, some smooth, some rough. For ordinary purposes, such as making studies and life drawings, the rough French charcoal paper is the best. That used in the French schools is of two kinds; the roughest is called the “Michelet” paper, and the other is known as “Lalanne.” They are, however, very similar in texture, and either one will serve the purpose. These come in sheets of uniform sizes, costing from three to six cents each.

For more careful drawings, such as finely finished portraits in charcoal and crayon, a more expensive paper is to be preferred. This comes in much larger sheets and should be stretched before using.

Whatman’s rough crayon paper is among the best for this purpose. In all cases, both for studies and finished portraits, the white paper, generally a yellow-white, being preferable to blue-white.