The Best Compressed Charcoal for Special Effects in Your Drawings and Sketches

Compressed charcoal can be intimidating. Composed of powdered charcoal held together by a binder, these dense sticks don’t look easy to master, but with practice they can yield a wonderful variety of tones and lines. Short and slim, these pieces are typically slightly harder than vine and willow charcoal (which can be quite brittle), so they can be used for more intense marks. Whether you’re dipping your toe into the medium or exploring new brands, our picks will help you decide whic