What is red chalk primarily made from?

Red chalk is primarily made from iron oxide pigment and refined clay. This combination is what gives red chalk its distinctive color and texture, allowing artists to create rich, warm hues that are ideal for sketching and drawing.

Iron oxide pigments are naturally occurring minerals that provide the reddish tone characteristic of red chalk. The refined clay acts as a binder, giving the chalk body and improving its adherence to paper or other surfaces. This mixture allows for a range of tonal variations and a smooth application, making red chalk a popular choice among artists for creating detailed drawings, portraits, and figure studies.

The other options incorporate elements that are not typically associated with the formulation of red chalk. For example, wood ash and clay do not contain the iron oxide needed for the signature red shade. Graphite and filler pertain more to graphite pencils rather than chalks, while charcoal and binder are used in the creation of charcoal sticks, which have a different texture and application compared to red chalk.