What is the main use of charcoal drawing?

The primary use of charcoal drawing is for creating large gesture drawings. Charcoal's inherent qualities allow artists to express dynamic movement and form with freedom and spontaneity. The medium's ability to produce bold, sweeping strokes makes it particularly well-suited for capturing the essence of a subject in a quick manner.

Gesture drawing emphasizes the fluidity and rhythm of a pose, often prioritizing the overall composition and movement over intricate details. This makes charcoal an ideal medium, as it can be quickly applied and manipulated to convey action and emotion without the precision required for detailed work. The textural quality and range of values that charcoal offers allow artists to create expressive outlines and rich contrasts, enhancing the impression of liveliness in their sketches.

In contrast, techniques such as color mixing are more relevant to mediums like paint, while creating detailed portraits and finer line work typically suit other drawing materials like graphite or ink that can achieve precise details and nuances.