Which material is primarily used for highlights in artwork?

White chalk is primarily used for highlights in artwork due to its bright and reflective quality. When artists want to create areas of light and brightness in a drawing or painting, white chalk serves as an effective medium to achieve that contrast against darker or colored backgrounds. It can be applied directly to paper or canvas, allowing artists to emphasize light sources, create highlights on objects, or blend for softer edges.

Other materials, such as Conte crayons and graphite, can create varied tones and textures, but they do not produce the same level of brightness that white chalk offers. Compressed charcoal, while excellent for deep shadows and dark areas, lacks the reflective quality required for highlights. Therefore, white chalk remains the go-to choice for artists looking to add luminous highlights to their work.