There is something both ancient and completely unexpected about liquid charcoal. Charcoal has been used as a drawing material for tens of thousands of years — and yet suspending it in a water-based binder and applying it with a brush opens up a range of mark-making possibilities that the stick form simply cannot offer. Wallace Seymour Liquid Charcoal is part of the Ancient Drawing Materials range developed by Pip Seymour and Rebecca Wallace, and it is one of the most genuinely distinctive and exploratory drawing materials in their entire range.
The charcoal is powdered from oak, vine, and willow — each with its own character — and carried in a water-based, re-soluble binder. The result is a fluid, painterly drawing medium that can be applied with a brush, rag, sponge, or any other tool, in any consistency from a dense, velvety black to the palest, most atmospheric grey wash. Because the binder is water-based and re-soluble, marks can be lifted, reworked, softened, and blended with a damp brush long after they have dried — which gives a freedom and reversibility that conventional charcoal on paper does not always allow. There is no smell and no toxicity.
The mark it makes is unmistakably charcoal in character — soft, rich, and with the particular quality of light-absorption that makes charcoal such a compelling drawing medium — but the liquid form allows it to be used on surfaces and in ways that the stick form cannot reach. Applied thickly with a bristle brush it produces bold, gestural strokes with visible texture. Diluted heavily with water and washed across paper it creates soft, luminous grounds. Used with a fine brush for controlled linear work it produces a line of genuine depth and sensitivity. The possibilities are considerable.
We stock two sizes — 150ml and 250ml — both in resealable plastic pots.
What is Wallace Seymour Liquid Charcoal made from? Powdered charcoal from oak, vine, and willow, carried in a water-based re-soluble binder. There are no solvents, no toxicity, and no smell.
How do you use it? It can be applied with any brush, rag, sponge, palette knife, or other tool. Use it neat for deep, rich blacks, or dilute with water to create washes ranging from mid-grey through to the palest atmospheric tint. Because the binder is re-soluble, marks can be softened, lifted, and reworked with a damp brush after drying.
What surfaces does it work on? It works on paper, card, canvas, and primed surfaces. For best results with Wallace Seymour Ancient Drawing Materials, Pip Seymour recommends a smooth surface prepared with Wallace Seymour Pumice Pastel Primer, which gives the charcoal particles something to grip.
Can marks be erased or reworked after drying? Yes — the water-based binder remains re-soluble after drying, meaning marks can be lifted, softened, and reworked with a damp brush. This gives considerable freedom to adjust and develop a drawing even after initial marks have been laid down.
Does it need to be fixed? For finished work intended to be kept, fixative is recommended to prevent accidental smudging or reactivation. Any standard charcoal or pastel fixative is suitable.
Which size should I choose — 150ml or 250ml? The 150ml pot is a practical starting size for anyone new to the medium or using it for smaller-scale work. The 250ml pot offers better value for artists who use it regularly or work at a larger scale where more medium is needed per session.
