Coates charcoal

Unlike low-grade sticks, Coates Willow Charcoal glides onto paper, blends effortlessly with a finger or stump, and erases cleanly with a kneaded eraser, allowing you to build rich darks and delicate greys without gouging your paper.

Coates charcoal is best for smooth tonal gradients, quick gestural mark-making, and soft underpaintings that lift away easily without muddying subsequent paint layers.

Because natural willow charcoal consists of loose carbon particles, wet paint can pull the dust into your brushwork. To prevent muddy colours, follow the next steps:

1. Dust Off Excess Charcoal - Once your underdrawing is finished, gently flick the canvas with a dry lint-free cloth, soft fan brush, or kneaded eraser to knock off all loose surface dust, leaving only the stained image outline.
2. Fix the Drawing - Spray the drawing with a light coat of artist fixative (or a fine mist of workable hairspray) and let it dry completely.
3. Seal with a Thin Wash (Optional) - Alternatively, wash over the charcoal lines with a very thin, fast-drying wash of acrylic or oil paint.

Yes, we offer a 10% discount on all orders over £150 to support your larger commissions. Whether you are stocking up on heavy-body acrylic paints or large bottles of painting mediums, we make it more affordable to bring larger visions to life

You can return items to us within 30 days of purchase for a full refund, subject to them being in good condition and in their original packaging. This will have to be done at your own expense and using your chosen carrier. 

If your order contains faulty or damaged items, please email sales@loxleyarts.co.uk, and our team will assist you. Please email us clear photos of your faulty/damaged item within 3-5 days of receiving your order.