• Professional quality
• A fluid, brush-ready alternative to dry charcoal
• Available in three distinct PBk 8 blacks
• Gum arabic binder for smooth, controlled coverage
• Dilutes for nuanced tonal range and texture
• Ideal for underpainting, mixed media, and pairing with dry charcoal

Schmincke Liquid Charcoal gives artists the tonal range and depth of traditional charcoal in a fluid, brush-ready format. Each of the three blacks—a neutral Peach Stone, a warm brownish Cherry Pit, and a cool, bluish Grape Seed—is made from PBk 8 pigments made from charred fruit pits. Intense and matte straight from the tube, dilute with water to reveal each pigment’s unique undertone. Strong granulation creates compelling textures, especially on cold press watercolor surfaces.

Bound with gum arabic, Liquid Charcoal has a smooth, gouache-like feel that glides over paper or canvas, perfect for large fills or working in fine detail. Because the pigment is bound, it makes an excellent underlayer for oil painting, preventing the color lift that can happen with dry charcoal. It also plays beautifully with watercolor, chalk, earth tone pencils, and dry charcoal, allowing you to draw right over dry passages. Depending on the surface, it can stay soft enough to smudge or be reactivated with water, giving you endless options for experimenting.