Combining quality with ease-of-use and accessibility, Artiste is the smart choice for those new to art and the more experienced alike. Offering an expanding range of affordable art supplies, the Artiste range is used by many artists and crafters. These compressed charcoal sticks are one of the oldest and most traditional drawing tools. Charcoal is basically carbonised wood, so for a truly authentic result, why not use charcoal as nature intended. Compressed Charcoal is a solid stick of pure, reformed wood charcoal. Producing deep, dense tones with a completely different texture to graphite, compressed charcoal is naturally water soluble allowing you to create interesting line and wash effects.