Creating your own artist charcoal powder at home can be a rewarding and enjoyable DIY project, perfect for those eager to explore their creativity while saving a few pounds. Begin by sourcing some natural wood, such as willow, vine, or a soft hardwood, as these varieties yield the best results for drawing.

Start by cutting your chosen wood into small, uniform pieces, roughly 10 to 15 centimetres in length. Next, you'll need to char the wood, which can be done by placing them in a metal container with a lid, ensuring it is airtight to prevent oxygen from fuelling a fire. You can use an old tin or a small cast iron pot.

Once contained, place this on a modest heat source, such as a barbecue grill or campfire, and allow it to cook for a few hours. You'll know your wood is ready when it has turned black and emits a distinct, smoky aroma. After cooling, carefully remove the charred wood and break it into smaller pieces.

Next, take these pieces and crush them into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or a grinder. The finer you grind, the better the texture for drawing. Finally, store your charcoal powder in an airtight container, and you’re ready to start sketching! With your homemade charcoal, you can enjoy a wonderfully rich, deep black that gives your drawings an organic, personal touch.

Alla prima painting, often referred to as "wet-on-wet," is a captivating technique that allows artists to work swiftly and dynamically with acrylics. Unlike traditional methods that involve layering and glazing over time, this approach encourages a spontaneous and intuitive style, where an artwork is completed in a single session while the paint remains wet. Acrylics, with their quick-drying properties and versatility, are particularly well-suited for this method, enabling artists to blend, mix, and manipulate their colours with remarkable ease.

The essence of alla prima lies in its immediacy—artists can capture fleeting moments of inspiration, responding to their subject matter in real time. This technique fosters a sense of freedom, as one can easily correct or alter sections without waiting for layers to dry. With each brushstroke, the vibrant hues of acrylics come alive, allowing for rich textures and bold contrasts that can make an impressionistic statement or a vivid representation of reality.

As artists dive into the alla prima experience, they often find themselves immersed in a dance with the medium, exploring the interplay between colour and light. Whether painting landscapes, portraits, or abstract compositions, the journey of creating an alla prima piece becomes an exhilarating exploration of emotion and spontaneity, crafted in the vibrant immediacy of acrylic paint.