Compressed charcoal is a mechanically formed charcoal made into sticks. Unlike vine charcoal, these are molded into squared off sticks of varying hardness. Easy to use and great for details, this is a very common type of charcoal.
Vine charcoal is a long and thin piece of charcoal stick that is the result of burning sticks or vines in a kiln without air. Vine charcoal is a light grey color and wipes off easily, so it is great for early sketches and gestures. You can identify it easily by its light feel and slight bend in the stick.
Charcoal pencils are exactly what they sound like: pencils with charcoal instead of graphite inside of them. Since it is compressed charcoal, it will give a nice bendable surface with the control of a pencil. This is also a nice choice for people who do not like the texture of charcoal. They come in hard and soft styles so you can pick which is right for your project.
Vine charcoal is a long and thin piece of charcoal stick that is the result of burning sticks or vines in a kiln without air. Vine charcoal is a light grey color and wipes off easily, so it is great for early sketches and gestures. You can identify it easily by its light feel and slight bend in the stick.
Charcoal pencils are exactly what they sound like: pencils with charcoal instead of graphite inside of them. Since it is compressed charcoal, it will give a nice bendable surface with the control of a pencil. This is also a nice choice for people who do not like the texture of charcoal. They come in hard and soft styles so you can pick which is right for your project.