Some years ago, I learned how to make charcoal for biochar by building up a fire, then adding bamboo and covering it to expose the bamboo to heat without giving it air. In an hour there was charcoal.
Looking for ways to share botanical resources as art supplies, I decided to try charcoal-making at home.
I grabbed a bunch of different things: cedar cones, apricot branches that were left over from dyeing in the spring, long pussy willow twigs, cherry branches downed in a storm, and bamboo I cut out of the garden.
I folded them separately in foil and put them in a metal box. I left the thinner apricot cuttings loose to see what would happen. Tod tucked the box into the BBQ after cooking our dinner. He flipped the box over after fifteen minutes and pulled it out after another 15.
The results were good! It was interesting to see the subtly different shades of black. Bamboo is green-tinged; apricot is warm hued; willow and cherry are very dark. Cedar cones just flaked apart; I will try grinding them into paint.
Drawing with the charcoal was fun. Tod & I collaborated on a sheet of packing paper. Bark doesn’t make good marks, so I spent time scraping the bark off the branches I used. Next time I will do that before charring.
Now I have a great source for black colors plus a new activity for workshops.
