Reductive Drawing

Reductive – also known as subtractive - drawing is a method of drawing where material such as graphite, charcoal or pastel is used to cover a surface and then the ‘drawing’ is made by the removal of the media by erasing.

Propelling erasers such as the Tombow Mono Zero are great for this as are plastic erasers for large areas and putty rubbers for very fine detail.

For a demonstration, see the video, below, of the making of the charcoal drawing shown - Venice Canal by Peter Taylor Ward