Maker’s Medium: Student artist exemplifies powerful potential of charcoal through her drawings

January 15, 2021

Second-year art student Ana Belcher uses light and shadow to create striking, evocative portraits. Her haunting charcoal works originate as photograhs, but are transformed into otherworldy images on paper. 

Belcher’s piece “03/03/03” depicts her younger twin sisters under dramatic lighting. Lin said her use of shading creates a haunting atmosphere for the piece. (Courtesy of Ana Belcher)

"Ana Belcher is recasting light from the fire that created her charcoal.

A second-year art student, Belcher said she has been interested in art since second grade when her mother enrolled her in classes focused on teaching the techniques of the Old Masters. The classes taught her the fundamentals of charcoal drawing when she was in fourth grade, and she has been using the medium ever since. A recipient of the UCLA Department of Art scholarship award, Belcher has made portraits with charcoal during her time as a student.

“I really enjoy using charcoal (and) the depth you can achieve with the medium … (in) contrast, shadow and light,” Belcher said. “It’s really enjoyable, but at the same time it’s kind of hard. … If you apply it too hard into a sheet of paper, … it’s going to be harder for it to come off with an eraser.”— David Egan, Jan 15 2021

This post is an excerpt. Read the full article on the Daily Bruin website.

Stay engaged. Use #UCLAarts to stay connected.