Flames and flicks are achieved by erasure:
Using a randomly shaped putty rubber I lightly roll it across the an area to achieve the flicks and sparks. This was one of those ‘happy accidents’ whereby a new technique was discovered.
Within the image there a few subtle visual quotations from Hieronymous Bosch’s depictions of hell.
Working with charcoal, especially actual charcoal from wildfires means that to achieve tonal variation from light to black requires many layers.
In 2019 I worked on a campaign for the WWF. One of their rangers in the the region was able to collect and send me the charcoal. A lot more than I was expecting.
To work with the material requires carefully selecting pieces with which to draw and to grind or sand it to provide powder which is then worked with brushes on to the surface.
Some pieces are perfect just as they are.
Different regions - different types of tree results in very distinct hues. Notice the reddish tone from Amazonia.