Why just 2 pencils?

When people see our artwork — the depth, the shadow, the illusion of three dimensions — the most common question is: How do you do that with just charcoal?

The truth is, we only use two pencils. That’s it.

One soft. One hard. Both charcoal.

This isn’t a trick or a gimmick. It’s a choice.

The power of limits

In a world where tools are endless and shortcuts are everywhere, we made a conscious decision: to slow down, strip back, and test what’s truly possible with less.

Yes, we know that tools like graphite or pastel pencils can create even more refined detail. We admire what those mediums can do. But for us, there’s something incredibly pure — and honest — about trying to do more with less. To master the basics. To focus not on the variety of tools, but the depth of skill.

Because when your only tools are two sticks of charcoal and your own hands, you have to pay attention. Every stroke counts. Every blend, every contrast, every whisper of light and texture — it all has to work harder.

The tools we use

We use Conte Pierre Noire B for our softer tones — rich, deep, and velvety black — and Generals Hard (and sometimes medium) Charcoal for finer edges, structure and balance. Raw and minimal. Just like nature.

Ancient roots, modern spirit

Charcoal is one of the oldest art tools known to humanity. Long before oil paint and Photoshop, early humans were drawing animals on cave walls — telling stories with burnt sticks and imagination.

We love that connection to something ancient. Something primal. There’s a wildness to charcoal. It’s messy. Unforgiving. Unpredictable. But with time and practice they can feel like magic.

In good company

Even Picasso turned to Conte crayons and charcoal when he wanted immediacy and intimacy. There’s an elegance in restraint — and an intimacy in working in black and white that colour can sometimes mask.

We’re drawn to that. It suits the quiet spirit of our animals. The softness of their forms. The respect we feel for them.

A test of ourselves

In truth, limiting ourselves to just two pencils is also a kind of personal challenge. A way to push our craft. To explore the full range of what can be achieved through pressure, contrast, and time.

Sometimes, the hardest boundaries give birth to the most creative results.

And so, in our Father–Daughter Studio, we sit side-by-side — two pencils in hand — trying to bring life to creatures we admire, with the simplest of tools and the deepest of care.