If you usually draw on paper, a wood panel can feel intimidating. Will charcoal even stick? Will the surface be too smooth or too slick? The good news is that you can keep the control you love from paper and still get the strength and presentation of a Trekell Baltic birch panel.
In this guide, Trekell Pro Team Artist Kate Zambrano shows one way to do it: by adding a drawing ground to a Trekell panel so charcoal has tooth to grab onto. The process is simple, and you can follow along using only visuals and step‑by‑step photos.
Why draw on a wood panel?
Wood panels offer a few advantages over loose paper or sketchbooks:
- A rigid, stable surface that will not buckle or warp.
- A ready‑to‑hang support that makes framing and display easier.
- Unique shapes and edges that you cannot get from standard paper sizes.
By adding a drawing ground, you can keep the feel of a drawing surface while gaining all the benefits of working on a Trekell Baltic birch panel.
What you will need
To follow the method shown in Kate’s video, you will need:
- A Trekell Baltic birch panel.
- Golden Artist Colors Drawing Ground.
- A brush for applying the ground.
- Your usual charcoal.
- Trekell hog bristle brushes for blending and softening charcoal.
- A clean, flat workspace where the panel can dry.
Step 1: Start with a clean Trekell panel
Begin with a raw Trekell Baltic birch panel. Make sure the surface is dry and free of dust.
If there are any visible particles, gently wipe the panel with a clean, dry cloth. You want a smooth, dust‑free surface before applying anything.
Step 2: Apply a thin, even layer of Drawing Ground
Next, brush Golden Drawing Ground onto the surface of the panel. This creates a thin, matte layer with tooth so charcoal behaves more like it does on a good drawing paper.
As you apply it:
- Use smooth, overlapping strokes with your brush.
- Cover the entire face of the panel all the way to the edges.
- Aim for an even layer without puddles or thick ridges.
From the side, you should see a subtle, uniform sheen while it is wet. When it dries, it will turn into a matte surface with fine tooth.
Step 3: Let the surface dry completely
Set the panel on a flat, dust‑free surface and let the Drawing Ground dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This step is important. If you start drawing while the ground is still soft, you can damage the surface or clog your charcoal.
Once dry, the panel should feel smooth but slightly “grippy” to the touch, similar to a fine‑toothed paper.
Step 4: Make your first marks
When the ground is fully dry, you are ready to draw. In the video, Kate begins with soft charcoal lines to test how the surface responds.
You will notice:
- Charcoal catches the surface more easily than on raw wood.
- Lines stay where you put them instead of sliding around.
- Light pressure gives you faint, controllable marks you can build on.
This is where drawing on a panel starts to feel familiar if you come from paper.
Step 5: Build up shading and detail
From there, work as you normally would on paper. Kate gradually builds up her pet portrait using layers of charcoal, blending, and refining shapes.
On the grounded panel, you can:
- Lay in light midtones and dark values without the charcoal sliding.
- Blend and adjust while still keeping control.
- Erase or lift gently to adjust shapes, just as you would on a good drawing sheet.
For blending, Kate reaches for her Trekell hog bristle brushes. The stiffer bristles let her push and soften the charcoal without over‑smoothing the texture of the drawing ground, so she can keep subtle transitions while still seeing her marks.
She uses them with a light touch, almost like a dry brush, to soften edges, unify tones, and create smoother gradients where needed.
Step 6: Finish and admire the result
Once the drawing is complete, you have a finished charcoal piece on a Trekell panel, ready for sealing (if you choose to fix it) and display.
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The drawing ground gives the surface a paper‑like behavior, while the panel gives it weight, presence, and durability.
Why this method is great if you usually draw on paper
If you have always worked on paper and are curious about wood, this approach is a gentle way to transition:
- You keep the feel of a drawing surface made for charcoal.
- You gain the stability and presentation of a Trekell Baltic birch panel.
- You can experiment with new panel shapes and sizes without changing your drawing tools.
You do not need to change your entire process. One extra step—adding Drawing Ground—turns your panel into something your charcoal already understands, and blending with hog bristle brushes helps you refine it just the way you like.
Try drawing on Trekell panels with your own style
To try this yourself, start with:
- A Trekell Baltic birch panel.
- Golden Artist Colors Drawing Ground.
- Your favorite charcoal.
- Trekell hog bristle brushes for blending.
Apply a thin, even layer of Drawing Ground, let it dry, and then draw the way you normally do. Use Kate Zambrano’s example as inspiration, but let your own style take over once the surface is ready.
When you are ready to explore, you can find Trekell Baltic birch panels in a range of sizes and shapes here: Trekell Panels!, Golden Drawing Ground here: Drawing Ground!, and Trekell hog bristle brushes here: Hog Bristle!.
