General's Charcoal Pencil Set

General’s Charcoal Pencils are premium, artist-grade drawing tools handcrafted in the USA using traditional small-batch methods that date back to 1889. Made by the family-owned ⁠General Pencil Company, these pencils blend refined, high-carbon willow charcoal with pure organic blacks to deliver rich, intense tones and exceptional control.

Key Features & Formula

Extra-Smooth Core: The oil-free formula glides effortlessly across paper, providing a fluid laydown without the harsh scratching common in lower-grade charcoal.

Exceptional Blendability: The smooth carbon core smudges and blends beautifully using a blending stump, tortillon, chamois, or kneaded eraser.

Premium Cedar Casings: Every pencil is encased in genuine, sustained-yield Incense Cedar wood. This protects the fragile core and ensures clean, easy sharpening.

Safe and Sustainable: The pencils are non-toxic, AP/PMA approved, phthalate-free, and conform to ASTM-D4236 safety standards.

Available Grades & VarietiesGeneral’s charcoal pencils come pre-sharpened and are offered in a distinct range of hardness levels to support various fine art techniques:

2B (Medium): The most versatile grade, ideal for general shading, mid-tones, and filling in foundational shadows.

4B (Soft) & 6B (Extra Soft): Highly powdery and dark, these grades yield rapid smudge effects and deep, dramatic blacks.

Charcoal White®: A smooth white charcoal pencil designed specifically for drawing highlights, adjusting values, or working directly on dark and toned papers.