Media: Drawing — Conté Crayon Not your average crayon Conté crayons are very different from the crayons you remember from kindergarten; they're square, very hard, and non-greasy — like a cross between graphite and oil pastels. They also come in just four colors: sepia (a brown hue), white, three shades of black, and sanguine — the classic red-orange pigment favored by Renaissance and Baroque masters. And while kindergarten teachers generally discourage breaking crayons, artists know that conté crayons are meant to be broken. By breaking a conté ccrayon and drawing with its broad, flat sides, artists can create wide sweeps of color and shading. Artists use the edges or the tip to get thinner, sharper lines. Conté crayons are named after their inventor, the 18th century French scientist Nicolas Jacques Conté who also invented the graphite pencil. Below is an example of a conté crayon drawing available from NextMonet. Click on the image to learn more about the individual artwork. Duncan Hannah The main types of drawing are: Charcoal  Conté Crayon  Graphite  Ink Wash  Pastel  Scratchboard