La Torre D’Avorio, Robert Kelley
Big Stick Charcoal on Canvas
In 2016, I started Big Stick Charcoal. I couldn’t find big, soft charcoal for sale, so I made my own. Product design, packaging design, brand identity, research and development, advertising, social media, business licenses and taxes. I learned a lot.
The product was well-received and got great reviews. I sold Big Stick Charcoal in art stores from San Francisco to Albuquerque and Dallas. And doing demonstrations of Big Stick led directly to an opportunity to teach urban sketching.
Eventually, continuing charcoal production became too hard. Big Stick Charcoal was a success, but it had run its course, and I closed the business in 2020. I’ve retained the name Big Stick for future art ventures.
Here’s a little about Big Stick Charcoal:
Big Stick Charcoal is a premium drawing charcoal. It’s made from alderwood, hand-cooked in small batches. Big Stick Charcoal has the same velvety black feel of vine charcoal, in a bigger, longer-lasting, user-friendly size.
