About

Born on June 1st, 1995, in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, California, and now rooted in the sun-drenched landscapes of Phoenix, Arizona, Josh Hernandez—known to the world as Mad Charcoal—has emerged as a master of charcoal drawing, captivating audiences with his raw, expressive portraits. From a young age, Josh was drawn to the tactile nature of pencil and charcoal, spending countless hours sketching with a fervor that blurred the lines between chaos and precision. His early works were a testament to his relentless pursuit of capturing human emotion in its purest form, using charcoal as his medium to build worlds of depth, texture, and intensity.

As Josh grew, so did his passion. Though he ventured into graphic design and digital illustration, developing a successful career as an art director for high-profile brands and music artists, it was always the feeling of charcoal on paper that called to him. In his mid-twenties, after years of excelling in the digital world, he returned to his true love—drawing. Through the power of social media, he shared his charcoal creations with the world, and they quickly resonated, earning him over 8 million followers and a global audience captivated by his ability to render emotion through the raw simplicity of black and white.

His technique, a blend of light and shadow, chaos and harmony, has transformed the world of portraiture. Each drawing is a carefully balanced composition of thick, bold strokes and delicate, ethereal details, with charcoal’s gritty texture amplifying the intensity of his subjects. His work invites viewers into a space where every smudge, every shading, tells a story that transcends the page.

In just a few short years, Josh’s charcoal portraits have graced galleries and private collections worldwide, marking a new chapter in his artistic journey. With every piece, Mad Charcoal continues to explore the depths of human expression, proving that even in its most minimal form, art can speak volumes. What began as a personal pursuit of passion has now become an extraordinary global movement, and the world is watching, eager to see where his charcoal will take him next.

Husband to Jordan Hernandez [1999]

Father of 2, Joa [2022] and Joji [2023]