Drawing Pencil Sketches

Create realistic drawing pencil sketches using a variety of graphite drawing techniques. The pencil is simple enough for any child to use. And yet, graphite is so versatile, the advanced artist can use it to create a masterpiece.

Watch the Drawing with Pencil Video

Pencil/Graphite:
Graphite pencils usually come in a range of values from light to dark. Hard pencils make a lighter mark while soft pencils make a darker mark. H pencils are harder (lighter) and B pencils are softer (darker).

For example: a 9H pencil is very light and a 9B pencil is very dark. An "Ebony" pencil is the darkest pencil of all! The diagram below looks a bit like the PH scale - the lower the numbers (H or B) the closer in value they become.

There are a variety of ways to draw
with pencils. Hatching, cross-hatching
and scribbling are three popular styles.
Any of these or a combination of all
will work. Try out different techniques
and go with what works best for you!

Another option is blending. You can use
a lighter pencil to blend a darker pencil
OR use a blending stump.

You can also use a single pencil to
gradually move from light to dark values
just by changing the pressure you put
on the page.

Watch the Drawing Pencil Sketches Video

• For quick drawing
pencil sketches use the trusty 2B pencil.

• Advanced techniques will require a range of pencils - for example:
4H, 2H, 2B, 4B and an Ebony Pencil - sold separately or in sets.

• Erasers - this can include a Kneaded Eraser (gray and pliable), a Mars White Eraser and/or a Gum Eraser, as well as a clickable eraser pencil. *Beware of Pink Erasers which can sometimes leave pink marks and tend to be too harsh for fine artists papers.

• Blending Stump - comes in various sizes and can be used for blending details (pictured above).

• Woodless Graphite Pencils, Sticks and Blocks - these come in many shapes and sizes and are fun to try out!

• Sandpaper - preferably of a very fine grit - sold in small paddles specifically for fine art uses - use it to sharpen your pencils and then use the remaining graphite dust to create soft shading.

• Pencil sharpener - inexpensive plastic or metal hand held sharpeners work great and give you the most control.

From quick sketches to cartoon imagery to richly detailed landscapes, a simple graphite pencil can open the door to a vast range of endless possibility. The quality of the graphite can make a difference when creating advanced and detailed drawings, but an inexpensive set will do the trick if you are just starting out. Buy a set of Graphite Pencils.