How to start pencil drawings: 5 practical tips

Pencil drawing is a wonderful art form that requires creativity, precision and patience. Whether you are an experienced artist or a beginner, pencil drawing can be a relaxing and fulfilling experience. However, it also requires certain techniques and knowledge to get the most out of your works. In this blog, we will discuss some tips and tricks that will help you take your pencil drawings to the next level. Whether you want to draw landscapes, portraits or abstract artwork, these tips will help you improve your skills and unleash your creativity.

1. How to choose the best pencil for every situation

There are different hardness levels in pencils, suitable for different types of drawing. These hardness levels are indicated with the letters H (for hard) and B (for soft). A pencil with a higher H value is considered harder, while a pencil with a higher B value is considered softer. Hardness levels are also often accompanied by a number that indicates the intensity of the hardness level. For example, an H2 pencil has a higher hardness than an H1 pencil.

But what are the different hardnesses of pencils good for when drawing? Here are some factors to consider when choosing your pencil:

Shading: If you want a dark and intense shading, a soft pencil with a higher B value is the best choice. The soft pencil is easier to apply to the paper and thus gives a deeper shade. The higher the B value, the softer and darker the pencil becomes.
Fine details: If you want to draw finer details or lines, you should choose a harder pencil with a higher H value. A harder pencil produces a thinner line and is easier to control. The higher the H value, the harder the pencil and the finer the line.

Tip: The type of paper you are drawing on can also play a role in choosing the hardness level. Softer pencils are better suited to softer papers, such as sketch paper, while harder pencils work better on harder papers, such as watercolor paper.

2. The art of pencil sharpening: tips on how to do it right

To ensure you can draw optimally with your pencil, it is important that the tip is well sharpened. There are various methods for this – for example, some artists prefer to use a knife to carefully expose the tip and form the desired tip. Another option is a pencil sharpener, which creates a fine point quickly and easily.

If you choose to sharpen with a knife, be sure to use controlled movements to avoid injury. Once the pencil lead is exposed, you can use sandpaper on a piece of cardboard to sand the tip and shape it to the desired shape. Hold the pencil at an angle on the sandpaper and gently move the lead back and forth to achieve a sharp and precise point.

A well-sharpened pencil tip has many advantages: you can use it for a variety of purposes, for example holding the pencil at an angle for large areas and vertically for detailed areas. It is important that the tip is not too blunt to draw fine lines, but also not too sharp to damage the paper.

Tip: It’s worth trying out different methods of sharpening to find out which one works best for you. A well-sharpened pencil tip can make the difference between an average drawing and a masterpiece

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3. What different types of erasers are there?

There are different types of erasers suitable for different types of drawing. Hard erasers are good for strong and stubborn pencil lines, while kneaded erasers are best for charcoal and pastel drawings. It is important to choose the right eraser for the type of drawing to avoid damaging the paper.

1. Hard erasers

Hard erasers are not only suitable for strong and stubborn pencil lines, but also for colored pencils, charcoal, pastel and ink. Since the edges remain sharply contoured for longer, you can also use them to cleanly erase details. However, you should be careful when using them so that the drawing paper is not damaged. Erasing with a hard eraser often damages the drawing board by roughening the paper. If you draw over such a rough spot again, this will be visible in the drawing. It is expressed by an uneven, thicker application of color.

2. Kneaded erasers

Kneaded erasers are best suited for charcoal and pastel drawings, as the color particles adhere relatively loosely to the paper. The rubber compound can be modeled and shaped into any desired form. To remove the color, you press the modeling compound onto the corresponding spot. So you can’t really talk about erasing here. The kneaded eraser is more for lightening drawings. You can adjust the degree of erasing by applying different amounts of pressure. It is not possible to completely remove drawing lines with a kneaded eraser. On the other hand, it does not damage the paper.

The kneaded eraser is therefore mostly used to correct areas that are too dark or to incorporate certain light reflections. The malleability of the kneaded eraser is a very useful advantage here.

In contrast to other erasers, the volume remains the same over time, but with increasing use the quality decreases, so that it has to be replaced after some time.

Tip:

If you’re unsure which eraser is best, try different types and see how well they remove different pencil marks.

4. How to use hatching to create interesting textures

Hatching is a technique that involves drawing fine lines at different angles and distances to create texture and shadows. It’s especially useful for depicting objects like hair, skin, or fabric. Practice with different hatching techniques to get a feel for the different textures you can create. Here are two examples:

Parallel hatching

A simple hatching is created by a series of parallel lines. When you practice simple hatching, make sure that you draw slowly and carefully. Hatching often looks as if it was drawn very quickly. This may be the case with the great masters, but beginners in particular should start very slowly. Speed is not a quality criterion for the finished drawing. Only lines will be visible. And for starters, the cleaner the lines, the better the artistic effect.

Kreuzschraffur

One of the most important hatching techniques is cross-hatching. This involves drawing several layers of simple hatching on top of each other. The angle of the lines leads to very different results. Very dark areas are usually created using cross-hatching. As an exercise, draw several cross-hatchings on a sheet of paper that have different angles to each other. First just two levels, then a third and even a fourth. You will notice that the area not only becomes darker, but also takes on a “direction” the smaller the angle (i.e. the more similar the directions are). This effect of “direction” within a hatching can be used to create plasticity or three-dimensionality.

Tip: Experiment with different hatching techniques to find out which one suits your style and drawing style best. Use different spacing and angles to create different textures.

5.Experiment with different techniques

Es gibt viele verschiedene Techniken, die du mit Bleistiftzeichnungen anwenden kannst, z. B. Wischtechnik, Kreuzschraffur oder Tupf Technik. Experimentiere mit verschiedenen Techniken, um herauszufinden, welche am besten zu deinem Stil und deiner Art des Zeichnens passt. Es ist wichtig, immer offen für neue Möglichkeiten zu sein und deine Fähigkeiten zu erweitern. Indem du verschiedene Techniken ausprobierst, kannst du dein Repertoire erweitern und dich weiterentwickeln. Wenn du eine Technik gefunden hast, die dir besonders gut gefällt, kannst du diese weiter perfektionieren und in Zukunft immer wieder darauf zurückgreifen.

Tip: A great way to try out different techniques is to practice on sketch paper or in a sketchbook. This allows you to try out different techniques without the pressure of creating a perfect piece of art and improve your skills. Remember that practice makes perfect – the more you draw, the better you will get!

Conclusion

In conclusion, pencil drawings are a wonderful way to improve your creativity and skills as an artist. By choosing the right pencils and sharpening them properly, you can draw precise and versatile lines that bring your works to life. It is important to take your time and be patient when drawing with pencils to get the most out of your works. Use the tips and tricks we have discussed in this blog to improve your skills as an artist and grow in your art. Happy drawing