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These pencil drawing techniques from top artists will help you take your drawing skills to the next level, whether you're using graphite pencil or coloured pencils.
For many artists, pencil drawing is the skill that introduced them to the art world, and even if you've moved on to a different medium, understanding how to draw with a pencil can help you improve your skills elsewhere. These pencil drawing techniques cover everything from the basics of mark-making to advanced processes to push you out of your comfort zone.
We'll also offer advice on the tools and materials you need to know, such as blending stumps, paper options, and different erasers. If you're a total beginner, or just want to upgrade your kit, take a look at our guide to the best pencils.
- Pencil Sketching, 2nd Edition Thomas C. Wang on Amazon.com.FREE. shipping on qualifying offers. The complete, classic guide to the art of pencil sketching Portable.
- There are several ways of holding your pencil when it comes to using it for pencil sketching. To learn pencil sketching, you will need to come up with ways to hold your pencil so that it feels comfortable and allows you to have the control that you need to draw. The standard way of holding a pencil – between your thumb, index, and middle.
- Pencil sketching and drawing never venture to the heart of things and discuss in detail the unique characteristic of pencil. They all speak rather briefly about the medium and move quickly into tech-niques and demonstrations. Very few spend time talking about the “art of pencil sketching.” To me, the real understanding of pencil sketching.
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THE GUIDED SKETCHBOOK THAT TEACHES YOU HOW TO DRAW! LANDA Once upon a time, sketching was part of every educated person’s schooling. Introduces this wonderful technique for visual thinking to anyone who wants to illustrate ideas and images on paper or digital pad. — Stephanie Knopp, Department Chairperson, Tyler School of Art, Temple. Through sketching and doodling, inspired him to develop sketchnotes—a practical art that translates simple and complex ideas into easily recalled bits of information. Professionally, Mike focuses on user interface, user experience, visual design, and icon design for mobile and web applications at Gomoll Research + Design in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Short on time? The video above, from character designer Bobby Chiu, runs through some pencil drawing techniques in action. For more in-depth advice on composition to how to capture light and shadow, take a look at our art techniques article. Or, for inspiration, take a look at this roundup of unbelievably realistic pencil drawings.
01. Use the right grip
The first step is to master how to hold a pencil correctly. Chiu recommends holding the pencil like you could a piece of charcoal, and using the side of the lead to draw, rather than the point. This helps keep the pencil sharper for longer.
'When covering large areas, I shade with my pencil perpendicular to the line I'm drawing to get wide, soft lines,' he adds. 'For details, I hold my pencil parallel to my lines to get sharp, narrow marks. The only time I use the point is when I'm working on intricate details.'
02. Use a stump for soft blending
How you blend your work can have a big impact on the final result. For a soft blended effect, try a blending stump.
'After each light layer, I very gently blend the coloured pencils with the stump,' says US-based artist Jennifer Healy. 'Don’t push too hard or the colour will stick, making it more difficult to softly blend. I repeat this process as often as I need. After many layers it produces a very soft and delicate look.'
This technique requires a little trial and error, though. Healy warns that if you blend too softly, the stump can pick up colour that you've already layered on the paper.
03. Mix up shading techniques
There are lots of different pencil drawing techniques relating to shading. Chiu uses two main approaches. The first is with all the lines going in the same direction. 'This makes my shading appear more cohesive, and helps my details pop out from the lines I'm using for shading,' he explains.
The second method involves working in patches of shading, to help define shape. 'Patches of lines go around the form, which help keep things in perspective,' he says. This technique is also great for backgrounds and creating texture.
04. Try different approaches to outlines
The next drawing technique concerns line weight. As well as demarcating different objects, lines can help emphasise shadows. 'Thicker lines can fade and disappear into the shadows, which can help convey the 3D form,' explains Chiu.
Beyond that, different artists have different approaches to lines – you need to find the style that's right for you. 'I prefer to use a distinct outline in my artwork, whether it’s using thin outlines or bold outlines,' says Healy. 'It can help pinpoint the viewer’s eye to a certain area. It also gives a stylised look, if that’s what you are hoping to achieve.'
Chiu, however, prefers a different approach. 'I try to avoid outlining my drawings because this tends to make things look flat and deadens the 3D effect. Breaks and spaces in my lines show form in the lights and shadows.'
05. Master blending
Healy has a specific process for blending her coloured pencil work. She starts with an outline, to check the form is correct before committing to coloured pencil (it's much harder to erase coloured-in areas than an outline). It also helps her plan where the highlights and shadows will fall.
She then builds up colour using subtle layers. 'I like to start out with soft gentle layers to gain a better idea of lighting placement, shadows and the colour palette,' she says. After each layer she blends gently using the blending stump.
Once she has reached a stage she's happy with, she moves on to the final step: adding an outline. For this final layer, Healy uses coloured pencils alone, and does not blend with a stump.
06. Find the right paper texture
The surface texture you're working on will make a big difference to the effects you can create. This is referred to as the grain or 'tooth' of the paper. A rough tooth is more visible, and the ridges will grip the colour from your pencils.
With a smooth tooth, the ridges are very fine, and there's less grip. Healy finds this kind of paper provides an easier surface for blending coloured pencils, although she warns that it's also easy to run the colour off the surface.
07. Start lightly and build from there
'When I start drawing, I plan and explore using loose lines, and avoid committing too early with hard, dark lines,' says Chiu. 'As I progress my lines will change, so checking and rechecking my work is vital. I darken my lines and add details at the end. I don't focus on one area for too long to prevent overdrawing.'
08. Begin with an underdrawing
Artist Tim von Reuden likes to start with a digital underdrawing that he he prints at one per cent Opacity. Above, you can see the underdrawing of his sketch of a woman holding a staff. He explains, 'I like to keep it light so that it acts as a foundation rather than a final image.'
Von Reuden continues: 'I strongly believe in letting intuition take over in the creation process so I work with the underdrawing more as a guideline.' This means the final result varies.
09. Use the right eraser
There are a few different types of eraser, and each is suited to different things. You'll definitely need a kneaded eraser. This has a putty-like consistency (it's sometimes called a putty eraser), and you knead it before and after use.
'A kneaded eraser is best for lightly picking up the coloured pencil binding off the paper. This works wonders when correcting mistakes, or if you’re deliberately lifting colour from an area such as the eyes,' says Healy.
A gum eraser has a more solid consistency, and is better if you're trying to fully erase a coloured-in area.
10. Unify your colours
Having a uniform approach to colour will help bring cohesiveness to your work. 'It’s a good idea to make sure that your artwork has unifying colours,' says Healy. 'This consists of a particular colour palette, mood and a way of spreading these across the entire art piece.'
She also suggests creating a harmonious base by using tinted paper or adding a background wash of colour (in paint). 'This will show through whatever you lay down on top of it, thus giving it an appearance of cohesion. When I use coloured pencils, I’m fond of using tinted paper produced by Kraft.'
11. Check and recheck
Before you move on to stronger lines and detail work, it's essential to make sure you have the correct form down. Chiu's advice is to check and check again. 'I have to nail down my drawing's underpinnings before I can add details. I really avoid guessing at the details; I want to make sure things are symmetrical and look right before putting down stronger and harder lines.'
He also suggests looking at your work in a mirror or through a camera. Considering different vantage points is a great way to highlight if anything is off. 'I constantly ask myself, does this feel right? If anything seems off – even if I can't immediately put my finger on what it is – I trust my gut and troubleshoot my drawing before continuing.'
12. Draw on your own experiences
'Dip into your experiences to add a special layer of authenticity to your piece,' suggests Healy. 'This means using something like a memory, feeling or scent when creating your work. For example, the special feeling you experienced when sitting down with a friend at a coffee shop, or a memory of a childhood experience. You can be abstract or use hyperrealism. Whatever you choose makes the piece unique to you. I’ve found that people resonate with these pieces the most.'
13. Protect your paper
This is a valuable pencil drawing technique for beginners: put a piece of paper under my hand to avoid smudging your drawing while you're working. It seems obvious, but it can be the downfall of a great piece of work!
Healy also prefers to mount her paper on a board, attaching it using a layer of matte medium. This helps keep things neat, and provides a solid surface to work on.
14. Know when to stop
The majority of artists have a tendency to tinker with their work – even after they've signed their name. 'I can always find something to change if I look hard enough, so it can be difficult to tell when a piece is truly finished,' says Chiu.
However, be wary of overworking your piece. 'Eventually, I make a conscious decision to put my drawing away and start something new,' he continues. 'That's when I consider my drawing done. Well, maybe...'
15. Use contrasting concepts
One drawing technique Healy uses in her work is to use contrasting concepts within a piece of work, for example, juxtaposing beauty and ugliness. 'I’ll use the beauty of colours, flowers, the softness of skin or hair, and the female form. I’ll also tend to use something that’s the opposite to all of that, such as bones, insects, sharp teeth, or anything that may provide discomfort to the viewer,' she elaborates. 'Somehow this provides an interesting concept to a piece. Especially when the ‘ugly’ parts are harder to spot at first. To me this is a very stark representation of what life is like.'
16. Try combining pencils with watercolour
While pencils on their own can be used to create a wealth of different effects, it can be interesting to combine them with other media. For example, in her work, Healy likes to combine watercolour and coloured pencils. It's important to start with watercolour and then layer coloured pencils on top, she explains, because pencils can create a waxy surface that repels liquid, and prevents the watercolour from soaking into the paper.
'This is a fun technique to test out,' she says. 'Both mediums have unique qualities and textures. Combining the two elements creates a medium all of its own.'
17. Break out of your comfort zone
While these pencil drawing techniques should help you understand the essentials of the medium, sometimes you need to throw the rules out of the window and find what works for you. 'There’s nothing wrong with stepping outside of the box if it means achieving the effect you want,' says Healy. 'Trial and error will occur when you step outside of that box. But don’t be intimidated! The process is entirely fun.'
18. Create fabric
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Fabric can range from sleek and shiny to matte and dull. How you shade it will help sell the idea of the fabric you’re trying to depict. For this sketch, von Reuden is trying to capture the golden folds of material found in the original image. He began by outlining the shapes and blocking out areas of shadow.
19. Categorise your fabric
Von Reuden explains how you can add value and shading to create further layers of depth and weight. He says, 'when drawing and recreating fabric, the types of wrinkles created can all be placed under three separate categories: hanging/relaxed, stretched/tension, and scrunched/compressed.'
'Hanging fabric tends to be loose and have a flowing appearance. Stretched fabric creates long lines, usually with a point of support. Compressed fabrics bunch into each other, creating scrunched-looking areas.'
This advice comes from ImagineFX, the world's best-selling magazine for digital artists. Subscribe here.
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Drawing is one of the most fulfilling and relaxing hobbies you can have. Learning to draw is a skill like any other, but you certainly do improve faster or pick up more with training when you have some talent for it. There are many ways of making a picture but one of the most popular – probably partially because it only requires a pencil and paper – is pencil sketching.
Learn how to doamazing pencil sketches does take time but it starts with learning the basics, teaching yourself more advanced skills and then practicing regularly until you get good at it.
Types of Pencils and Ratings
The first thing that you’ll want to know if you want to learn pencil sketching is what kind of pencils are out there and which one you should be using for what type of sketching. Most pencils that are out there have a rating that describes both how hard the lead is and how dark the pencil sketches. These are represented by two letters – H and B – then numbers next to those letters.
Learning to read these codes will help you choose your pencil a little better. H indicates the hardness while B indicates how dark the wedges. An HB pencil is at the exact middle of both. To the left of the middle are H pencils such as H4 and to the right are B pencils such as B2 and B9. B2 is also known as number two and is the standard pencil used in school.
Holding Your Pencil Correctly
Sketching Techniques Pdf
There are several ways of holding your pencil when it comes to using it for pencil sketching. To learn pencil sketching, you will need to come up with ways to hold your pencil so that it feels comfortable and allows you to have the control that you need to draw. The standard way of holding a pencil – between your thumb, index, and middle – works for most things you want to draw.
However, you can also hold the pencil underhanded if you want to do shading and there are other, more advanced techniques, that vary from one artist to another.
Choosing Your Drawing Paper
You also need to decide the paper you’re going to be working on. The best thing to use for pencil sketching is some sort of an artist’s pad. Get a cheap one to start off with. These are available in art supply and hobby stores – as well as in some department stores – and they come in different types that are intended for different ways of drawing or painting. For pencil sketching, a lightweight, fine-tooth paper works well but if you want a more rugged appearance to your drawing, you might want to go with medium texture paper instead. A paper that has what is called a 'tooth' which you can get from smooth to rough.
Pencil Sketching Basics
There are four basic principles that you are going to have to learn if you want to be successful and learn pencil sketching. First, you need to learn how to draw good lines or “clean lines” meaning not fuzzy with constant drawing over existing lines. Lines that are wonky or do not stay straight on the page will make it difficult to create really good drawings. Secondly, you must learn how to make perfect shapes. Such as ovals, squares, rectangles, and circles, are a pencil sketching artist’s bread-and-butter.
The third is proportion. The size of an object on your canvas in relation to the other objects in the canvas is very important and learning to accurately depict the size differences is a measurement of your maturity as an artist. Finally, light, tones, and shadow are advanced techniques that you will want to learn eventually.
Contour Drawing
Contour drawing is also going to be an important part of your artist toolbox. Although lines and shapes can serve you very well for many things there are always going to be objects that you want to draw that do not have a shape that fits any of the standard shapes or lines. If you can accurately depict the contour of an object you will be able to reproduce things that have odd shapes much more easily. Drawing contours is difficult for everyone at first but it gets better with practice. Try to draw things like mugs or stuff with simple bases that have irregular shapes until you get good at it.
Pencil Sketching Drawn By Hand
Measuring for Accuracy
You might be surprised at some of the tricks your eye can play on you. A good artist is able to use their pencil to measure so that they can draw an item accurately. For example, if you are drawing a rectangular or square object, you want to measure on both sides to make sure that they are even if looking straight on, or are the right length in relation to each other otherwise. Don’t just guess but get good at knowing what the distance should be and then measuring it with your pencil.
Drawing in Perspective
Drawing in perspective is another important part of your artist education. In pictures, depicting an object close up will require drawing it larger than if you were placing it farther away in the background of the picture. This illusion is known as perspective. Being able to draw in perspective will show the viewer where the object you are drawing should be in three-dimensional space. Just as with other, more advanced drawing skills, it takes practice to get your perspective drawing right so do not be discouraged if you are unable to pick it up immediately.
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Practice for Perfection
Pencil Sketching For Beginners Pdf
The most important thing that you can do to become a great artist and learn pencil sketching is to practice. Practice daily. As with any form of art, drawing, singing, dancing, etc., it takes a lot of practice before you are able to do something really well. What separates the amateur from the professional is often nothing more than a great deal of practice, sometimes each and every, day until you improve. If you are passionate about drawing and you want to improve as quickly as possible, then set aside some time every day to practice. You will be able to draw objects that you never thought you could in just a short period of time.