Whether you’re an art professional or just a beginner drawing with pencils can unleash your creative side. With the top drawing tools, you’ll be able to draw stunning and intricate fine art projects along with modern-day designs.
The most effective pencils for artists feature top-quality wood casings that ensure cores stay centered and they don’t break easily. Graphite pencils are graded H or B and are available in a wide range of toughnesses.
Softness Best Graphite Pencils for Sketching and Drawing
The ease of a pencil’s surface can alter the drawing process. The pencils that are soft produce lighter marks, and allow smoother transitions between the value and tone. The more soft a pencil and the less graphite it will leave behind on each mark.
More robust pencils produce darker marks and are better suited to sketch or write. If used too heavily however, they may cause grooves in the paper that are difficult to cover with the use of a thinner graphite application.
It’s a great option for those who are just starting out, since it has a nice balance between softness and hardness. It’s also great for preparatory drawings as it doesn’t leave too much graphite on the page, which could ruin any watercolour that is later painted on top of it.
Hardness
How you draw with the pencil is vital to your success, no matter if you’re a novice or a professional. Poor quality pencils with a rough tip can cause frustration and discourage artists from taking on their design or art interests.
Soft-lead pencils are gentle and allow you to draw intricate details with less pressure. They are easy to blend and don’t leave a lot of graphite on your paper. The harder pencils need greater pressure, and they will leave visible indentation. If you put excessive pressure with a pencil with a hard surface, the surface will get damaged and it will be difficult to erase the marks.
The HB pencil is a medium-hardness pencil that’s great for light sketches as well as technical drawing and outline. They resist smudges and produce clean lines and they’re also great for left-handed artists.
Erasability
It’s difficult to make changes or to clean your drawing if the pencil you are using is difficult to erase. This can be frustrating for those who are new to drawing and could cause the artist to stop drawing altogether, so it’s important to choose a high-quality pencil that won’t smear or leave marks on your paper.
Uni Arterase pencils, for instance, come with a sliding lead cover that prevents lead breaking. It also allows you to easily remove pigment without leaving any leftover. The lead is firm but smooth and blends well.
Staedtler Mars Lumographs are a different alternative. They’re made of wood and feature a soft carbon core that is easy to sharpen. These pencils also feel like colored crayons when you move them across the paper. This can enhance the drawing experience.
Value
What works for one artist may not be the same for another. It is crucial to select an graphite pen made from top quality materials, and less likely to break within the wooden case.
It’s also a good choice to stick with a particular brand of pencils if possible because this helps maintain the same consistency. For instance, the Mars Lumograph pencils by Staedtler For instance, they are highly respected because they provide a smooth surface under pressure and can withstand much pressure.
You can save money and time by choosing the pencil with sharp points that are durable. The best sets will have several grades that cover different aspects of drawing. This provides you with a lot of options to play around with. There are also sets made specifically for certain styles of drawing that can be a good option in case you wish to concentrate on.