Graphite Pencil Drawing Techniques

 

For many artists, pencil drawing is the skill that introduced them to the art world. Even if you've moved to a different medium, understanding how to draw with a pencil can help improve your skills elsewhere. These pencil drawing techniques presented by Carson City artist Jay Greig, cover everything from brand-making fundamentals to advanced processes to push yourself out of your comfort zone.

With this simple drawing tips offered by graphite pencil artist Jay Greig, you can take your drawing skills to the next level, whether you are using the graphite pencil or colored pencils.

When we talk about drawing or illustration techniques, we want these to be (and look) like accurate samples of what we want to capture on paper; a graphic and almost perfect translation of reality, depending on how you want to develop.

However, not everyone knows in depth what is needed as a basis to start in this career. In this article hyper-realistic American artist Jay Greig, reveals his top drawing techniques to learn to draw step by step, on any surface and different materials.

The pencil drawing technique, ideal for beginners

In order to start drawing, you first must know something about pencils. Standard pencils are often used for drawing. These come in a variety of styles and sizes, containing both soft and hard leads. The lower the number, the smoother the mine. The soft ones are used to add nuances and tones, while the harder ones are used to trace the contours.

The pencil drawing technique is done in two large stages. The first one is based on drawing the lines that will form the skeleton of the drawing, and the second that will address the shading. There are different graduations of pencils, which will make your line more or less hard and will directly influence the shading technique. This can occur in an open zigzag, in parallel lines or in disparate lines. Other forms of shading, are circle and smoothing. These consist of passing a paper or a cloth over the graphite of the drawing, this effect will give it another appearance.

 The technique of drawing with charcoal, a classic style

The drawing techniques with charcoal and graphite are two of the most used implements for creating freehand drawing. These implements are also used for dry drawing techniques. Graphite can be used on smooth surfaces such as income and canson paper. It will also depend on the absorption, weight or grammage and texture.

In the case of charcoal, some artists use it to help them create lines, since it is easy to erase and blends easily. They also make use of charcoal, which is suitable for both line and stain, and excellent for preliminary sketches before starting to paint.

Jay Greig - Essential Drawing Materials

To start drawing in pencil you will need appropriate tools in addition to knowing how to give them the exact use, since it is useless to have all the materials and not know how to use them. In this guide, graphite pencil artist Jay Greig shares the must-have art supplies for pencil drawing.

PENCILS - The main tool is the pencil, these will allow you to easily trace shadows and add reflections or highlights. Later Jay Greig will explain how to add shadows and highlights.

It is also important to know that pencils have different degrees of hardness (they use more or less graphite). The harder the pencil, the softer the mark you make. Use the different types depending on the tone you want.  Hard pencils are labeled with an H and soft pencils with a B. The higher the number that accompanies the letter, the harder the pencil will be. There is also a standard pencil ... the HB.

USE PROPER PAPER - Depending on the medium you choose (pencil, color, charcoal, paints), you should make sure to get the appropriate paper. In this case, Carson City artist Jay Greig will focus on the appropriate paper for pencil or colored drawings.

If possible get an acid-free paper, this will prevent the drawings to turn yellow over time or wear out.

DIFFUMINATOR - A smear is a pencil-shaped roll of paper with a rough tip. Its tip serves to blur the charcoal or the pencil, forming soft degrees of shadows in the drawing. You will need to polish it every time it is filled with charcoal or graphite due to the pencils.

ERASER - When making pencil drawings, the eraser not only helps us to remove errors, it is also important to create shine. The easiest to use are plasticized pencil erasers, as they are easy to shape to erase small details.

Material for Graphite Pencil Drawing

Here are some tips from the graphite pencil artist, Jay Greig, on choosing the material to draw with pencil or if you prefer graphite pencil. Greig decided to speak on the subject, because he realized that very often, many people were surprised by the variety of different pencils, erasers and other materials used for graphite pencil drawing. So, here Greig shares is a short list of non-exhaustive materials, which he thinks that will allow artists to expand their possibilities in the field.

Differences Between Graphite and Charcoal

Charcoal and graphite are two drawing tools that are very similar in practice.

In turn, both belong to the group of "dry techniques", along with sanguines, pastels, colored pencils, crayons (Plastidecor, Manley etc.), chalk and other materials that do not require any liquid element (water or turpentine among others).

History of Graphite Pencil Painting Technique

Before discovering the graphite pencil, metal tips of gold, copper, zinc, silver, lead, and alloys such as lead and tin were used.

If one of these tips is passed over the paper with sufficient pressure, it will leave a trace made up of very fine metal particles. It was widely used in the manuscripts Depending on the metal, they produce a very delicate brown or light gray line of metallic reflections. The surface (paper or parchment) needed a special base made from pulverized bone, water, gum arabic and dyes. The metal tip is used by Van Eyck, Botticelli, Leonardo and Durero, among others. 

Basic Techniques With Pitt Graphite

The Pitt range of graphite offers all creative artists a wide range of pencils and chalk of varying degrees of hardness for drawing, graphic design and shading. The "Faber green pencil", which Van Gogh and Goethe have already mentioned with praise, has already become part of everyday life. The 16 degrees of hardness range from soft gray to intense graphite black and offer artists a wide range of possibilities. Pure graphite mines are perfect for creating contrasts and shading large areas. These pencils offer endless possibilities to express themselves spontaneously and create different effects depending on the pressure applied and the degree of hardness. They are sharpened just like any other pencil.