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.