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Recommended Cartoon Pencils for Realistic Cartoon (and Pencil Grades Demystified!)
All drawing pencils feel different to piece of work with, and have unique properties that determine how your drawing will wait. In this guide I will introduce you to the almost common pencils used for realistic drawing, talk over the ones I use most often in my drawing tutorials (and why), and recommend high quality brands for you to endeavor.
First, to accost the elephant in the room: What drawing pencils should y'all use for realistic drawing?
If you are a beginner, I recommend that you start with graphite pencils. T hey are some of the smoothest and most easily erasable pencils to draw with, making them first-class for conviction-building when you're learning to draw.
With some feel you may choose to graduate to charcoal pencils, which require more technical skill to utilize effectively, but have their advantages over graphite. Read on to notice the differences between graphite and charcoal pencils, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and which brands I recommend. I'll also demystify pencil grades!
Graphite Pencil Guide
Pictured above: Staedtler Mars Lumograph Graphite Pencils
Graphite pencils come in a series of 'hardnesses', or 'grades', ranging from 9B (the softest) to 9H (the hardest).
The full range of graphite cartoon pencils looks something like this:
9B, 8B, 7B, 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, 8H, 9H
The range varies slightly, depending on the brand. The grades higher up (and beneath) reflect the range of Staedtler Mars Lumograph graphite pencils (my preferred brand).
Pictured to a higher place: Staedtler Mars Lumograph graphite pencils
Why are pencil grades of import?
Considering the class, or the hardness/softness of a pencil, determines the range of values and type of line that the pencil can create. Allow'south begin with the range of values:
If yous motion-picture show a full value range (from white to pitch black), each pencil form can create a segment of that value range.
In the diagram higher up, you tin see that the HB pencil tin can create a certain segment of values. Within its value range is the 'near comfortable' range that it can create. This means that you can extend its value range by using a kneaded eraser to lighten values, or layering your pencil marks to darken values, only it volition take more effort to practice that than to simply use a pencil that comfortably creates the value that you demand.
The harder the pencil, the lighter the range of values that it creates.
The softer the pencil, the darker the range of values that it creates.
(This is the case for charcoal as well equally graphite.)
Equally you can see in the image below, the darkness of graphite pencils varies from very light grey (9H) to most pitch black (9B).
Let'due south compare the value ranges of ii more than graphite pencil grades. In the prototype below, the top gradation was drawn with a 2H graphite pencil. Information technology ranges from the darkest possible value the 2H can create to the lightest possible value that it tin create.
The lesser gradation was drawn with a 4B graphite pencil, and ranges from the darkest possible value the 4B can create to the lightest value it tin can create. (I used Staedtler Mars Lumograph graphite pencils for both gradations.)
How do these gradations compare?
First, notice the vast difference in the range of values created past the 2H and 4B. The 2H can comfortably create from a value two to a value iii or 4 on the value scale, while the 4B tin can create from a value 6 through 8. I had to employ my kneaded eraser to create the lighter values of the 4B gradation, while information technology was almost effortless to use the 2H to gradate into the white of the paper. Notice how much smoother the 2H gradation appears as well, while you can see more of the paper texture in the 4B gradation.
B O N U Due south : What grade of pencil should you draw with?
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How does the grade of a drawing pencil touch on line quality?
The hardest pencils create sharper, lighter, thinner lines, while the softest pencils create softer, darker, thicker lines. (Of grade, this depends on the sharpness of your pencil likewise, but generally speaking - it is much easier to create a sharper line with a hard pencil, and a softer line with a soft pencil.)
Exercise you lot need the whole range of graphite pencils, from 9H to 9B?
No, it's not a necessity, but a matter of personal preference and skill level.
When I work with graphite, I usually have an HB, 2B, and a 4B. On the occasion that my cartoon requires a very nighttime value, I may likewise utilize a 6B (though I try to avoid them, as the darker the graphite pencil, the more it will reverberate light and produce glare - but I'll hash out that in a later department of the article).
If yous are new to drawing and are developing the sensitivity of your hand, y'all may want to add together a few harder pencils, such equally a 2H, to make information technology easier to depict the lightest values in your drawing.
Types of Graphite Drawing Pencils
Graphite pencils come up in several forms.
- They tin exist encased in wood - these are the nearly common class, pictured in a higher place.
These graphite pencils are fabricated of a mixture of graphite pulverization and dirt filler. The ratio of the 2 determines what grade, or hardness, the pencil is. The more filler - the harder the pencil. - They can be in pencil form but "woodless"
- They can be in stick form
Brands of graphite: I tend to use Staedtler Mars Lumograph pencils, only other brands such as Derwent and Faber-Castell work just fine as well.
Working with Graphite Pencils
The application of graphite on newspaper is smoother than charcoal, and easier to gain control of. It tin be very comfortable and enjoyable to work with, peculiarly when paired with a smooth cartoon paper .
Because of this, I often recommend that beginners draw with graphite to build confidence and experience before moving on to charcoal pencils.
Go along in mind that graphite has a metallic sheen.
The shine, or glare, tin can be very apparent when you stand up at an bending to a motion-picture show fatigued in graphite, such as the i below:
As you lot can see, the sheen becomes more apparent where there are darker values. So, the darker the tones in your drawing, the more they will reflect light and produce glare. This can be particularly boring when trying to photograph graphite drawings.
While there are means to minimize graphite glare, it is ultimately an inescapable quality of the medium. If y'all experiment with graphite and find that the glare is as well much for you, don't fight information technology. You will lose. If information technology bothers y'all besides much, just don''t use it! Instead, use one of the many drawing pencils available to y'all that don''t naturally have a shiny, metal quality.
(I actually abandoned the above drawing considering I was frustrated with the glare. Lesson learned! Graphite is better used for lighter value drawings. Notice that the lightest areas in the cartoon above are non producing whatsoever glare!)
Always strive to work with your materials, not against them. This will outcome in a much more enjoyable cartoon process for y'all, as well as a better end result!
Tips for Minimizing Graphite Glare
- As you tin see in the image to a higher place: the lighter the expanse, the less glare will be produced. Choose to work in graphite when you are drawing a lighter image.
- If you lot must utilise graphite for the dark areas of your drawing, instead of pressing harder with the pencil, slowly layer the graphite to darken the area.
Charcoal Pencils
Pictured above: Generals Charcoal Pencils
Charcoal pencils consist of charcoal powder mixed with a gum binder. This batter is then compressed into sticks or encased in wood. As with graphite, the corporeality of folder used regulates the caste of hardness of the pencil. The more than binder used, the harder the grade of the pencil.
The hardness of charcoal pencils unremarkably ranges from HB to 6B (from hardest to softest). A few brands go a step further and make 2H pencils, just I personally don''t use them (I find that they often scratch my drawing newspaper rather than leave a smooth mark).
If you are going to piece of work with charcoal pencils, I suggest that you lot buy an HB, 2B, 4B and a 6B, by a brand called Full general'south. (Read about what I look for in charcoal pencil brands and how to compare them in this commodity!)
You may run into charcoal pencils past other brands that are classified merely as 'soft, medium, and hard' or 'lite, medium, an dark'. I don't use these because I detect that pencils using the 'soft, medium, and hard' classifications tend to be less consistent and predictable than the Full general'southward pencils.
General's pencils also take a wider range. For example, a General's HB tends to exist harder (and therefore easier to create lighter marks with) than a 'hard' charcoal pencil. If you must use charcoal drawing pencils labelled every bit 'soft, medium and hard':
The 'soft' pencil is comparable to a 6B
The 'medium' pencil is comparable to a 2B or 4B
The 'hard' pencil is comparable to an HB
Willow and Vine Charcoal Sticks
Vine charcoal sticks
Literally burnt twigs, willow and vine charcoal sticks are uncompressed charcoal. As opposed to compressed charcoal (which is institute in regular charcoal pencils), uncompressed charcoal is much softer, lighter, and easier to spread and erase. In fact, information technology lifts off the paper then easily that you actually have to be conscientious not to disturb it!
Willow and 5ine charcoal sticks are peculiarly useful tools for filling in and evening out big value masses, especially when paired with a soft bristle brush. You lot can as well utilize it to tone your own paper, as I did for the sketches below:
Above: sketches on toned newspaper using a combination of black and white charcoal drawing pencils.
Graphite vs. Charcoal
The drawing pencils that you choose depend on many factors. Ane pencil is non "meliorate" than another: they all have dissimilar characteristics that are suitable for different kinds of drawings. You volition larn to choose the right medium for your drawings as you experience the qualities of the unlike drawing pencils, and figure out what kind of drawing you want to create.
Having said that, hither are some pro'southward and con's of graphite vs. charcoal:
Graphite
- (Pro) easier to work with considering the application of graphite on paper is smoother than that of charcoal
- (Con) can reflect low-cal, creating graphite glare or polish (causing values to appear lighter than they actually are)
- (Con) does not darken to pitch black as easily every bit charcoal
Charcoal
- (Con) requires more skill to work with (information technology is more hard to draw light lines and smooth, even values with charcoal pencils)
- (Pro) absorbs light - no 'glare'!
- (Pro) darkens to a pitch black, allowing us to create a wider range of values and higher contrast images
- (Pro) versatile: tin exist combined with white charcoal
When to Utilise Charcoal Pencils:
- When you need a full range of values, from white to pitch black. Charcoal darkens to pitch blackness, allowing you to create a wider range of values in your drawing. Graphite simply does non darken to the same pitch black as charcoal does.
- When creating a 'depression value central' cartoon: a cartoon where most of the values are between values five and 9 on the value scale.
- When y'all want to combine information technology with a white drawing pencil. Charcoal is a very versatile medium. Information technology can be used by itself, or combined with a white drawing pencil to give your drawing different looks and variations in temperature. Here are three of my favorite techniques for combining charcoal with white.
- When you dislike the shine that graphite creates. Some artists love the graphite shine, others are neutral, and others quite dislike it. I personally don't dearest it, and usually just use graphite when creating drawings that consist mostly of lighter values.
When to Utilise Graphite Pencils:
- When creating a 'high key' drawing: a drawing that consists mostly of lighter values. Every bit you saw earlier in the article, lighter values produce less graphite glare.
- When you want a smoother cartoon experience. The awarding of graphite on paper is definitely smoother than that of charcoal. It is easier to depict lightly with graphite, and to shade smoothly and evenly. (You can certainly acquire to do the same with charcoal, but information technology will take considerably more practice.)
Can you lot combine graphite and charcoal?
I see what y'all're thinking ... yous want the best of both worlds! This is actually a common question that I receive.
Graphite and charcoal do not layer on top of each other very well. Notwithstanding, if you are careful, y'all can utilise graphite side by side to charcoal. For case, you can utilize graphite for lighter areas of your drawing, and create a subtle gradation that 'turns into' charcoal (again, not layering one on top of the other, simply making sure that one is correct next to the other).
This is an avant-garde technique that I propose using once you are comfortable using graphite and charcoal drawing pencils separately.
Conclusion
The best style to get to know what drawing pencils you prefer is to piece of work with both! An fantabulous exercise to compare the properties of these two pencil types is to draw the same discipline affair using graphite and then charcoal. Why non practice this with me in my Realistic Drawing 101 course, while learning the essential skills and concepts of realistic drawing?!
If you have any questions nearly these supplies, you are welcome to email me at marina@thedrawingsource.com
Happy Cartoon!
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