How to Buy Artist Pencils

An artist's tools can make or break him as much as technique or subject choice. Artist pencils determine the thickness of a line, the shading, the coloring and the overall expression of the drawing. Several factors help determine the best pencil to buy for an artist's needs. Look at the tips below to find the perfect pencil.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Determine the pencil, or graphite, thickness needed for your work. Artist pencils come in several grades, ranging from 9H to 9B. The common writing pencil has a B2 grade. Pencils with an H rating have more binder in the graphite and a harder consistency for thin lines while pencils with a B rating form softer, thicker lines.
2. Buy a charcoal pencil. These pencils produce softer, thicker lines and give artwork a warmer feel. They have a shorter life span than graphite pencils.
3. Invest in pastel pencils. They are available in a vibrant range of colors, and don't leave messy pigment to clean up like pastel sticks.
4. Choose colored pencils for more ambitious projects. Your choices range from Crayola colored pencils from the drugstore to wooden boxes of a hundred or more Faber-Castell artist pencils. Remember to buy a textured paper to complement your color drawing.
5. Keep your artist pencils in good shape. If you don't have one already, invest in a good pencil sharpener. A regular pencil sharpener from the school supply section of the drugstore works just fine. You may also use a craft knife to sharpen pencils, but exercise caution when using this method because of the sharp blades.

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