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Step 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.
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Step 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.
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Step 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.
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Step 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.
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Step 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.
