How to Color Using the Side of a Pencil

With the age of high definition everything, the concept of black and white has become synonymous with old-fashioned. But you can achieve detailed and lifelike pictures using only the black, white and grey shades you can produce with a pencil on paper.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Choose your pencil. Graphite pencils come in various shades and levels of hardness. Experiment with different types of pencils to determine which will work best with your project.

2. Sharpen your pencil. Use a sharpener to make a conical tip, or use a sharpening knife to make a customized tip, such as a chisel tip.

3. Hold the pencil on its side at a low angle. If you hold the pencil as if you're writing, your hand will drag on your drawing, smearing your picture. Grip the pencil as if you're picking it up from a table. Adjust your angle to adjust the thickness of your shading.

4. Experiment with your pressure. The different shades of pencil drawings depend almost entirely on pressure. The harder your press, the darker the line will be.