How to Pencil Draw
Many artists begin their pieces with a pencil sketch regardless of what the final art will be, and some artists prefer to work with pencil from initial concept to finished work. Regardless of the category you fall into, you will probably want to understand at least the basics of working with pencils if you plan to pursue art in any medium. There are many types of pencils to choose from, and numerous techniques for using them. Learn how you can use pencils to take the images in your mind and bring them to life in a sketch pad.
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Instructions
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Decide what type of pencil you want to use. There are graphite and charcoal pencils, lead pencils and color pencils. Pencils are labeled to indicate how hard or soft the lead is. This gives you an indication of how dark or light the pencil will be when you apply it to paper. Harder lead will produce lighter shades. Use a pencil grading chart to get an idea of the shading characteristics of the different grade levels (see resources).
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Consider whether you want to use a wooden pencil or a mechanical pencil. It's a good idea to think about having an assortment of each, especially since mechanical pencils offer very thin lead tips that are effective for doing fine details in your work. When you choose your wooden pencils, consider the shape of the body. Pencils come round or hexagonal, and while you may enjoy the smoothness of a round-bodied pencil, they tend to slip between your fingers more frequently. This could make it harder for you to draw properly.
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Start with a clean sketch pad and a reference image if you like. Sketch your drawing lightly at first, getting the outline and filling the white space on your paper with a starting image. If, for instance, you choose to draw a flower, start by drawing the outline of the petals, sketch in the stem, and add a vase if you like. Use a heavier shade of charcoal, graphite or lead to strengthen the outline.
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Sketch in sharp, dark lines and various shadings to create the folds of the flower petals and use various light shading to enhance the depth. You can use color pencils instead of the gradated shading if you prefer.
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Finish your drawing with a little shading for the background to remove some of the starkness, or sketch in a background scene that will complement your finished drawing.
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