Types Of Pencils And Their Uses

There are many different pencils that can be used for drawing, so it can be confusing choosing a pencil and knowing what it is used for. To understand, there are two things to consider: the actual type of pencil, and the grade of the pencil.

As shown in the image above, the grade greatly affects the shade the pencils produces. In short, the higher the number on a "B" pencil, the softer the graphite and the darker the mark will be. The higher the number is on an "H" pencil, the harder the graphite will be, leaving a lighter mark. "HB" pencils are right in the middle of the scale.

When beginning a drawing, it is always best to start off with an H pencil. It leaves a light stroke, so you may go over the sketch many times and easily erase any lines you might not want. Since the B pencils are darker, they are not so easy to erase, so make sure you get exactly what you want with an H pencil before using a softer pencil. Using a darker pencil can be useful for shading and adding the right amount of contrast to a piece of work.

Wood pencils are not the only type of pencils that use this grading system. In fact, mechanical pencils offer many different grades and thickness of lead. Because this pencil does not require sharpening and is naturally thin, it can prove to be very good for detail, although this does not have to be its exclusive use.  If you are looking for a very precise and sharp line, mechanical may be the way to go.

Clutch or lead holder pencils are another option and have a lead that is generally the same size as a wood pencil, but come in larger thicknesses as well. The pro to this type of pencil is that when it's time to cover a larger area, you can extend the lead and use the flat side. There are sharpeners specifically for this type of pencil that create a sharp or dull point, but it is just as easy to achieve a point by rubbing the lead in the same spot on a 45 degree angle. Similar to mechanical pencils, refills are available in many different grades and the length of the lead is adjustable.

The woodless graphite pencil is probably the best for covering the largest surface area. Although this pencil is versatile in that it can be sharpened to a point and comes in different grades, it goes dull rather quickly. If the pencil is prominently used for broad strokes, it can last very long as it is completely graphite.

Remember, there isn't a right or wrong pencil to use. Some art teachers will insist that mechanical pencils should be used to take notes, but many artists prove that beautiful work can be created with any type of pencil. It really comes down to your preference, but don't be afraid to experiment with something out of your comfort zone!

How to Draw A Realistic Face

Today I am going to do a step by step tutorial on how to draw a woman's face. Not all of the details will be explained in this post, so I will be following up on this to explain things a bit further. All you will need for what we will be doing today is a light pencil (like a 2H), a dark pencil (like a 4B), a stump and an eraser.

Step 1

1. Begin with an oval for the face and a circle for the brain using your 2H. The circle should be placed relative to the direction you want the head to be facing. In this drawing, the head is going to be turned slightly to the left and slightly looking down. This means that you will be able to see the top and right side of the head.
   
   
   
   

   

   Step 2

2. Draw one horizontal line curved down. This line represents the eyes and is curved down to show the downward direction of the head. Draw a second vertical line curved to the left. This line represents the center of the face and is curved to the left to show that the head is turned slightly to the left.
   
   
   

   

   Step 3

3. Begin to sketch in the face of the shape. Since this is a female face, she is going to have softer, rounded angles. Her jaw will be shaped more like a "V" and her face will be narrower. At this point you can also add an angle for the cheek bone, an ear, and a neck.
   
   
   
   

   

   Step 4

4. Add a light source in this step and begin to shade any areas that the sun would not naturally hit. Here I've added the light source to the upper left corner and as you can see, it then leaves the right side and bottom parts of the face in darkness. Because areas like the nose and the lips stick out, they naturally catch more sun and are left light.
   
   
   

   

   Step 5

5. Roughly sketch in some hair and lightly add a hair line...
   
   
   

   

   Step 6

6. At this point, erase most of the lines that are no longer needed and add some rough shading to the hair. I have also gone over the proportions again and modified the face so it is narrower and more feminine.
   
   
   

   

   Step 7

7. Based on your light source again, lightly shade the eyes, brow bones, nose, lips, and chin areas that will be in the shade, just as I have done so in the example. Center the nose and lips with the vertical reference line and place the eyes along the horizontal line.
   
   
   

   

   Step 8

8. Once the rough shading is complete, you can move on to the more detailed shading. The upper lip will have darker shading than the bottom lip since it is in the shade. Likewise, the bottom and sides of the nose will have shading as well. Use logic to deduce where the light will not hit, and shade there.
   
   
   

   

   Step 9

9. Sketch two circles for the the iris' of the eyes...
   
   
   

   

   Step 10

10. Using the two circles you just drew as a guide, sketch in the bottom, top, and crease of the eye lids. In the picture, I am placing the top eyelids half way shut to indicate that she is looking down.
    
    
    

    

    Step 11

11. Shade in the crease and the sides of the eyelids, as well as the tear ducts. Add in the brows by lightly sketching vertical short lines that gradually turn horizontally. You can also add some eyelashes, but it is not necessary. I'm adding full, long eyelashes for a dramatic look.
    
    
    

    

    Step 12

12. Now, using the corner of your eraser, carefully erase any areas of the face that jut out and get direct sunlight to create highlights. In the example, these areas will be the top of the forehead, nose, chin, left line of the face, philtrum, brow bones, cheek bones, and the top part of the bottom lip.
    
    
    

    

    Step 13

13. To soften the shading, take a smudge stick or stump and blend the shading. Be careful not to blend the highlighted areas.
    
    
    

    

    Step 14

14. For the final step, take a 4B pencil and re-shade any of the darkest areas like right under the jaw and nostrils. In the example, I have added some extra shading on the eyelids, to the eyelashes, and a slight shadow right under the eyelashes, again, giving the eyes a bolder look. Casting a shadow on the neck can also give the picture more depth and realism.
    
    

Each of these steps will be explained further every week in separate posts, but for now, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!