ART

AND DESIGN INSPIRATION

    Search 

 News Inspiration How to Features Reviews Buying Guides Magazines  Events  Jobs

TOPICS Graphic Design Web Design Art Essential Tips 3D Best Prime Day deals Jobs All Topics

Advertisement
Art > Pencil drawing techniques: Pro tips to sharpen your skills

Pencil drawing techniques: Pro tips to RECOMMENDED

sharpen your skills

By Creative Bloq Sta May 23, 2019 Art  

Sharpen your skills with these pencil drawing techniques, for both
graphite and coloured pencils.
   

Design jobs: nd your dream role

with Creative Bloq

DON'T MISS OUT...

74 best free fonts
for designers
Amazon Prime Day deals: see all the
best early o ers right here.

GET WEEKLY TIPS AND

 INSPIRATION

Sign up below to get the latest from

Creative Bloq, plus exclusive special
o ers, direct to your inbox!

Your Email Address

 These pencil drawing techniques from top artists will help you take your
SIGN M
drawing skills to the next level, whether you're using graphite pencil or coloured
No spam, we promise. You can unsubscribe at any time and
pencils.  we'll never share your details without your permission.

For many artists, pencil drawing is the skill that introduced them to the art world,
and even if you've moved on to a di erent medium, understanding how to draw Advertisement
with a pencil can help you improve your skills elsewhere. These pencil drawing
techniques cover everything from the basics of mark-making to advanced
processes to push you out of your comfort zone.  MOST READ MOST SHARED

We'll also o er advice on the tools and materials you need to know, such as
blending stumps, paper options, and di erent erasers. If you're a total beginner,
or want to upgrade your kit, take a look at our guide to the best pencils.

Drawing Exercises to Start Your Day

1 12 groundbreaking APIs to try

2 Old VW logo specs will make

you grateful for Illustrator

3 Find free vector art online: the

20 best sites

4 The best video editing

software in 2019

5 All the best free Photoshop

brushes

Short on time? The video above, from character designer Bobby Chiu, runs
Advertisement
through some pencil drawing techniques in action. For more in-depth advice on
composition to how to capture light and shadow, take a look at our art
techniques article. Or, for inspiration, take a look at this roundup of unbelievably About our deals
realistic pencil drawings. We sort through thousands of deals to
o er the best prices from the most
01. Use the right grip trustworthy retailers. You can support
us by clicking these independently
selected links, as we may earn a
commission on any purchase you make,
at no extra cost to you.

Contact us if you have any questions or

have found a better price

Do you nd our price comparison

useful?

Yes No

Think of the pencil as charcoal in a wooden sheath

The rst step is to master how to hold a pencil correctly. Bobby Chiu
recommends holding the pencil like you could a piece of charcoal, and using the
side of the lead to draw, rather than the point. This helps keep the pencil
sharper for longer.

"When covering large areas, I shade with my pencil perpendicular to the line I'm
drawing to get wide, soft lines," he adds. "For details, I hold my pencil parallel to
my lines to get sharp, narrow marks. The only time I use the point is when I'm
working on intricate details."

02. Use a stump for soft blending

Using a stump between layers of colour will create a blended e ect [Image: Jennifer Healy]

How you blend your work can have a big impact on the nal result. For a soft
blended e ect, try a blending stump. 

"After each light layer, I very gently blend the coloured pencils with the stump,"
says US-based artist Jennifer Healy. "Don’t push too hard or the colour will stick,
making it more di cult to softly blend. I repeat this process as often as I need.
After many layers it produces a very soft and delicate look."

This technique requires a little trial and error, though. Healy warns that if you
blend too softly, the stump can pick up colour that you've already layered on the
paper.

Art Alternatives Stumps And Tortillions Set

$5.68 VIEW
Free trial

We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices

03. Mix up shading techniques

Shading with uni ed lines versus shading in patches produces a di erent feel [Image: Bobby Chiu]

There are lots of di erent pencil drawing techniques relating to shading. Chiu
uses two main approaches. The rst is with all the lines going in the same
direction. "This makes my shading appear more cohesive, and helps my details
pop out from the lines I'm using for shading," he explains.

The second method involves working in patches of shading, to help de ne

shape. "Patches of lines go around the form, which help keep things in
perspective," he says. This technique is also great for backgrounds and creating
texture.

04. Try di erent approaches to outlines

Healy prefers dark, de ned outlines [Image: Jennifer Healy]

The next drawing technique concerns line weight. As well as demarcating

di erent objects, lines can help emphasise shadows. "Thicker lines can fade and
disappear into the shadows, which can help convey the 3D form," explains Chiu.

Beyond that, di erent artists have di erent approaches to lines – you need to
nd the style that's right for you. "I prefer to use a distinct outline in my artwork,
whether it’s using thin outlines or bold outlines," says Healy. "It can help pinpoint
the viewer’s eye to a certain area. It also gives a stylised look, if that’s what you
are hoping to achieve."

Chiu, however, prefers a di erent approach. "I try to avoid outlining my

drawings because this tends to make things look at and deadens the 3D e ect.
Breaks and spaces in my lines show form in the lights and shadows."

05. Master blending

Start with an outline, then build up colour [Image: Jennifer Healy]

Healy has a speci c process for blending her coloured pencil work. She starts
with an outline, to check the form is correct before committing to coloured
pencil (it's much harder to erase coloured-in areas than an outline). It also helps
her plan where the highlights and shadows will fall. 

She then builds up colour using subtle layers. "I like to start out with soft gentle
layers to gain a better idea of lighting placement, shadows and the colour
palette," she says. After each layer she blends gently using the blending stump.

The nal step is to add an outline [Image: Jennifer Healy]

Once she has reached a stage she's happy with, she moves on to the nal step:
adding an outline. For this nal layer, Healy uses coloured pencils alone, and
does not blend with a stump.

06. Find the right paper texture

A rough tooth will grip the pigment [Image: Jennifer Healy]

The surface texture you're working on will make a big di erence to the e ects
you can create. This is referred to as the grain or 'tooth' of the paper. A rough
tooth is more visible, and the ridges will grip the colour from your pencils.

With a smooth tooth, the ridges are very ne, and there's less grip. Healy nds
this kind of paper provides an easier surface for blending coloured pencils,
although she warns that it's also easy to run the colour o the surface.

07. Start lightly and build from there

Use light lines to explore and dark lines to commit [Image: Bobby Chiu]

"When I start drawing, I plan and explore using loose lines, and avoid committing
too early with hard, dark lines," says Chiu. "As I progress my lines will change, so
checking and rechecking my work is vital. I darken my lines and add details at
the end. I don't focus on one area for too long to prevent overdrawing."

08. Use the right eraser

There are a few di erent types of eraser, and each is suited to di erent things.
You'll de nitely need a kneaded eraser. This has a putty-like consistency (it's
sometimes called a putty eraser), and you knead it before and after use. 

"A kneaded eraser is best for lightly picking up the coloured pencil binding o
the paper. This works wonders when correcting mistakes, or if you’re
deliberately lifting colour from an area such as the eyes," says Healy. 

A gum eraser has a more solid consistency, and is better if you're trying to fully
erase a coloured-in area.

09. Unify your colours

Using coloured paper can help create cohesion in your drawings [Image: Jennifer Healy]

Having a uniform approach to colour will help bring cohesiveness to your work.
"It’s a good idea to make sure that your artwork has unifying colours," says
Healy. "This consists of a particular colour palette, mood and a way of spreading
these across the entire art piece."

She also suggests creating a harmonious base by using tinted paper or adding a
background wash of colour (in paint). "This will show through whatever you lay
down on top of it, thus giving it an appearance of cohesion. When I use coloured
pencils, I’m fond of using tinted paper produced by Kraft."

10. Check and recheck

Listen if your gut is telling you something is o [Image: Bobby Chiu]

Before you move on to stronger lines and detail work, it's essential to make sure
you have the correct form down. Chiu's advice is to check and check again. "I
have to nail down my drawing's underpinnings before I can add details. I really
avoid guessing at the details; I want to make sure things are symmetrical and
look right before putting down stronger and harder lines." 

He also suggests looking at your work in a mirror or through a camera.

Considering di erent vantage points is a great way to highlight if anything is o .
"I constantly ask myself, does this feel right? If anything seems o – even if I can't
immediately put my nger on what it is – I trust my gut and troubleshoot my
drawing before continuing."

11. Draw on your own experiences

"Dip into your experiences to add a special layer of authenticity to your piece,"
suggests Healy. "This means using something like a memory, feeling or scent
when creating your work. For example, the special feeling you experienced when
sitting down with a friend at a co ee shop, or a memory of a childhood
experience. You can be abstract or use hyperrealism. Whatever you choose
makes the piece unique to you. I’ve found that people resonate with these
pieces the most."

12. Protect your paper

Provide a solid basis by mounting your paper on a board [Image: Jennifer Healy]

This is a valuable pencil drawing technique for beginners: put a piece of paper
under my hand to avoid smudging your drawing while you're working. It seems
obvious, but it can be the downfall of a great piece of work!

Healy also prefers to mount her paper on a board, attaching it using a layer of
matte medium. This helps keep things neat, and provides a solid surface to work
on.

13. Know when to stop

Is this nished? Maybe… [Image: Bobby Chiu]

The majority of artists have a tendency to tinker with their work – even after
they've signed their name. "I can always nd something to change if I look hard
enough, so it can be di cult to tell when a piece is truly nished," says Chiu. 

However, be wary of overworking your piece. "Eventually, I make a conscious

decision to put my drawing away and start something new," he continues.
"That's when I consider my drawing done. Well, maybe..."

14. Use contrasting concepts

Juxtaposing beauty with ugliness makes for an interesting composition [Image: Jennifer Healy]

One drawing technique Healy uses in her work is to use contrasting concepts
within a piece of work, for example, juxtaposing beauty and ugliness. "I’ll use the
beauty of colours, owers, the softness of skin or hair, and the female form. I’ll
also tend to use something that’s the opposite to all of that, such as bones,
insects, sharp teeth, or anything that may provide discomfort to the viewer," she
elaborates. "Somehow this provides an interesting concept to a piece. Especially
when the ‘ugly’ parts are harder to spot at rst. To me this is a very stark
representation of what life is like."

15. Try combining pencils with watercolour

Experiment with combining di erent media to create new e ects [Image: Jennifer Healy]

While pencils on their own can be used to create a wealth of di erent e ects, it
can be interesting to combine them with other media. For example, in her work,
Healy likes to combine watercolour and coloured pencils. It's important to start
with watercolour and then layer coloured pencils on top, she explains, because
pencils can create a waxy surface that repels liquid, and prevents the
watercolour from soaking into the paper. 

"This is a fun technique to test out," she says. "Both mediums have unique
qualities and textures. Combining the two elements creates a medium all of its
own."

16. Break out of your comfort zone

Sometimes it's good to ignore the rules [Image: Jennifer Healy]

While these pencil drawing techniques should help you understand the
essentials of the medium, sometimes you need to throw the rules out of the
window and nd what works for you. "There’s nothing wrong with stepping
outside of the box if it means achieving the e ect you want," says Healy. "Trial
and error will occur when you step outside of that box. But don’t be intimidated!
The process is entirely fun."

This advice comes from ImagineFX, the world's best-selling magazine for digital
artists. Subscribe here.

Today’s top prices on the best pencils for sketching ?

BIC Conte
colouring pencils $11.58 VIEW
set of 24
See all prices

LYRA Rembrandt
Art Design
$11.11 VIEW
drawing pencils
set of 12
See all prices

Palomino
Blackwing pencils $24.95 VIEW
set of 12
See all prices

We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices

VIEW ALL DEALS

Related articles:

How to master colour theory

Get started with ink drawing
How to draw a rose

Newsletter sign up

We’d love to stay in touch, sign up for the ImagineFX team to contact you
with great news, content and o ers.

Your email address

At Future we have many other great brands you might like - are you happy for us to
contact you with news and o ers from our other brands?
Yes No

We also work with some great partners - are you happy for us to mail you from time to
time on behalf of these partners?
Yes No

SIGN ME UP

SEE MORE ART ARTICLES 

TOPICS

ART ILLUSTRATION TUTORIAL SKETCHES ART

RELATED ARTICLES

The best cheap Amazon Prime

TV deals at Day 2019: get the
Walmart in July best Prime Day
2019 deals for creatives

The best antivirus The best

software in 2019 Microsoft Surface
deals in July 2019

Creative Bloq is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

About us Terms and conditions Privacy policy Cookies policy Advertise with us

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number
2008885.