Drawing Pencils(101)

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They say that the pen is mightier than the sword, but we reckon the pencil is even mightier than that!

 Whether you’re using them for thumbnail sketches, mockups, or prep-work for painting, or for producing finished pieces, pencils are one of the most essential tools in your artistic arsenal. Perfect for getting your ideas down on paper quickly, but just as suited to producing highly detailed finished sketches, drawing pencils are the versatile medium that’s suited to artists of all skill levels. In fact, we recommend that every artist have at least one set of high-quality pencils on-hand at all times.

But not all pencils are created equal, and with just about as many pencils available as there are stars in the sky, choosing the right one for your needs can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide to help get you started with your drawing supplies.

 What is the Difference Between ‘Normal’ Coloured Pencils and Artist Quality Coloured Pencils?

All coloured pencils typically consist of pigment and a binder which holds it together. But despite a fairly basic make-up, the difference between pencil qualities can be vast.

At its core, the difference between artist quality and regular or student-grade pencils is in the pigments. The higher the quality of the pencil, the more pigment and the less binder it will contain. This means that artist-quality pencils will allow you to achieve richer, purer, and more intense marks with less pressure than student-quality ones. Putting too much pressure on your pencil can lead to ‘scarring’ of the paper, so the less pressure you need to use, the easier it is on your hand, and the better you can preserve the quality of your drawing surface. Pigments are also where the cost of pencils come in, so an artist-grade pencil will usually cost more than a student-grade one.

Artist-quality pencils also tend to be easier to blend and are usually more lightfast for longer-lasting drawings.

Depending on the skill level of the artist, and the effects you’re trying to achieve, a student-quality pencil may be all you need. For example, we wouldn’t suggest purchasing a set of artist-grade pencils for a child just learning to hold their first pencil. A less expensive, student-grade set should be more than enough to get your child started.

Pencil Packs for Kids

Children aren’t known for their gentleness, so when it comes to buying a pencil pack for kids, you may want to look into something a little more robust. Giant pencils for kids are a great option, as they’re usually easier to grip, and come with a thicker lead that makes them resistant to breakage (even if they get jostled around in a pencil case). This makes them ideal for heavy-handed kids, as well as for use as school pencils.

Take a look at this Jumbo Coloured Pencil Set for Kids.

Alternatively, for the artist-in-training who’s just learning to hold their first pencil, we recommend a large, triangular-shaped pencil. The unique shape of these pencils gives kids a better grip, while the thicker lead makes them harder to break if your child tends to press down hard.

Artist Pencils and Sets

Finding the right artist pencil will depend on your needs. If you’re working in black and grey, for example, Eraldo di Paolo pencils are a great place to start. We’d recommend purchasing an artist’s graphite pencil set to ensure that you have all the hardness grades you need. Remember, the hardness or softness of your pencil will determine the kinds of lines you can produce. For example, harder pencils are often used to create lighter and more precise lines, making them great for detail-work.

If you’re looking for high quality coloured pencils, Faber Castell is a particularly popular option. We adore this gorgeous set of 120 Faber Castell Pencils, which will give you all the colours you need to create your next sketched masterpiece.

The Art Studio also offers a generous range of premium coloured pencil sets, as well as a lovely sketching pencil set. Alternatively, you can combine the two into one convenient set with the Art Studio Sketch and Draw Set which contains pretty much everything you need to get started… and then some!

Things to Know About Artist Charcoal Pencils and Sticks

If you’re looking for something a little different, and perhaps wish to experiment with more expressive linework, charcoal pencils are a great choice.

Producing darker lines than a graphite pencil, charcoal pencils tend towards a matte black finish (compared to the shiny and more grey colouring of graphite pencils). Easy to blend and with a slightly crumbly texture that makes them more suited to dramatic and expressive work and preliminary sketches, charcoal pencils may be more suited to older and more experienced sketchers, as they require a little more skill to use.

Charcoal pencils are a popular option for artists on the go, as they’re a little harder to break in-transit, and usually come with a wooden exterior that keeps your hands relatively clean. However, you can also purchase charcoal or compressed charcoal sticks, both of which can be used from all sides.

Try your hand at all three with this Mixed Media Charcoal Set!

Watercolour Pencils

A unique pencil that offers the expressiveness of watercolour paints, and the ease of transport and enhanced control of pencils, watercolour pencils are a very popular medium that gives you the best of both worlds!

A highly versatile medium, these pencils are suitable for use as a standard colouring pencil. However, their incredible artistic properties really shine when you add water. Achieving a similar effect to standard watercolour paint, adding water allows the pigment to ‘flow’ over the paper for greater mixing and spreading capabilities. Remember, water can crinkle and warp paper, so you’re better off working on watercolour paper to maintain the integrity of your drawing surface.

Faber Castell offer a generous variety of high quality watercolour pencils, as does The Art Studio. We’ve also received some great feedback about Paper Mill’s range of premium watercolour pencils.

 How to Use Watercolour Pencils

Depending on the effect you’re trying to achieve, there are a range of techniques for using watercolour pencils. As discussed, you can simply use these pencils as standard colouring pencils, however you can have a lot of fun by experimenting with water.

 A popular method of working with watercolour pencils is to colour your image as you would using standard pencils. You can then ‘activate’ the colours by adding water with a brush. Alternatively, you can dip the tip of your pencil directly into water to create a slightly more ‘painted’ and richer line. The best effects come from experimentation, so you might want to play around with different techniques.  

Artist Pens and Brush Pens

Artist pens and brush pens are a more permanent alternative to standard pencils. Creating rich and dark lines, artist and brush pens are a popular option amongst graphic artists, illustrators, architects, designers, cartoonists, and comic book artists.

These highly pigmented pens allow you to create a solid line that’s well suited to detailed work. Coming in a range of nib sizes, creating the right line simply comes down to having the right-sized pen, so you’re best to purchase an artist pen pack to add extra depth and line variation to your work. While artist pens usually come in black, you can also add coloured pens to your collection for greater artistic versatility.

Regular artist pens come fitted with a fairly standard nib for more precise lines. However, brush pens come with a semi-flexible, brush-like tip which allows you to create varying lines for more expressive artwork.

Show Us What You’ve Got!

We love seeing what incredible things our customers achieve with our sketching and drawing supplies. Don’t forget to tag us in your latest creations @riotartandcraft on Instagram so that we can see your amazing work.