2 best drawing pencils

Drawing pencils are essential tools for artists, designers, and anyone engaged in various forms of drawing, sketching, and illustrating. These pencils come in a variety of types, each with unique characteristics to suit different artistic needs. Here's what you need to know about drawing pencils:

  1. Types of Drawing Pencils:

    • Graphite Pencils: These are the most common type of drawing pencil. They come in different grades of hardness (H), softness (B), and everything in between. H pencils (e.g., 2H, 4H) are harder and produce lighter lines, while B pencils (e.g., 2B, 4B) are softer and create darker, smudgier lines. Artists often use a range of grades for shading and detailing.
    • Charcoal Pencils: Charcoal pencils contain compressed charcoal and are known for producing rich, dark lines. They are often used for expressive and bold drawings and are available in different hardness levels.
    • Colored Pencils: These are wax-based or oil-based pencils that come in various colors. They are popular for adding color to drawings and illustrations. Colored pencils are versatile and can be blended to create a wide range of hues.
    • Watercolor Pencils: Watercolor pencils are colored pencils that can be blended with water to create a watercolor effect. They are ideal for creating detailed and vibrant watercolor-style drawings.
    • Mechanical Pencils: Mechanical pencils use a thin lead that is advanced mechanically. They are often preferred for technical drawings, precise lines, and detailed work because they maintain a consistent line width.
  2. Lead Size: Drawing pencils come in different lead diameters, with 0.5mm and 0.7mm being common sizes for mechanical pencils. Traditional graphite pencils have varying lead sizes, with thicker leads typically used for shading and thinner leads for fine details.

  3. Erasability: Many drawing pencils, especially graphite pencils, are designed for easy erasing. Artists often use kneaded erasers or vinyl erasers to correct and refine their work without damaging the paper.

  4. Quality and Brands: High-quality drawing pencils are made by reputable brands known for their consistency and performance. Brands like Faber-Castell, Staedtler, Derwent, and Prismacolor are well-regarded in the art community.

  5. Blending and Shading: Artists often use blending tools such as blending stumps, tortillons, or their fingers to smudge and blend pencil marks for smooth shading and transitions.

  6. Paper Selection: The type of paper used with drawing pencils can significantly affect the outcome. Heavyweight, textured paper is often preferred for pencil drawings as it can hold multiple layers of pencil and texture.

  7. Fixatives: To preserve pencil drawings and prevent smudging, artists can use fixative sprays that create a protective layer over the artwork.

  8. Artistic Techniques: Artists employ various techniques when using drawing pencils, including hatching (parallel lines), cross-hatching (intersecting lines), stippling (dots), and blending to achieve desired textures and effects.

In summary, drawing pencils are versatile tools used by artists and creative individuals for various forms of drawing and illustration. The choice of pencil type, lead hardness, and other factors depends on the artist's preferences and the specific artistic goals.These pencils offer a wide range of possibilities for creating detailed, expressive, and colorful artwork.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best drawing pencils on the market
  

Amazon Basics Sketch and Drawing Art Pencil Kit - 17-Piece Set

Amazon Basics

Based on 11 reviews Check latest price

Product description

An Amazon Brand

  • All-in-one drawing and sketch kit for artists of all skill levels
  • Includes a variety of pencils, sketch and charcoal sticks, erasers and sharpeners
  • Create dynamic works of art or simply sketch out ideas
  • Ideal who want to experiment with or combine different drawing techniques
  • High grade quality at a great price
  • Conforms to ASTM D4236

User questions & answers

Question: what is the white square for
Answer: Hello, The size of the sketch book is 8.3x 11.7 (A4). One set includes 2 x 50 Page Drawing Pads and 72 watercolor pencils in a tin box.
Question: what is that grey square thingy
Answer: The tin box says made in China.
Question: Is there a sharpner for the Blending Stump
Answer: Hello, Thank you for your question!Yes, you can draw lightly then color it in with water. When you wet the pencils tip, it gets more intense. Such pretty colors though! If you have any other problems,please do not hesitate to contact us! Sincerely Cool Bank Service
Question: what is this white sketch stick? is it the white double tipped tampon looking thing? and if so what does it do specifically
Answer: Hello, Thank you for your question! They are very smooth, not hard at all!The success you have as far as painting with them will depend on your paper of course,and these pencils fill in nicely for different color choices and workability. You can use them wet or dry as both work well. Another thing is they don't change color when activated with water. What you put down is what you will get. If you put down a light coat of color that is what you will get, a heavier coat (thus darker) is what you will get. Hope it will helpful to you! Sincerely Cool Bank Service

Product features

Quality Art Supplies for Less

Great for artists of all skill levels, this dynamic kit allows users to experiment with different types of drawing tools without breaking the bank.

User-Friendly Assortment

The all-in-one kit provides not only quality drawing instruments, but also everything needed to maintain and use them, like sharpeners and erasers.

Draw Like a Pro

Practice with lighter-weight graphite for fine lines, create a richer pigment with charcoal pencils, shade with the charcoal sticks, and more.

Includes 17 Pieces

The kit includes 6 graphite pencils, 3 charcoal pencils, 1 sketch stick, 4 charcoal sticks, 2 sharpeners, and 2 erasers (17 pieces total).

Nicpro 6PCS Art Mechanical Pencils Set, 3 PCS Metal Drafting Pencil 0.5 mm & 0.7 mm & 0.9 mm and 3 PCS 2mm Graphite Lead Holder (2B HB 2H) For Writing,Sketching Drawing,With 12 Tubes Lead Refills

Nicpro

Based on 523 reviews Check latest price
  • Come with 6 PCS drafting pencils and 12 tubes of lead refill in 0.5 mm & 0.7mm & 0.9mm & 2.0 mm, 3 pcs erasers , a storage case.
  • The non-slip Comfort Grip of these drafting pencils making them super easy and fun to use by any beginner, child or adult
  • Provides ideal weight balance for fatigue-free writing and drawing. Brings you more effective and high quality tasks.
  • There is a sharpener in the cap of 2.0 mm mechanical pencil, you can sharpen the lead refills easily when it is not easy to write
  • Ideals for artists, professionals, teachers and students alike. Perfect for writing, draft, drawing, sketch.

User questions & answers

Question: Are the pencils supposed to say NicPro 0.5,0.7,0.9 on the pencil? Because mine don’t
Answer: Yes.I have brushes,watercolor pencils in mine.
Question: Are these made in the USA
Answer: Small markers like Bics and Sharpies fit, but big ones like Copics & Spectrum Noir's do not. I use them for my gel pens.

Product features

Easy replace refills

  • 1.pencil. Press the top of button and make it no sprang back. Inset this refill and adjust the refill as a safest length
  • 2.Please kindly be noted that the refills you should make it shorter as you could write. It will as larger as great assistance for protection for your refill being broken. Package Included

  • 3 x Mechanical Pencils 0.5-0.7-0.9mm leads
  • 3 x Graphite Lead Holders 2B-HB-2H pencils
  • 6 x Lead Refills (24 refills for each 0.5-0.7-0.9 mm)
  • 6 x Graphite Lead Refills (12 refills for each 2B-HB-2H pencil)
  • 3 x Erasers (5x2x1 cm)

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