Pencil Drawings
Drawing is a wonderful art form in itself, but it is also an excellent exercise for other forms of art, like painting. Drawing is a physical activity, and any activity done with a lot of stress produces unwanted result, or can cause physical damage to the body. Drawing does not have to be a very expensive art form. You can get started with a pencil and paper if you so desire, but there are certain supplies that will produce better results. You can really get started with a beginner pencil set and some newsprint paper.
Graphite pencils - Graphite pencils range in hardness and are labeled from 9H to 9B. The H pencils are the hardest. The higher the number in front of the H the lighter the mark. The B pencils are softest. The higher the number in front of the B the darker the mark. The H pencils are generally used for detailed lines where the B pencils will produce rich dark lines great for bold expressive drawings.
Charcoal Pencils - Charcoal pencils also come in a range of hardness and are labeled either from H to B like graphite, or simply as "soft", "medium" or "hard". They have a different feel to them and produce a rich dark line. Charcoal pencils tend to wear pretty fast because of their softness.
Eraser Pencil - These are wonderful for getting into small areas of your drawings. They can also be sharpened like ordinary pencils.
Basic Drawing Techniques:
• There are two basic ways to approach a drawing: linear and tonal. The linear approach to a drawing focuses on line and outlines of shapes. In tonal drawing, you make use of gradations to indicate the various planes of your subject.
• Avoid looking at your drawing too often. Make sure you are constantly focusing on the subject and only glancing at your drawing. Focus on the subject and draw what you see.
• Never throw out any of your drawings. Keep a neat portfolio of everything you draw. This is an excellent way to see your progress over time.
• Holding the pencil - Hold your pencil in a way that is most comfortable for you. Some hold the pencil just as you would hold a pen or pencil if you were writing. Don’t hold the pencil too tightly.