Types of Pencils
When you think of Pencils you probably picture the orange number two pencils you used in math and grade school. Or, you might think of the pack of colored pencils you used when you colored as a kid. There are actually more than just colored pencils and regular pencils.
As simple as a pencil sounds, there are many kinds that can seem complicated. Here we will discuss the different types of drawing pencils. They come in different styles and are used for different drawing techniques.
There are two general types of pencil, soft and hard. This refers to the softness or hardness of the graphite in the pencil. Each is used for different techniques in drawing. You may even prefer to use one type more over the others.
Hard Pencils
Hard pencils have harder graphite, as expected by the name, and draw thinner and lighter grayish lines. You can use them for light drawing and outlining to start a sketch. You can also use hard pencils lightly on canvas before painting because it doesn’t leave dark marks.
You shouldn’t press too hard with hard pencils because it will leave marks in your pencils. Pressing hard and shading should be saved more for soft pencils.
Hard pencils are designated by the letter H. It is preceded by a number that stands for the exact hardness of the pencil. For example, there are 3H, 4H, 5H, etc. pencils available starting at 0H. The higher the number is, the harder the pencil is.
Soft Pencils
Soft pencils are darker and thicker because the graphite has more oil, is softer, and breaks away more easily. Soft pencils are used for shading and darker lines. To visualize how a soft pencil works, think of chalk. It is soft and comes on thick. This is how a soft pencil works.
Soft pencils are designated by the letter B. Soft B pencils also have numbers such as 2B, 3B, 4B, etc. The higher the number the softer and darker the pencil is. Soft pencils are best used for shading. After sketching lightly with an H pencil, you can use different gradations of B pencils to shade and put life into your drawing.
The Number 2 Pencil
You are probably familiar with the standard number 2 pencil. This is a very basic pencil, right in the middle of the graphite textures. It is an HB. You may find that this pencil is all you need. It is right in between so it has characteristics of both types of pencils which allow versatility in just one pencil.
If you are just doing simple sketches or traveling with a sketchbook, a number 2 pencil is great. If you want to explore more with your drawing and practice different techniques, you may want to experiment with the different types available to you.
Regular graphite pencils or mechanical pencils?
Art pencils are available as both regular pencils and mechanical pencils. Use whichever you prefer. If you are used to regular pencils, use them. If you want to try mechanical pencils, pick one up and see if it works for you. There is no rule stating that you have to use one over the other.
Where to buy drawing pencils
You can buy drawing pencils at an art store, or if you want to get really good quality pencils at a good price, you might want to try MisterArt.com: The world’s largest online discount art & craft supply store. They have a wide variety of drawing pencils including mechanical pencils from many quality brands including Conte, Dixon, Faber Castell, and many more.
Here are a few of the best artist pencils:
Cretacolor Artists’ Pencils pencils sanguine box of 12 oily
Cretacolor Artists’ Pencils pencils sanguine box of 12 oily
