| Graphite Pencils: | | | | Charcoal pencils do not glide along the paper as |
| Graphite pencils are those Yellow #2 pencils that are | | | | smoothly as graphite pencils do. Additionally it is easy |
| generally purchased in packs and used in school. | | | | to smear part of the drawing and for beginners it |
| These types of pencils are usually not recommended | | | | can be difficult to make fine lines for detailed areas. |
| for drawing as the small particles within the graphite, | | | | These types of pencils are good to use with certain |
| or lead, contain reflective particles. These particles | | | | drawing techniques and in various parts of a drawing |
| can cause your drawing to take on a glare from | | | | such as skin tones, wood, fur, bark, eyelashes, |
| certain angles or create too much of a silvery, | | | | shadows, coarse fabrics such as leather, denim or |
| un-realistic look. | | | | corduroys. |
| These types of pencils are good to use with certain | | | | Charcoal Pencils come in many forms. There are |
| drawing techniques and in various parts of a drawing, | | | | charcoal sticks, which can be quite messy but are fun |
| though they should not be used for the entire | | | | to use because you can use the edge, corner or tip |
| drawing. Areas of a drawing that are recommended | | | | of them. There are charcoal pencils encased in wood, |
| for regular graphite pencils are shading the white of | | | | which will allow you a fine point to use for your |
| an eye, drawing glass, shiny or silvery metals, smooth | | | | drawings without being so messy. Like the graphite |
| or shinier fabrics such as silk or satin. | | | | pencil, there are also various grades of pencils to use. |
| It is important to note that while your "normal" | | | | Carbon Pencils: |
| pencils contain graphite, there are also artist quality | | | | Carbon pencils are a mixture of charcoal and graphite |
| graphite pencils you can purchase which are better | | | | which produces various degrees of smooth lines and |
| for drawing than your normal pencils would be. The | | | | darkness. This type of pencil gives some of the |
| difference is the filler that is mixed with the graphite. | | | | benefits of charcoal while providing the smoothness |
| The filler and the amount that is used creates varying | | | | of graphite without the shine. Additionally, depending |
| degrees of hardness. Your common pencil will have a | | | | on the color of paper you are using carbon pencils |
| degree of hardness that is in the middle of the scale, | | | | can provide almost a sepia colored tone to them. It is |
| while artist pencils will allow you to choose from a | | | | important to note however, that carbon pencils can |
| wide range of fillers. | | | | be a very unforgiving medium to work with. Those |
| Drawing Pencil Grades | | | | new to drawing may find they have the most |
| Extremely hard - 7H to 9H | | | | difficulty with these types of drawing tools. These |
| Very hard - 4H to 6H | | | | pencils do not have various degrees of tone to them |
| Hard - 3H to 4H | | | | so you will get a very rich, dark black mark with |
| Medium hard - H to 2H | | | | them. Additionally, graphite is pretty easy to erase, |
| Medium - HB to F | | | | charcoal is a little more difficult but can also be |
| Medium Soft - B to 2B | | | | erased, but carbon pencils will not erase. You want to |
| Soft - 3B to 4B | | | | be sure of your drawing prior to using carbon. |
| Very soft - 4B to 6B | | | | Overall, if you are a serious drawer or wanting to get |
| Extremely soft - 7B to 9B | | | | into this art form seriously, you should have a good |
| Charcoal Pencils: | | | | collection of each type of pencil available for your |
| Drawings done with charcoal pencils will usually appear | | | | use and read up on the various drawing tips and |
| to have more depth than a drawing with graphite. | | | | advice available. Many people make the mistake of |
| Charcoal pencils produce deeper, darker lines because | | | | thinking that a drawing must be done using one type |
| the particles within the pencil are irregular and do not | | | | of pencil only, when some of the best drawings use |
| reflect light well. If you are new to drawing with | | | | each type of pencil to produce various effects. |
| charcoal, you may find this challenging at first. | | | | |