| |
By KERTO |
|
_________________________ |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
_________________________ |
|
|
|
A couple of examples of my pencil drawings |
|
|
David Cook,
American Idol
|
|
|
Pencil drawing of a
Gypsum form of a leaf |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
FREE drawing lesson Nr.1 |
|
|
Introduction
Well make yourself comfortable as you might find you'd like to read this for a while as I will make sure this is interesting enough to keep you occupied for a while....so you just might want to get yourself a cuppa before we start. |
Sharpening your pencils
|
|
|
Right, so where do we start, as the subject is so vast there really isn't an end to it! But why not start from the beginning? I always think it's best to make yourself familiar with the basic stuff first before moving to advanced techniques. Would you agree? And as basic and as childish as it might sound, the first thing to learn abut drawing 'properly' is to learn what types of pencils to use and how to sharpen them! I've come across this problem so often I thought I'd point it out how important it is to make sure you use the right pencil for what you are trying to achieve and then sharpen it properly.
Too often I see someone trying to get a result with a blunt pencil, which has been 'sharpened' with ten year old blunt most basic schoolchildren's pencil sharpener! No mo noooo! What you need is a super sharp knife which you can brake the end off as it loses it's sharpness... Hold the pencil in your left hand, point away from your body. Guide the knife (without changing the angle of the blade - try to hold it at about 30 degrees angle to achieve the optimal point) with a thumb on the back of it and shave the wood away to reveal the lead, then shape the lead to a good working length (please see the illustration below). |
|
|
|
|
The picture on the right with 5 'sharpened' pencils show very well how not to do the job! They will go blunt far too quickly as the point is not long enough. If you compare the tips with the picture on its right, you will notice a big difference! As when you're in the middle of drawing something, then the last thing you want to do is having to sharpen your pencil every couple of minutes...and if you don't your drawing will end up like a grey smudge!
After you've managed to get the long tip to your pencil, for the final finishing touches you will need a scrap piece of paper, balance the tip on it's side and make as wide a line onto a paper as possible. (see image below) This way you make sure the tip of the pencil is as sharp as a pin and will enable you to draw the finest lines. |
|
|
Example of a correctly sharpened pencil |
Now you might ask, why do I need such fine lines? Well there is no straight answer to that really, but if you want your drawing to look professional, you'll have to apply more than one line thickness in any one picture! The more variety in your line width, the more 3D effect you'll get out of your drawing and the more 'real' it looks! And if you think I am a bit too pencatty, well perhaps I am, but that's how I was taught and that's how I get the results I want. So now as we've crossed this little, shall we move onto the next step? |
|
Types of pencils
-
HB is a good all-purpose pencil.
-
6H pencil is very hard; it makes a faint line, but retains its point well. Used for drafting, layout, precision work. (Remember: H is for Hard)
-
6B is very soft; makes a thick, black line. Used for sketching, shading, outlining. Will not retain its point, but can be sharpened to make a variety of lines. Softer pencils up to 9B are available from art suppliers. (Remember - B is for Black)
-
3B is good for general sketching.
-
Graphite sticks are thick pencils without the wood, and are graded in the same way as pencils. They are probably easier to use, not requiring sharpening so often. Extra-thick graphite sticks are also available.
NB! Take care not to drop pencils on a hard surface; this will shatter the lead, making the pencil useless. |
Types of erasers
Kneadable (putty) Eraser can be rolled or kneaded to shape to lift off very precise areas of pencil. Use a dabbing or rolling motion rather than rubbing, which will smudge. After long use the eraser will no longer work; it must then be discarded.
Erasers Any good-quality pencil eraser will do to erase pencil drawings, but over-use of an eraser is not encouraged. It is better to work over the drawing until the lines are right then re-draw it. Using an eraser may damage the surface of the paper, leaving it rough and spoiling the effect of the finished work. This is a serious problem if watercolour washes are to be used on the page. Work up your drawing on separate paper then trace the finished design onto watercolour paper. |
|
|
Site design and content Copyright © KERTO 2003-2010. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
