Pencil Drawing Techniques
you are moving and using a pulling technique helps to flow easier, as
seen in the diagram on the right.
The first step in this free drawing tutorial is to master basic pencil
drawing techniques and pencil strokes that every pencil artist needs in
their pencil drawing tool box.
A heavy outline would be used in
the final instances of each element,
once you are happy with your work
as heavy lines adding more lead or graphite into the paper makes
total erasing near impossible.
This tutorial should take less than half hour, but take as much time as
you need to get to grips with the different pencil strokes. Do it until you
can do every stroke without too much premeditation, and you can
understand where each stroke can be useful throughout the pencil
portrait process.
It might be useful further down the line if you can decide on a
technique you prefer now, also. This means you can master that
one stroke and execute it in more instances.
For example, I hardly ever use ‘cross-hatching’ in pencil drawing. I
personally just prefer using the ‘hatching’ or a ‘back and
forth’ technique, and feel I get better results from this with a pencil. I
am more comfortable with this technique, which in turn gives me the
confidence to execute it in instances whereby maybe another artist
will frown upon it, and insist on using ‘cross-hatching’.
There is no right or wrong. Just your own preference.
The Different Pencil Art Techniques
For this you will need;
o A Pencil
o A Sheet of paper
1.) The Outline. This pencil technique is the most basic of all, and
can be referred to as a ‘ light outline’ or a ‘heavy outline’.
You would use a light outline to
create your guidelines and subject
guide outlines, and can be drawn
both with a ruler and free-hand.
To create a light outline, simply reduce
any pressure downwards onto the paper
and move in a slow, flowing motion. I find
holding the pencil at an acute angle with
the top of the pencil facing the direction
Heavy outlines are usually drawn by free hand, and can be
created holding the pencil closer to the nib to
have better control and increasing the
pressure to the desired shade instead as
seen in the diagram on the right. You may
also find it easier to add heavy outlines in
small pencil strokes to avoid mistakes.
Tip; Holding your pencil closer to the nib
gives you more control over the accuracy
of your lines. Holding your pencil too close to the nib however,
can obstruct your view.
Practice drawing straight light and heavy lines freehand, and work out
how you are most comfortable holding your pencil. The best position
will be the one which creates the straightest line.
2.) Hatching
The Hatching pencil technique is simply
marking out small lines bunched together to
create fill color from further away.
This technique is a shading technique, and
like outlines can be light or heavy by
reducing or adding pressure.
3.) Cross-Hatching
The same method of hatching above,
except the process is repeated in the
opposite direction in a second layer on top
of the first layer.
This technique is a shading technique, and
is a good way of adding darker shades to your pencil portrait, as
multiple layers can be added. I don’t recommend this method if you
wish to blend the graphite.
4.) Stipping
The Stipping pencil drawing technique uses
the same principle as hatching, but the lines
are very small, similar to tiny dashes.
This technique is a shading technique, but for
smaller areas such as iris’ of the eyes, or
even designer stubble facial hair.
5.) Back and Forth Stroke
The Back and Forth pencil drawing
technique is probably the first shading
technique all of us learned when we
youngsters.
It is simply moving the pencil in a back
and forth motion at a more rapid speed
all towards the same direction.
Again, you can alternate the pressure to create lighter and heavier
pencil shades. This technique is useful near the outline of the subject,
to ensure the fill shade stays within the correct area.
6.) Scumbling
Finally, the Scumbling pencil drawing
technique. This technique is moving the
pencil in small, circular motions keeping
them all very compact.
This technique is brilliant for keeping the
shading tight, and blends very well. This is
a favourite of mine as I like to keep the
graphite soft on the canvas, and blend the tones tightly to create a
smoother texture.