Photo:Mounzer AwadThis post may contain affiliate links.
If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission.
kindly readour disclosurefor more info.
Photo:Mounzer AwadThis post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please readour disclosurefor more info.
In most creative fields, it’s impossible to get away from one important toola pencil.
Do you use dark, thick lines in your sketches or prefer lighter, thinner strokes?
Understanding yourpersonal artistic styleand needs will help you narrow down the selection when searching for a good drawing pencil.
Photo:Jess Watters
Keep in mind that most artists use more than one jot down of pencil.
In fact, many manufacturers sell drawing pencil sets that come with a selection of graphite pencils indifferent grades.
This will allow you to switch between tools depending on the requirements of a particular image.
Photo:smbhax
Whereas colored pencils are made with wax and pigment, graphite pencils are a mixture of graphite and clay.
Generally, the more clay in the pencil, the harder the penciland lighter the strokewill be.
Most manufacturers use theHB scale, where H stands for hardness and B for blackness.
Photo:Igor Ovsyannykov
A standard number 2 pencil corresponds to HB on this scale.
This allows for detailed work, as well as shading.
And the hexagonal shape makes them easy to grip.
Derwent| $17.21
It comes with seven graphite drawing pencils of different grades, as well as four woodless graphite pencils.
All told, the drawing kit is a great way to start sketching seriously.
TheirMars Lumographis known for its consistency and lack of breakage, making them great for detailed work.
Prismacolor| $19.99
They also erase cleanly, meaning you won’t be left with stray smudges on the paper.
I even give them away at my workshops.
One reviewer writes, The finest pencils for drawing.
Staedtler| $14.15
High-quality graphite that is smooth and easy to blend.
A wide variety of hardness for all your artwork needs.
Known for their consistency and durability, they sharpen easily and don’t often break.
Lyra| $20.19
Plus, Faber-Castell’s handy tin makes the pencils highly portable.
It’s no wonder they are an artist’s favorite, no matter the style or skill level.
TheMono pencilis known to run a bit dark and is virtually smudge-proof.
Faber-Castell| $11.44
While this makes them fragile, it also has some advantages.
Artists love them for blending and smudging, particularly when creating shadows.
They also produce nice smooth lines without a lot of texture.
Tombow| $16.98
The set contains HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencils.
It is easily blendable and soft, and while it won’t create jet-black linesit gets close for graphite.
This gift set will get you 15 graphic pencils, 3 water-soluble graphite pencils, plus accessories.
Creatacolor| $26.53
We’ve selected a few to help you get started.
It includes an automatic brake to prevent oversharpening, too.
Refillable and made from plastic or metal, these utensils are ideal for those who prefer long-lasting tools.
Koh-I-Noor| $18.21
Depending on the size of lead you choose (0.7, 0.5, etc.
), mechanical pencils might be the better choice for creating fine details in your artwork.
Rubber dots along the triangular barrel make it extremely comfortable and easy to grip.
General Pencil| $4.50
It also comes with a twist-out eraser and is pre-loaded with lead.
Reviewers talk about these pencils as keepsakes that they use for years and only replace when necessary.
The holder itself is light, with a nice weight given by the metal grip.
Prismacolor| $7.34
Despite what you might expect the metal diamond grip is actually very comfortable and pretty smooth.
It is inlaid with soft pads that will feel good on your fingers.
Beyond that, the pencil features a dual retractor to both advance and retract your lead with ease.
Arteza| $15.99
Looking for more drawing tips?
Blackwing| $30
Caran D’ache| $240.88
Photo: londondeposit/DepositPhotos
DUX| $5.99
Blackwing| $15
Stanley Bostitch| $66.94
Photo:Stock Photosfrom Auttapon Jantham/Shutterstock
rOtring| $6.67
Faber-Castell| $18.94
Staedtler| $11.10
Pentel| $10.88
