Drawing pencils? They're basically graphite and clay sticks wrapped in wood (or plastic). You can use them to sketch, shade, outline, you name it. The amount of graphite compared to clay is what decides if the pencil makes light or dark marks, or if it's hard or soft.
✏️ 2. Pencil Grades: The Lowdown
There are two main ways to grade how hard a pencil is:
Grade | What It's Like | How Dark? | What to Use It For
------- | -------- | -------- | --------
9H → H | Hard | Very light | Tech drawings, thin lines
F | Fine point | Medium-light | A bit harder than HB
HB | Middle of the road | Neutral | Good for everything
B → 9B | Soft | Dark | Shading, sketching
Quick Tip:
H means Hard – so it makes lighter marks.
B means Black – softer, darker marks.
Bigger numbers mean more! (9H is super light, 9B is super dark)
⚖️ 3. What's Inside?
The lead part has:
Graphite → This gives you the black/gray color.
Clay → The clay makes it hard or soft.
Wax or oil → This makes it smooth.
The wood? Usually cedar or something similar. Easy to sharpen and holds the lead tight.
🧠 4. Pencil Types
✏️ a. Graphite Pencils
The most common. You can find them in every grade from 9H to 9B. Sketching, lines, shading – it does it all.
🖤 b. Charcoal Pencils
Made from charcoal, not graphite.
Real dark, matte
Smudges real easy
Great for bold drawings, portraits, and super dark shadows.
🎨 c. Colored Pencils
Colored stuff mixed with wax or oil.
Wax ones are soft and blend nicely.
Oil ones give you more control, less of that waxy stuff on top.
🪶 d. Water-Soluble Pencils
The color washes off when you add water, so you get a watercolor effect. Works dry or with a wet brush.
✍️ e. Mechanical Pencils
Use those thin little graphite sticks (0.3 mm – 0.9 mm).
No need to sharpen
Perfect for details or drafts
🔘 f. Woodless Pencils
All graphite, covered in a shiny coat.
Tons of different shades possible
Good for big areas of shading
🖤 5. Pencil Tricks
Trick | How It Works | What to Use It For
------- | -------- | --------
Hatching | Lines all going the same way | Showing shadows
Cross-hatching | Lines that cross each other | Making things look darker
Stippling | Little tiny dots | Making textures
Blending | Smudging with your finger | Smooth shadows
Scumbling | Little circles | Making things look even
Lifting | Erasing parts | Making highlights
✂️ 6. Stuff You Might Need
Sharpener → Get one that makes the point you like.
Eraser → Get a normal one, a squishy one, or a pencil eraser for tiny spots.
Blending stump → A paper stick for smooth shadows.
Fixative spray → Stops your drawing from smudging.
Sandpaper block → Cleans up pencil points and blending tools.
🎯 7. Which Pencil Should You Grab?
If you want to... | Try these pencils
------- | --------
Sketch lightly | 2H – HB
Draw in general | HB – 2B
Shade | 2B – 6B
Make super dark shadows | 6B – 9B
Do tech drawings | 4H – H
🧰 8. Taking Care of Your Pencils
Keep them dry, store them flat.
Don't press too hard (the lead can break).
Use sandpaper to get the tip just right.
Sharpen soft leads slow (like 4B and higher).
🧩 9. What Else to Consider?
Pencils from recycled stuff: Good for the planet.
Clutch pencils: You can refill them, cool for drawing outside.
Make sure the graphite isn't toxic: Good if you draw a lot.
🧑🎨 10. Tips and Tricks
Try all the pencils to see what they do.
Make a chart of light to dark.
Mix different pencils (like graphite and charcoal) for cool effects.
Keep some pencils for outlines, others for shading.
Use good paper – smooth for lines, rough for shading.
✏️ 2. Pencil Grades: The Lowdown
There are two main ways to grade how hard a pencil is:
Grade | What It's Like | How Dark? | What to Use It For
------- | -------- | -------- | --------
9H → H | Hard | Very light | Tech drawings, thin lines
F | Fine point | Medium-light | A bit harder than HB
HB | Middle of the road | Neutral | Good for everything
B → 9B | Soft | Dark | Shading, sketching
Quick Tip:
H means Hard – so it makes lighter marks.
B means Black – softer, darker marks.
Bigger numbers mean more! (9H is super light, 9B is super dark)
⚖️ 3. What's Inside?
The lead part has:
Graphite → This gives you the black/gray color.
Clay → The clay makes it hard or soft.
Wax or oil → This makes it smooth.
The wood? Usually cedar or something similar. Easy to sharpen and holds the lead tight.
🧠 4. Pencil Types
✏️ a. Graphite Pencils
The most common. You can find them in every grade from 9H to 9B. Sketching, lines, shading – it does it all.
🖤 b. Charcoal Pencils
Made from charcoal, not graphite.
Real dark, matte
Smudges real easy
Great for bold drawings, portraits, and super dark shadows.
🎨 c. Colored Pencils
Colored stuff mixed with wax or oil.
Wax ones are soft and blend nicely.
Oil ones give you more control, less of that waxy stuff on top.
🪶 d. Water-Soluble Pencils
The color washes off when you add water, so you get a watercolor effect. Works dry or with a wet brush.
✍️ e. Mechanical Pencils
Use those thin little graphite sticks (0.3 mm – 0.9 mm).
No need to sharpen
Perfect for details or drafts
🔘 f. Woodless Pencils
All graphite, covered in a shiny coat.
Tons of different shades possible
Good for big areas of shading
🖤 5. Pencil Tricks
Trick | How It Works | What to Use It For
------- | -------- | --------
Hatching | Lines all going the same way | Showing shadows
Cross-hatching | Lines that cross each other | Making things look darker
Stippling | Little tiny dots | Making textures
Blending | Smudging with your finger | Smooth shadows
Scumbling | Little circles | Making things look even
Lifting | Erasing parts | Making highlights
✂️ 6. Stuff You Might Need
Sharpener → Get one that makes the point you like.
Eraser → Get a normal one, a squishy one, or a pencil eraser for tiny spots.
Blending stump → A paper stick for smooth shadows.
Fixative spray → Stops your drawing from smudging.
Sandpaper block → Cleans up pencil points and blending tools.
🎯 7. Which Pencil Should You Grab?
If you want to... | Try these pencils
------- | --------
Sketch lightly | 2H – HB
Draw in general | HB – 2B
Shade | 2B – 6B
Make super dark shadows | 6B – 9B
Do tech drawings | 4H – H
🧰 8. Taking Care of Your Pencils
Keep them dry, store them flat.
Don't press too hard (the lead can break).
Use sandpaper to get the tip just right.
Sharpen soft leads slow (like 4B and higher).
🧩 9. What Else to Consider?
Pencils from recycled stuff: Good for the planet.
Clutch pencils: You can refill them, cool for drawing outside.
Make sure the graphite isn't toxic: Good if you draw a lot.
🧑🎨 10. Tips and Tricks
Try all the pencils to see what they do.
Make a chart of light to dark.
Mix different pencils (like graphite and charcoal) for cool effects.
Keep some pencils for outlines, others for shading.
Use good paper – smooth for lines, rough for shading.