Learn to Draw Easy
An artist’s best friend is a drawing pencil. Without it, you cannot complete any drawing. But what is a drawing pencil and is there more than one type?
16 kinds of drawing pencils
There are 16 types of drawing pencils that you can choose from. Let us explore each of them.
Graphite pencils
Graphite pencils are the most typical drawing pencils in the market. They are made from graphite and clay, and wood encases this kind of pencil. Graphite pencils are available in multiple darkness grades, and they are made for different purposes. They are also categorized into soft to hard pencils.This type of drawing pencil is usually utilized for generating finer detailing.
Solid graphite pencils
The solid graphite pencils are also known as woodless pencils. They have similarities with the basic graphite pencils, but this kind of drawing pencil does not have a wood casing. The solid graphite pencils are great for drawing large surfaces, and they come in various darkness levels.
Colored pencils
Colored pencils are also called pencil crayons, and their cores are made from wax that contains pigments that is coupled with blinding agents and additives. The wooden core of the colored pencils is the same as the graphite pencils. This type of drawing pencil is typically abundant in fine arts, and children love to sue them as well.
Charcoal pencils
Charcoal pencils are great for sketching purposes. If you want to create dark marks on your drawing, then charcoal is the perfect drawing tool for you. You need to know that charcoal is darker compared to graphite, and using charcoal poses the risk of smudges on your work. Charcoal pencils are designed as sticks, and they come in the tones of black, white, and sepia.
Carbon pencils
Carbon pencils are those which are produced using a blend of clay and a black pigment called lamp black. They are slicker compared to charcoal pencils, and darker than graphite pencils. When combined with graphite or charcoal pencils, the carbon pencils changes their darkness.
Mechanical pencils
A mechanical pencil is also known as a clutch pencil. It is equipped with a lead, which is a hard pigment core. The lead is made from graphite, and it is extendable. Unlike graphite pencils, mechanical pencils have cores that are not merged to the casing. This kind of drawing pencil is convenient since you do not to sharpen it. It creates fine lines and neat drawing.
Grease pencils
Grease pencils have a paper casing and core of wax. And there are select and expensive grease pencils that are made with wooden casings. They are capable of writing on any kind of paper, and artists love them because the grease pencils cannot scratch the drawing paper you are using.
Watercolor pencils
Watercolor pencils allow you the freedom to experiment with colors. This type of drawing pencil is crafted with a water-soluble inner lead. By adding water to your drawing, you get the appearance of a water color drawing. But you can also use these pencils without water.
Indelible or copying pencils
A copying pencil is also known as indelible pencil. It differs from other drawing pencils through the lead. The graphite lead of this pencil is infused with a dry water-soluble dye. Once it is fabricated by dye, the formulation is blended with clay.
Carpenter’s pencils
The carpenter’s pencil is designed to have a cross-section that is elliptical or rectangular in order to prevent the pencil from sliding away. It is much easier to hold this kind of pencil thanks to the larger surface. This drawing pencil has a non-round core that gives you the freedom to draw thin or thick lines by simply rotating it.
Non-photo blue or non-reproducing pencils
The non-photo blue pencil is used by artists to create sketch lines that cannot be spotted by a camera film or photocopy machines. It is also called a non-reproducing pencil, and it is popular in the print industry and graphic design.
Golf pencil
A golf pencil is a small pencil with the size of three inches in height. It is a great disposable pencil that is good for you if you constantly lose pencils. Though this kind of pencil is primarily used in golf clubs, it can be utilized for drawing purposes.
Stenographer’s pencil
A stenographer’s pencil or steno pencil has a break-proof lead that is perfect for drawing. You can certainly save a lot of money due to the strength of the lead. It is designed to have a round feature in order to prevent hand strain while drawing or writing for long hours. This kind of pencil is originally made for stenographers. But it is also great for drawing purposes.
Pop-a-point pencils
The pop-a-point pencil is the predecessor of the mechanical pencil. It is designed with multiple graphite rods inside the housing. This pencil works by drawing using the tip, and when that is dulled, you go ahead and pull it out and insert it at the other end. So, a new graphite rod tip protrudes at the writing tip of the pencil.
Plastic pencils
The plastic pencils originated from the 60s, and they were designed by Harold Grossman. This type of pencil is produced using the perfect blend of plasticized mixture of graphite and core made of ABS plastic, aluminum stearate, and wood flour. The plastic pencils are bendable without the risk of breaking.
Erasable color pencils
The erasable color pencils are perfect for sketching, drawing, and animation. The colors are erasable, unlike colored pencils that are wax-based.
Conclusion
In choosing a drawing pencil, you need to take into consideration your needs. The different kinds of pencil have their own purposes, and you must be clear with yours. Though many of the drawing pencils are originally designed for a certain field, you can always use them for any type of drawing. The most important thing is you know how to properly handle your pencil, and of course you know how to draw.
