Graphite pencils are the most basic and fundamental tool of your drawing equipment. They are an economical and very versatile product that can generate from technical drawings to artistic drawings with large tone scales. It never hurts to know a little more about this cheap, modest and useful tool.
It is important, as in many artistic practices, to have access to quality material. So, it will the best to always choose recognized brands.
Here, graphite pencil artist from Carson City, Nevada, Jay Greig, shares everything you need to know about graphite pencils.
They are composed of two parts, the mine and a material that covers it, generally wood. As argued by Greig, the wood defines pencil’s quality, since there are woods or compounds of such low quality that they are practically unsharp.
Graphite on the other hand is the part we draw with. Its name comes from the Greek (graphein), which means ‘to draw’ and it is a form of carbon like diamonds and graphene. Its resistance is impressive, it does not degrade over time and It has lubricating properties. Greig specifies that a pencil drawing on a wall can last as long as the wall lasts, maintaining the freshness of the first day.
Below, Greig explains, what the letters (H, B, HB, F) and their scales (2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) mean.
The H comes from the English word ‘hard’. These are the pencils that leave little mark on the paper, ideal for first sketches, watercolor guide lines, paint and technical drawing. The higher the number, the greater its hardness. Greig always recommend a 2H to outline as a minimum material. Greig personally likes 5H, he points out that it is difficult to find. Higher hardnesses are used for very specific things.
The B comes from the English word ‘Black’. These are softer and you get a more intense black. The experienced draftsman, Greig recommends at least a 2B. This is a pencil that gives a great tone scale, without staining the support too much. Softer pencils can be used also for specific things.
HB is a combination between soft and hard, pulling soft. According to Greig, HB is the 0 on the soft-hard. In that case we can find 2HB pencils that are still softer, but without reaching B.
F is from ‘Firm’, it is a combination of soft and hard, pulling hard.
Jay Greig recommends 2H for watercolors and first sketches, and HB or 2B to shade with more or less black.
He do not recommends using different hardnesses for different shades in a drawing. The results are usually not as desired. This is because each one has a different metallic luster and does not blend well if you are looking for a good tonal gradient.
Jay Greig uses a wide variety of pencils for the creation of his drawings, which portray a variety of themes. He uses perspective, rich tonality and a number of rendering techniques to achieve the sense of depth and movement. The drawings of this talented artist have won a number of awards, internationally.
