How to make a pencil sketch better?
Hello Art lovers!
Today I am going to help you ace your pencil sketches with a few tips and tricks!
The following pencil drawing techniques mentioned here will help you take your drawing skills to the next level, whether you’re using graphite pencil or coloured pencils.
For many artists, pencil drawing is the skill that introduced them to the art world, and even if you’ve moved on to a different medium, understanding how to draw with a pencil can help you improve your skills elsewhere. These pencil drawing techniques cover everything from the basics of mark-making to advanced processes to push you out of your comfort zone.
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1. Know your pencils
There’s a big difference between 4B and 4H. Having the right pencil to begin drawing your pencil sketch is essential. The hardness of the graphite is indicated on the side of the pencil: ‘B’ pencils are softer, ‘H’ are harder, and ‘HB’ sits in the middle – there’s a big difference between a 4H and a 4B. “I recommend starting somewhere on the H scale as a foundation and then finishing with the darker B scale,”
When you’re learning how to draw, it’s also worth considering using mechanical pencils alongside traditional ones.
2. Take control of your pencil
If you position your hand closer to the end of the pencil, you have more control and precision, but heavier strokes (darker markings). “Gripping further up the pencil will give you less control and precision, but lighter strokes (lighter markings).”
3. Try different mark-making methods
There are plenty of sketching techniques to help you achieve different styles and effects. It’s important to experiment and find what works best for you, to not only complement but enhance your style,” explains Von Rueden.
4. Vary your lines
Use varied lines. “Not all lines are equal. Subtle shifts in the width and darkness of your lines will create a dynamic, visually interesting drawing. Controlling the kind of mark you put down can be tricky in the beginning, but with practice you will be able to create a variety of marks that work together to make a cohesive image. Experiment with different pencil grades (from 3H to 6B) and with holding the pencil at different angles.”
5. Avoid smudging
If you’re right-handed, start shading from left to right; if you’re left-handed, start at the right and move to the left.
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to make a clean-looking drawing that loses its brilliance and value thanks to smudging. Instead, use smudging to your advantage every now and then to smooth out shading. You can do this with several tools. I use a simple piece of tissue paper to get the job done.
Tips to make Pencil sketch better:
6. Control your edges
Many artist uses four different sketching techniques to define object edges: thin, hard, lost and undefined. A thin and hard edges give objects solid borders. Lost edges occur when the object and background values start to blend together, so the edge is implied rather than defined. Undefined edges need to be deciphered by the viewer themselves.
7. Use a blending stick for smooth shading
It is possible to create smooth, blended effects using pencils – for example, to capture a sky. Sometimes it’s preferable for your shading to be less sketchy and more smooth and subtle.
8. Apply the 70/30 rule
Less can be more! The 70/30 rule helps you create effective compositions. The idea is that 30 per cent of your sketch is filled with the main focus and detail, and the remaining 70 per cent is filler. This less interesting area helps direct attention towards the main subject of your artwork.
9. Make it (almost) symmetrical
A good way to prevent this is to add some subtle changes and only keep the general lines symmetrical instead of mirroring every small part. Keeping some elements asymmetrical helps to avoid boring repetition.
10. Differentiate different textures
To show different textures within your sketch, you need to adjust your technique. You wouldn’t want to shade skin the same way you shade metallics or fur. They each have unique properties and capturing that will elevate your drawings because of the accuracy depicted .
A good starting point is to consider if the texture is rough or smooth, and then if it absorb or reflects light. A reflecting and smooth texture, such as chrome, usually has higher contrasts and prominent highlights, while an absorbing and rough texture like cotton has low contrasts and little to no highlight present.
Finally,
You can make better and better by focusing on intricate details a little more. The detail part should be as it is in the picture or in reality. For this you should prefer making some high quality pictures in your art. And too you should focus on the light effecting the sketch. Dark shading can also help in making the sketch look real.