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Drawing techniques with pencils

Drawing with pencils is one of the most accessible and popular forms of art. It is a versatile medium that allows artists to create a wide range of textures, tones, and effects. Whether you are a beginner or a professional artist, there are many drawing techniques that you can use to improve your skills and create stunning works of art.

In this article, we will explore some of the most popular techniques for drawing with pencils, including the use of different pencils, shading techniques, and more.

  1. Choosing the Right Pencil

The first step to creating a great pencil drawing is choosing the right pencils. There are many different types of pencils available, each with its own hardness or softness, and this can make a big difference in the look of your drawing.

Here are the most common types of pencils used for drawing:

  • H pencils: These pencils are hard and are used for creating light lines and details. They range from H9 (the hardest) to H1 (the softest).
  • B pencils: These pencils are soft and are used for creating dark lines and shading. They range from B9 (the softest) to B1 (the hardest).
  • HB pencils: These pencils are in the middle of the hardness scale and are a good all-around pencil for drawing.

When choosing your pencils, it is a good idea to have a range of hardnesses available so you can create a variety of tones and textures in your drawing.

  1. Shading Techniques

Shading is one of the most important techniques in pencil drawing. It can add depth, dimension, and texture to your work, and it can help create a realistic and three-dimensional effect.

Here are some shading techniques to try:

  • Hatching: This technique involves creating parallel lines that are close together to create a smooth, even shade.
  • Cross-hatching: This technique involves creating overlapping lines that create a darker shade.
  • Stippling: This technique involves creating small dots to create a textured effect.
  • Smudging: This technique involves using your finger or a blending tool to smooth out the pencil marks and create a softer, more blended effect.
  1. Texture Techniques

Creating texture is another important technique in pencil drawing. Texture can add interest and detail to your work and can make it look more realistic.

Here are some texture techniques to try:

  • Scratching: This technique involves using a sharp object (like a knife or a razor blade) to scratch the surface of the paper and create a textured effect.
  • Cross-contour lines: This technique involves creating lines that follow the contours of the object you are drawing to create a textured effect.
  • Stippling: As mentioned above, stippling can also be used to create texture.
  1. Other Techniques

There are many other techniques you can use to create different effects in your pencil drawings. Here are a few more to try:

  • Blending: This technique involves using a blending tool (like a blending stump or a tissue) to smooth out the pencil marks and create a more uniform shade.
  • Erasing: Erasing can be used to create highlights and to remove mistakes.
  • Layering: Layering involves building up layers of pencil marks to create a more complex and textured effect.
  1. Resources for Learning More

There are many resources available to help you learn more about drawing with pencils. Here are a few to check out:

  • Drawing tutorials on YouTube: There are many great drawing tutorials available on YouTube, covering a wide range of techniques and styles.
  • Drawing books: There are many great books available on drawing with pencils, including “Drawing for the Absolute Beginner” by Mark Willenbrink and Mary Willenbrink and “The Complete Guide to Drawing” by Giovanni Civardi.
  • Online courses: There are also many online courses available that can help you improve
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Water Color Tips

Watercolor is a wonderful medium that can create dreamy, fantastical landscapes, but it can be a challenge to master. To get the most out of your watercolor paintings, it’s important to use high-quality materials. I recommend upgrading from a beginner-level paint like Pelikan to a professional-grade one like Schmincke. Schmincke paints have a higher pigment concentration, which means they produce brighter, more vibrant colors that blend well together.

In addition to using high-quality paint, selecting the right paper is also crucial. Watercolor paper is specially designed to absorb water and hold the paint in place, allowing you to create beautiful washes and fine details. I recommend using paper with a weight of at least 140 lb (300 gsm) and a rough or cold-pressed texture, like Arches Watercolor Paper.

To get the most out of your watercolor paints, there are a few techniques you can use. One is to use a wet-on-wet technique, where you wet the paper with clean water before adding paint. This creates a beautiful, soft look that’s perfect for creating dreamy, atmospheric scenes. Another technique is to use a dry-brush technique, where you use a dry brush to apply paint to a dry surface. This produces a more textured look, which can be great for creating interesting details and contrast.

If you’re new to working with watery materials, trying out ink on cheaper paper or cardboards can be a great way to experiment with a whole new world of painting. You can also experiment with different types of watercolor brushes, like round brushes for detailed work and flat brushes for larger washes.

Here are the links to the brands mentioned:

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Lets know some pastel brands

Pastels are a versatile medium that allow artists to create beautiful, soft, and textured artworks. There are many brands of pastels available, each with their own unique qualities and characteristics. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular brands of pastels and what sets them apart.

Rembrandt Pastels

Rembrandt Pastels are one of the most popular and widely used brands of pastels in the world. They are made in Holland and are known for their exceptional quality and rich, vibrant colors. Rembrandt Pastels are made with a high concentration of pure pigment, which means that they produce deep, intense hues that are perfect for creating bold, expressive artwork. They are also very soft and velvety, making them easy to blend and layer.

Faber-Castell Pitt Pastels

Faber-Castell Pitt Pastels are another popular brand of pastels. These pastels are made in Germany and are known for their high level of lightfastness, meaning that they resist fading over time. They are also very versatile and can be used on a variety of surfaces, including paper, canvas, and wood. Faber-Castell Pitt Pastels are known for their soft, smooth texture, which makes them easy to blend and layer. They come in a range of vibrant colors, and their square shape makes them easy to handle and control.

Sennelier Soft Pastels

Sennelier Soft Pastels are a French brand of pastels that have been used by artists for over a century. They are known for their rich, creamy texture and high pigment concentration, which produces brilliant colors that are perfect for creating luminous, expressive artwork. Sennelier Soft Pastels are very soft and crumbly, which makes them easy to blend and layer. They also come in a range of over 500 colors, including many unique and unusual shades.

Schmincke Soft Pastels

Schmincke Soft Pastels are a German brand of pastels that are known for their exceptional quality and lightfastness. They are made with pure pigments and a minimum amount of binder, which means that they produce rich, vibrant colors that are true to life. Schmincke Soft Pastels are also very soft and velvety, making them easy to blend and layer. They come in a range of over 400 colors, including many earth tones and subtle shades.

Holbein Artists’ Soft Pastels

Holbein Artists’ Soft Pastels are a Japanese brand of pastels that are known for their exceptional quality and lightfastness. They are made with pure pigments and a minimum amount of binder, which means that they produce rich, intense colors that are true to life. Holbein Artists’ Soft Pastels are also very soft and velvety, making them easy to blend and layer. They come in a range of over 200 colors, including many unique and unusual shades.

In conclusion, there are many different brands of pastels available, each with their own unique qualities and characteristics. Whether you’re looking for rich, vibrant colors or soft, velvety textures, there is a brand of pastels out there that will meet your needs. So go ahead, experiment with different brands and find the ones that work best for you!

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Let Yourself to be free. fall in love with charcoal

Charcoal drawing is a unique medium that allows you to let go of your fear of white paper, perfectionism, and the fear of starting or finishing a piece. It might make your hands dirty, but that is exactly what you need to let go of control and fear. Everywhere will be messy, and that is part of the process. You can use every kind of charcoal, whether it is a stick, inside the lead of a mechanical pencil, or in powder form, to create dramatic and powerful pieces. You can even mix it with black ink or watercolor to create a dreamy fantasy land. 

There are many good quality charcoal brands available, such as Nitram, General’s, Derwent, and Conte. Each brand offers a range of charcoal types, including vine charcoal, compressed charcoal, and charcoal pencils. Vine charcoal is soft, fragile, and great for laying out initial drawings. Compressed charcoal, on the other hand, is denser and provides a more intense black tone. Charcoal pencils are a combination of vine charcoal and compressed charcoal and are great for detail work. 

When it comes to techniques, one way to start is to hold a piece of charcoal in your hand and put a big enough piece of paper in front of you, one that makes you a little scared. Start by scratching the paper with the largest part of the charcoal. You’ll notice that it produces a dark shade, which is perfect for expressing any negative energy. Then try rubbing the charcoal from here to there with your fingers until your fingers and the whole paper turn black. If you are angry, use the charcoal again and again until you feel better. 

At some point, you might discover some patterns inside the blackness. You can make them more permanent with another piece of charcoal or a lighter eraser. Don’t be afraid to trust your inner being and let your ideas flow naturally. With each stroke, your self-expression will become more apparent. 

If you catch yourself judging your work or yourself, gently rub your other hand and tell yourself to relax and let go. Then, apply more pressure to the charcoal piece over the area where you were judging yourself. Remember, the more you listen to yourself and trust your instincts, the more natural the process will become. Trust the journey, and you’ll find yourself creating self-portraits and expressive pieces without even realizing it. 

In conclusion, charcoal drawing is a powerful medium that allows you to express yourself freely without fear or limitations. With different types of charcoal and techniques, you can create dramatic and powerful pieces that speak to your innermost thoughts and emotions 

Charcoal is a versatile medium that can produce a wide range of effects, depending on the technique used. One of the simplest ways to use charcoal is to simply pick up a stick and make broad, gestural marks on the paper. These marks can be used to establish the overall composition and to create a sense of movement and energy in the drawing. By varying the pressure and angle of the charcoal stick, you can create a range of values, from light to dark, and use this to add depth and dimension to the drawing. 

Another technique that can be used with charcoal is blending. This involves using a blending tool, such as a stump or tortillon, to smudge and soften the charcoal marks. Blending can be used to create a smooth, subtle shading effect or to blend colors together for a more painterly effect. Charcoal can also be combined with other mediums, such as pastel or watercolor, to create unique effects. 

Another popular technique with charcoal is to use a kneaded eraser or a chamois cloth to create highlights and remove areas of charcoal. This can be used to create sharp, crisp edges or to add texture to the drawing. By combining this technique with other techniques, such as blending or layering, you can create a wide range of effects and styles in your charcoal drawings.

It’s also worth noting that there are different types of charcoal available, each with its own unique properties. Vine charcoal, for example, is soft and easy to blend, making it ideal for creating broad, expressive marks. Willow charcoal is slightly harder and produces a darker mark, making it better for creating detailed lines and fine details. Compressed charcoal is even harder and produces a very dark, almost black mark, making it ideal for creating deep shadows and contrast in a drawing. 

Overall, charcoal is a medium that offers a lot of creative possibilities. Whether you’re looking to create bold, expressive marks or delicate, detailed drawings, charcoal can be a versatile and rewarding medium to work with. So why not give it a try and see where your creativity takes you

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I cheat on Time, The joy of working with Acrylics

Acrylics are a versatile and popular medium among artists due to their quick drying time, variety of colors, and ability to adhere to a range of surfaces. However, their quick drying time can also be a disadvantage in certain situations, and it is important to use a middle to good quality acrylic to ensure the best results.

In addition to the traditional methods of painting with acrylics, such as applying it straight from the tube or using a brush, there are a variety of techniques and ways to approach using this medium.

One technique is to use acrylics in a watercolor-like manner, by diluting the paint with water to create translucent washes. This technique is great for creating subtle gradients and layering colors. Another approach is to use acrylics as a glaze, by layering thin, translucent layers of color over a base layer to create a luminous effect.

Acrylics can also be used for impasto painting, where thick layers of paint are applied to the surface to create texture and dimension. This technique is great for creating dramatic, three-dimensional effects, and can be achieved using palette knives, brushes, or other tools.

Another way to approach acrylics is to experiment with various additives and mediums. For example, using a gel medium can add texture and depth to a painting, while a pouring medium can create a smooth, glossy finish. Acrylics can also be mixed with other materials such as sand, glass beads, or even food items like coffee grounds or spices, to create unique textures and effects.

Acrylics can also be used for printmaking, as mentioned earlier, with the added benefit of being able to create multiple prints with the same plate or stencil due to the quick drying time. Screen printing, monoprinting, and linocut printing are all techniques that can be used with acrylics.

Overall, acrylics offer a wide range of possibilities for artists to experiment and create. Whether using traditional techniques or exploring new approaches and mediums, acrylics are a versatile and exciting medium for artists of all levels