Using The Right Tools

So, you wonder what tools I use, eh?
It does differ, and it differs a lot.

For animated drawing, I use plain H and B pencils and sometimes ink in addition. The ink I use is Rotring Ink, which means if the right paper is used it can be erased. With the right paper I mean paper that can handle a Rotring Eraser. Other ink usually cannot be erased. If you use cheap ink or otherwise ink that takes long to dry, wait before erasing possible pencil lines. If you can't wait you WILL ruin your drawing.

For sketching and plain shading jobs, I use drawing pencils that range from 2H to 9B in hardness/softness. Mostly, I use 2H, H, 2B, 5B, 6B, 7B and 9B. But if you don't have so many different types of pencils (I haven't had those until a year ago so a lot of my drawings have been drawn with regular mechanical HB and B pencils) you can simply apply a bit more difference in pressure techniques like I showed you.
Keep in mind that a lot of artists don't even use hard pencils (H or harder, up to 6H) since they are mostly used for cartography and plan drawings. H and 2H however, are great to draw help lines and to use for highlights that gradually blend down into a darker shade.
What else do I use?

Soft Pencils: By far my favourite medium. It takes practice to get the hang of it because it takes only little for the drawing to smudge into nothing. Often drawings turn out bleak and pale. It takes practice to overcome this.

Aqua Sketch: a pencil with a water-soluble lead. Combined with water and a brush it can give beautiful watercolor effects. It grants you the possibility to add subtle effect to simple drawings and add charm. However beware you don't overdo it!

Charcoal: charcoal will demand some practice but it will allow you to work very accurately and give an overall clean look. Do keep in mind that it will require some practice first. That means your first drawing isn't likely to turn out the way you wanted it to. Just look around regular websites such as DeviantArt and you'll see what I mean.

Sanguine: a red pencil that is mostly used for model drawing and portraits. I use this when visiting a client and making quick sketches with sanguine accents.

Sepia: pencil with a dark brown sepia lead for sketching and drawing landscapes. I use it only if someone deliberately asks me to, or if I plan to ww it afterwards. Feel free to use it though. ^-^

White: pencil with a white lead on chalk basis for applying contrasts and toning down colors. It is often used in model drawing in combination with sanguine.

Moldable Eraser: Don't use it to erase with. Never erase. You must draw in such a gentle way that you will not NEED to erase. Use the moldable eraser to blend, to tone down shades you have applied with your pencil lead earlier. Use it to remove as little as possible.

Stump: stick for thinning out pastels, chalk or charcoal when drawing. It is used to blend pencil lead that has already been applied to paper. It will give a marvelous blending and 'finished' look to your drawing. The stump will give finesse almost.
Instead of using a stump, you can also use a cotton swab.
Ah and if you'd like to learn a handy trick… once your stump has enough lead residue on it you can use it to apply the softest shade of grey you can possibly think of. You cannot achieve such gentle shade by using a pencil so be sure to try it out some time!
And on a side note I have to tell you to NEVER use your fingers to blend with. Your fingers hold natural oils and moist that will make a mess of your paper, and will ruin the drawing.

I think that's about all the basic tools I use for drawing in pencil. For painting, or any other technique… eh… ask me?
Ok, so now that you have read all this I will try to highlight some notes I have pointed out earlier:

1. Realistic shading requires gradual blending of light and dark.
2. Control the pressure applied to the pencil, as it will allow you to shade gradually.
3. Two similar shades are two different shades and need to be treated that way. Apply both.
4. When you shade and start blending, work in one direction only; apply smooth strokes to the paper. Scribbling won't work. Graphite and charcoal need to be applied smoothly and with kindness.
5. Remember that the contrasting shades in your drawing will determine your subject's eventual shape. Darkness tells your brain that there is depth; light tells the brain that something is raised.
6. Don't abandon the learning process if you are overwhelmed. Like I said, it's a learning process: practice. If you practice, it will become part of you.
7. Try blending and toning down graphite/charcoal/et cetera with a stump (or cotton swab) and a moldable eraser.
8. Be patient.

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