Understanding Sketching Pencils and Graphite

Where Would We Be Without the Pencil?

We may be in the midst of the digital age, but many of us still love using pencils in our daily lives! Whether it's to make a quick sketch, write a list, for a message on a post-it note, the humble pencil is still an important part of the creative process. As children, our first written words will have been with pencils. Professionals like illustrators, architects, designers, artists, and the literary community still use pencils to a great degree – beloved children's author Roald Dahl was believed to have written all of his books using a pencil!

Whatever your needs, there's a pencil for you. Whether you need a hard pencil for loose, light grey sketches, to the incredibly soft for deep, rich blacks. There are regular wood-encased pencils, mechanical pencils, charcoal pencils, white pencils, watercolour pencils, carbon pencils, and so, so many more to choose from!

In this article, we'll take a look at what a pencil is made form, how it's made, and just what exactly 'HB' means. Then, we'll take a look at the different kinds of pencil available at ARTdiscount to help you feel confident when adding this essential tool to your kit of drawing supplies. 

What is Graphite?

Graphite is a naturally-occurring mineral formed by the extreme pressure and heat of the Earth's crust and upper mantle. It's a homogeneous solid with a chemical composition consisting of a form of carbon. Graphite and diamond actually shared the same chemical composition, but have very different structures

Graphite is a mineral that is naturally occurring. It is a homogeneous solid with a definite chemical composition consisting of a form of carbon. Graphite is formed by extreme pressure and extreme heat in the earth's crust and upper mantle. Graphite and diamond actually share the same composition but have very different structures.

Graphite can be found in large veins in older crystalline rocks. It's mined extensively in China, India, Brazil, and Canada. However, one of the largest deposits of graphite was found in the early 16th century in Cumbria, England, consisting of one of the purest and most solid veins of graphite ever found! It's no coincidence that one of the most beloved makers of pencils today, Derwent, is headquartered in Workington, Cumbria.

What is Pencil Lead?

The pencil that you hold in your hand doesn't contain any lead! This is a common misconception based on 16th century Europeans thinking that what we now call graphite was actually a kind of lead. Other, less commonly used names for graphite are plumbago and black lead. Historically, lead poisoning came from the lead paint used on the pencil's casing, rather than any lead on the inside. The modern term graphite was established in the 18th century and comes from the Ancient Greek word graphein, which means 'to write or draw'.

Graphite may be the oldest and the most historical minerals you have ever touched, yet we take this small detail for granted. One of the earliest known usages for graphite comes from the Marita culture of the Neolithic south-eastern Europe, who used graphite as part of a ceramic paint for decorating pottery. The knowledge that graphite was used for artistic purposes as early as the 4th millennium BCE is incredible, especially when you consider that it wouldn't really be taken up for illustration and writing purposes again until the 16th century. Upon the discovery of the great vein in Cumbria, sticks of graphite were used for writing, and then in the late 1500s, graphite rods were placed inside wood sleeves that were glued together, creating the prototypical form of the modern day pencil.

The next great evolution of the pencil came in 1790, when we began mixing clay with powdered graphite before firing it in a kiln, altering the softness and colour of the graphite. The more clay added to the powdered graphite, the harder the lead becomes. 

Creating Modern Day Graphite Pencils

Creating modern day pencils is much more complicated than its 16th century forebearer; it takes as many of 14 steps to create the final product.

First, as mentioned before, powdered graphite is mixed to precise specifications with powdered clay. Then, the soft graphite is extruded through a nozzle to form long strands of graphite – much like how spaghetti is made! These strands are then cut to the correct length and are then dried in rotating, perforated tins at temperatures reaching as high as 1500°C. Once dry, the leads are immersed in a bath of liquid wax. This wax is absorbed into the graphite sticks, providing the lead with a smoother finish when writing on paper.

Grooves are milled into two slats of wood, and then the graphite is glued into place. The second slat of wood completes the graphite sandwich, so then the wood/graphite sandwich are dried under pressure for about an hour. From here, the wood/graphite sandwiches are cut into pencil lengths and are milled into shape (either round, hexagonal, or triangular). The pencils are then painted, stamped with necessary information and branding, and then their ends are dipped. Once dried, they're sharpened, packaged, passed through quality control, and finally are delivered art shops like ARTdiscount!

Before We Move Onto the Nitty Gritty Grade Information, Here's Some Fun Facts About Drawing Pencils

• The reason why carpenter's pencils are various shapes – such as oval, rectangular or octagonal – is to prevent them from rolling away whilst working.

• Erasers were not put on the ends of pencils until 1858.

• It has been estimated that the average pencil has enough graphite to write about 45,000 words!

• Faber-Castell is one of the world's largest and oldest pencil manufacturers, with over 260 years of history and experience.

• Faber-Castell produces over 2.3 billion pencils a year.

• On average, a pencil can be sharpened 17 times.

• An average pencil can draw a line 35 miles long.

• Over half of the world's pencils come from China, with factories turning out 10 billion pencils, which is enough to circle the earth more than 40 times.

• An average-sized tree will make approximately 300,000 pencils.

Let's Look at the Classification of Graphite and Explain the Different Lead Grades.

Graphite pencils are classified as either;

• Soft Black - B
• Hard - H
• Hard Black (which means medium hard) - HB
• Firm - F

All the numbers in between signify how hard or how soft the graphite is.

As more clay is added to the mixture of graphite, the harder the pencil becomes. The harder the pencil, the lighter the mark and the higher the H number. You'll typically see these in grades of H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H, 7H, 8H, and 9H, with the last being the hardest. Hard lead makes an opaque light grey mark.

The more graphite contained in the pencil, the softer and darker the pencil becomes and, in turn, the higher the B number. As with the H pencils, you'll generally see these in grades of B, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, and 9B. The softest graphite makes the darkest opaque mark.

When used on sketching paper, graphite leaves a soft, shiny, and grey or nearly black mark, depending on the degree of hardness. Rough or textured paper surfaces will allow the soft graphite to adhere better, whilst the smooth paper surfaces will allow for precision drafting using the harder pencils. The softer pencils leave a little dust, however the harder ones leave much less on the surface of the paper. Graphite will adhere to many surfaces like wood, all kinds of paper, some fabric, cardboard, or MDF – anything with a slight tooth will generally work better!

What Sort of Results Will I Get From the Different Lead Grades?

Usually the hardness or softness of a pencil is printed on the side with a letter on its own or with a number. Most pencil manufacturers today will adhere to this hardness scale, and it has remained unchanged since 1910.

8B, 7B, and 6B

These pencils are extra soft and will give a very deep black tone. Softer pencils are excellent for expressive shading and 3D rendering, and are especially good for establishing form in figure drawings. They're great for drawings of an atmospheric and organic nature, or for creating high-contrast chiaroscuro effects, and for creating dark silhouettes. They can also be used for creating quick motion drawings, where capturing the expression of your mark making is paramount.

5B

5B pencils are extra soft and give a very dark finish. They're great for quick illustrations, figurative sketches of movement, or for drawing organic forms. Like their darker counterparts, they're excellent for establishing form in figure drawings, alongside adding dark shading and 3D rendering.

4B and 3B

These pencils are very soft and give a dark finish, ideal for pictorial tonal impression and for creating depth and perspective in drawings. As before, they're great for creating form in figure drawings and for expressive shading and rendering.

2B

2B pencils are medium-soft and give a fairly black finish. They're great as all-rounder pencils, lending themselves well to drawing, writing, and outlining. They excel in quick sketches and illustrations, while still being very good for shading and rendering.

B, HB, and F

These are the most commonly-used pencils. They're moderately soft and black, making for a good all-rounder pencil for writing, drawing, and outlining. They're great for quick sketches and illustration, and they do lend themselves to shading and rendering, though they are much lighter in tone.

F pencils are medium soft and medium black, making them good for more precise drawing and sketching, and great for writing. They're ideal for creating lines with rulers or other geometry tools.

H and 2H

These pencils are harder than their B-series counterparts. They're good for creating precise drawings and sketches, and are of particular value to technical illustrators.

3H, 4H, and 5H

Moving further up the H scale, these pencils are even harder, creating greyer lines. Like before, they're excellent for creating precise sketches and illustrations, making them ideal for technical drawings such as architectural plans, fashion design, and garden planning.

6H, 7H, 8H, and 9H

At the far end of the spectrum, these pencils are extra hard, creating the lightest grey lines possible. As such, they're excellent for drafting out artwork, technical illustrations, and for creating detail. They don't smudge nearly as much as their softer counterparts and, with light pressure, will guarantee a fine line. They're also the easiest to erase of any pencil, making them great for temporary sketches, or for technical illustrations that are subject to change.

Pencils, Graphite Sticks, and Blocks for Every Occasion

When working with graphite, it's essential to find the right pencil softness or hardness for the project you are working on. Graphite is an incredibly versatile material to work with, with endless possibilities for creating different finishes; metallic lustre or matt black textures and marks. Once applied to paper, graphite can be erased, smudged, smoothed, buffed, can be used to create an ultra fine line, blackest black line, crushed to make dust or pushed into the substrate with a cloth, tortillon or your fingertips. Koh-I-Noor even makes graphite dust for those large atmospheric areas which need blending or add a little water to create washes of texture.

Similar to charcoal, graphite can be manipulated to create many different outcomes. And the same graphite pencil has endless possibilities just by altering the pressure you apply or by altering  the angle you hold your pencil. 

When buying drawing pencils there are many sets on the market to choose from, buying a set can be incredibly useful as most of them come in handy protective tins or boxes and contain a combination of soft and hard pencil grades.  We have listed some here to help you choose the right one for your project.

Individual Graphite Pencils Available at ARTdiscount

Derwent Graphic Pencils

These high-quality graphite pencils from Derwent are produced in a fantastic choice of 20 grades. They're a great, traditional graphite pencil, with an easy-to-hold hexagonal barrel and lead that sharpens to a fine point.

They're also available in sets of various sizes.

Staedtler Tradition 110 Sketching Pencils

As one of the world's most popular pencil manufacturers, Staedtler needs no introduction. These high-quality sketching pencils are great for writing, drawing, and sketching. They feature high break-resistance through specially formulated and super-bonded lead.

These pencils come in a range of 12 grades and the wooden casing is sourced from FSC-certified, sustainably managed forests.

Caran d'Ache Grafwood Graphite Pencils

Caran d'Ache Grafwood is a range of excellent-quality artist's graphite pencils, with a wide range of lead grades to choose from. They offer an smooth drawing experience that is ideal for both linework and shading.

Noticeably thicker than other brands of graphite pencils, the hexagonal shaft is of very high-quality, whilst still thin enough to allow sharpening with standard width pencil sharpeners.

Derwent Tinted Charcoal Pencils

Derwent Tinted Charcoal offers the dramatic beauty of traditional charcoal with a gentle hint of colour. Natural charcoal particles and a small amount of colour pigment are combined with the finest clays then encased in wood to produce a wonderfully expressive drawing tool.

Pencil Sets Available at ARTdiscount

Derwent Medium Sketch Pencils - Set of 12

Derwent Medium Sketching Pencils offer a perfect balance of rich B grades and precise H grades for versatile sketching. This set of 12 pencils (6B to 4H) comes in a durable tin, ideal for detailed and expressive work.

Staedtler Tradition 110 Sketching Pencil Set

This high-quality pencil set is perfect for beginners and professionals alike, featuring six grades: 2H, HB, B, 2B, 4B, and 6B. With super-bonded, break-resistant lead, it includes a metal sharpener and Mars plastic eraser for effortless use.

Derwent Graphic Pencils - Set of 6

This Derwent Graphic Pencil Set contains six high quality graphite pencils, in assorted degrees, ideal for all kinds of drawing and sketching.

Watercolour Pencils

Derwent Watercolour Pencils

Derwent Watercolour Pencils combine the beauty of traditional watercolour paints with the intricate control of a pencil. 

When used dry, these pencils offer a soft texture that can be easily blended or layered. However, when mixed with water, these pencils produce interesting colour flows and stunning watercolour effects.

Derwent Inktense Pencils

Derwent Inktense combines the brilliant intensity of ink with the versatility of watercolour pencil. Apply pure vibrant dry colour with the pencil and then water with a brush to activate the pigment into bright translucent, ink.

Once dry, the colour is permanent and can be worked over with other media. The possibilities are endless, the results stunning.

Graphite Blocks

Derwent Graphitint XL Blocks

Derwent Graphitint XL Blocks are available in 6 rich shades of specially formulated graphite tinted with colour. The highly versatile, large water-soluble pastel-like block can be used to create bold and agile marks or fine details and textures.

Derwent Natural Graphite Blocks

Derwent Natural Graphite are blocks of solid graphite. They're perfect for creating expressive, dynamic artwork. They can be used flat to cover large areas, or on their edge for precise detail.

Clutch and Mechanical Pencils 

A clutch or mechanical pencil is basically a plastic lead holder with a separate solid graphite replaceable lead inside. The mechanism on some of the pencils clutches the lead inside hence the name and will release the lead so you can set the length yourself and some mechanical pencils once pushed down will only release a certain length incrementally. There are many different types and styles to choose from.

They never need sharpening as the lead inside the case is pushed down to the point where it is worn away. Clutch and Mechanical pencils are used for technical drawings, and also by fine artists and illustrators and provide a constant neat fine line. Fine and meticulous detail can be achieved using these pencils. The replaceable leads come in the same grades as normal graphite pencils. Another great advantage of these pencils is they stay the same size in the hand so you can maintain stability and balance whilst working.

Pentel Automatic Pencils

Pentel's Automatic Pencils offer a consistent line width that doesn't need sharpening, making them great for technical drawing, illustration, drafting, sketching, and more. 

These pencils feature an integrated, replaceable eraser and refillable Super Hi-Polymer HB leads.

Jakar Clutch Pencil Set

This set from Jakar features a clutch pencil with 12 spare HB 2mm leads contained in a convenient storage case, alongside a non-toxic eraser.

The 2mm thick lead makes this pencil great for rough sketching and shading, with the spare lead ensuring that you can keep working without worry for a long time.

Lead the Way!

We hope this article has helped you get to grips with the differing grades of graphite and how they can affect your art, and made you start thinking about how you can use them in your own artistic practice. If you post your work on social media, don't forget to tag it with #ColouringTheNation so we can see your incredible illustrations!

For even more low prices on best-selling pencils, check out the Drawing and Illustration Collection here on the ARTdiscount website.