Artist Toolbox: Drawing Tools & Materials:A practical guide to graphite, charcoal, colored pencil, and more

As you work through this book, it’s important to remember two things. First, you’ll always want to buy the best quality of materials that you can afford. Although student-grade materials are less expensive, artist-grade materials contain less filler, yield richer colors, give you more control over the medium, and are less likely to fade over time. Buying artistgrade materials upfront will likely save you frustration in the long run. Second, remember that the world of art materials is always growing. This book is a great way to broaden your knowledge of traditional and current materials, but always look to art stores and internet resources to keep abreast of new products on the scene. You never know what might fan the flames of inspiration!

Drawing Exercise

Now that you have learned about the materials and methods associated with graphite pencil, follow these steps to practice and combine some of the common techniques.

1 Begin by lightly laying in the basic shapes and outlines with an HB pencil, checking the proportions for accuracy. You can complete this step following any of the drawing methods—from using a light box to measuring with your pencil and thumb.