Graphite
Useful for sketching, proportions, construction and value studies. Harder leads make lighter marks; softer leads darken more quickly and deposit more graphite on the paper.
Useful for: sketching · construction · values · corrections
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DRAWING GUIDE
Choosing drawing tools and paper
Graphite, charcoal, ink and paper do not produce the same marks. This guide explains what each material is useful for, how the surface changes the result and what you actually need to start drawing.
01 · TOOLS
Graphite, charcoal or ink?
The useful question is not which tool is best, but what type of mark you need: light construction lines, dark masses, sharp contours or washes.
Charcoal
Useful for building dark areas quickly, working with broad masses and creating strong contrasts. It is particularly effective when the drawing depends more on light and volume than on precise outlines.
Useful for: shadows · large masses · contrast · volumeInk, nib & brush
Useful for clean lines, strong contrast and washes. Unlike graphite, the mark cannot simply be erased, so pressure, speed and the amount of ink become immediately visible.
Useful for: line · contrast · wash · lettering02 · PAPER
The surface changes the mark.
A smooth sheet, a textured paper and a paper designed to tolerate moisture will react differently to the same tool.
Smooth paper
Keeps fine lines clean and limits visible texture. Useful for nibs, precise contours, lettering and detailed graphite work.
Medium grain
Catches graphite, coloured pencil and charcoal more strongly. The texture of the sheet becomes part of the drawing.
More resistant paper
Useful when the drawing involves repeated erasing, several layers or a small amount of water. For ink and wash, always test how quickly the sheet absorbs liquid.
Sketchbook
Useful for keeping studies, tests, repeated exercises and quick drawings together instead of treating every sheet as a finished work.
Before starting a finished drawing
Make three quick marks in a corner or on a spare sheet: a light line, a dark line and an erased or wet area. This immediately shows how the paper reacts.
03 · METHOD
A simple order for building a drawing
Working in a clear order avoids spending time on details before the proportions and values are established.
Observe
Identify the main proportions, the direction of the light and the largest shapes before drawing details.
Place lightly
Use light marks for axes, proportions and empty spaces. Correct them before pressing harder.
Set the values
Locate one of the darkest areas early. It gives you a reference for judging the middle and lighter values.
Add detail last
Once proportions and values work, strengthen the edges, textures or details that actually matter.
04 · STARTING MATERIAL
You do not need a complete drawing case.
A few different functions are more useful than a long series of almost identical pencils.
For basic drawing
One medium graphite pencil, one softer pencil, an eraser and drawing paper are enough to work on line, proportions and values.
To work darker
Add charcoal when you need deeper shadows, faster tonal masses or stronger contrasts.
For ink and wash
Add a nib or brush, ink and a paper that tolerates the amount of moisture you intend to use.
For regular practice
Keep a sketchbook for exercises and observation, then use separate sheets when you need more space or a different paper.
05 · FAQ
Common questions
Which pencil should I start with?
A medium pencil for construction and a softer one for darker values are enough. There is no need to buy every hardness before knowing what you use.
Do I need special drawing paper?
Not for simple graphite drawing. The paper becomes more important when you use charcoal, repeated erasing, ink or water because texture, strength and absorption directly affect the result.
Why does my drawing look flat?
Often because the values are too similar. Compare the darkest area, the lightest area and the middle values instead of only strengthening the outlines.
Can ink be used for drawing?
Yes. Nibs and brushes are useful for line, contrast and wash. The main difference is that corrections are more limited than with graphite.
DRAWING & PAINTING
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