How to make a pencil sketch better?

A pencil sketch is a rough drawing often used to make a final finished image later. The pencil sketch is also an art in itself. With just a few supplies pencil sketches can give a new dimension to your drawings. So let us look at the steps that you can take to make those pencil sketches of yours even better.

If you are a beginner or have just tried your hand at sketching without giving much thought to it earlier but would like to improve on it now, then start with understanding your tools. As the name suggests you would need pencils for pencil sketches. There are different types of pencils and the most commonly used ones for drawing or sketching are graphite pencils. The core of a graphite pencil consists of a mix of clay and graphite mix. Depending on the filler mix the pencil can be harder or softer and also produce darker or lighter shades. These are indicated by the letters H or B which you must have seen on your pencil. H pencils are harder and create a lighter impact whereas B pencils are softer and create a darker impact. The other essential supplies are a drawing paper or a sketchbook, an eraser and a metallic sharper.

Apart from your tools, your setup would also create a huge impact on your drawing. Ensure that you have a good drawing board to hold your drawing sheet and place it at a proper angle that is perpendicular to your line of sight so that your drawings are not distorted.

When you started with your pencil sketches, you must have used basic and simple shapes to draw an image. Use the same concept to further improve your drawing. Try to break down your object into simpler shapes by closely observing them.

Your grip, the way you draw lines depending on the weight you put on them will all make a difference in giving a shape to your drawing. Another important factor to consider is to keep things clean. This means you need to plan how to start and complete your drawing so that you do not rest your hand on the completed part and smudge it. It is always a good idea to start from the top and depending on whether you are a right-hander or otherwise you would move from left to right or the opposite.

Shading is another important aspect to understand and learn to create an impressive pencil sketch. Hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, scribbling, circling, smooth shading and blending are all different techniques that can help you give depth, shadow and a smooth finish to your piece of art.

As you make progress in the art of pencil sketching and shading, you understand how with just a few supplies you can create a masterpiece. But if you are overwhelmed looking at all these things, you can also find expert advice to guide you.

You can join an art class in person or online where an expert can teach you various techniques and methods to improve your pencil sketches. Above all these things, what matters most is your practice. Keep sketching every day. Find new objects or try to find a newer perspective in an old piece of art and improve on it. You can definitely make your sketches better over a period of time.