Betty
Di Salvo
Bridging the gap between formal and informal learning
Museum
and Gallery Art Education
Use a white sheet of paper to explore how graded pencils work.
Start by shading the area you wish to be dark, using a darker grade of pencil (B, 2B) and slowly build up the tone, using lighter grades (H, 2H).
THE VALUE IN PENCIL DRAWING
...USING PRESSURE...
In pencil drawings, the value can be determined by the amount of pressure you apply with the pencil. The more the pressure, the darker the value.
A very light touch will produce the lightest shades.
...USING PENCIL GRADES...
In pencil drawing you can also use multiple pencil grades to create the value.
Pencils have a graphite core known as the "lead". Pencil leads vary in strength, smoothness, smudge resistance, and hardness. Some are relatively dark, while others are relatively light. Depending on how hard the lead is, the pencil makes different marks. A hard pencil lead leaves light, fine marks that are great for drawing precise details. A soft pencil lead leaves dark, heavy marks that are typically used for filling in large areas, or for shadows.
There are 2 graphite grading scales used to measure the hardness of a pencil’s graphite core.
Numerical Graphite Scale:
The higher the number the harder the writing core and the lighter the mark left on the paper.
HB Graphite Scale:
The letter “H” indicate a hard pencil. The letter “B” designate the blackness of the pencil’s mark, indicating a softer lead.
Use a white sheet of paper to draw lines back and forth with your pencil. Without lifting the pencil, start with the lightest values you can create and gradually add more pressure to the pencil to create progressively darker value, ending with the darkest hue you can create.