The feeling of pencil on paper. The sound of the pencil as it moves across the paper, the curling shards of a freshly sharpened pencil, even brushing away the tiny bits of eraser as a doodle changes and evolves. It's a moment of meditation, tool in hand, observing the world around us.
And now that the weather is getting (a bit) warmer my sketching things will be coming out and about a bit more, so I thought I’d have a rummage in my pencil case and share what will be joining me for a spot of springtime sketching in the wilds of Eastbourne!
'It is only by drawing often, drawing everything, drawing incessantly, that one fine day you discover, to your surprise, that you have rendered something in its true character.'
― Camille Pissarro
There's a whole range of physical tools you can use (you can draw with anything that makes a mark!) but there's a few bits I have in my pencil case most of the time.
Graphite pencils
I mostly use a 2B pencil for drawing as it’s hard enough for rough sketching but soft enough to get some good shading as well. If you’re after more contrast, pop in an HB for sketching out softer details and a 4B for greater depth too.
Clutch pencils
I love a clutch pencil. I'm quite heavy handed so the thicker 2mm lead works well for me when it comes to sketching with mechanical pencils. The ones with built in sharpeners in the end and super handy if you’re out and about and it's easy to switch between different lead grades, so one clutch pencil holder can transform with a different lead switched in!
Fineliners
If you're into manga you might have come across Pigma Micron pens. These fab little pens have fade-resistant, archival ink, making them great for artwork! I usually have 3 or 4 in different thicknesses from super fine 005 (think cats whiskers) to a thicker 1mm - great for outlining and architectural drawings.
Pencils have erasers on the end for a reason and I certainly make good use of them when I'm drawing. I usually have a big chunky one (I love my Koh-I-Noor Elephant!) and a smaller precision one that's handy for details.
What to draw on
Again, you can pretty much draw on anything but it's worth considering what you're drawing onto if you have a particular end game in mind.
I mostly draw for fun so I use a notebook that has sketch paper. I don’t need to take the drawings out, they are just there to capture a moment in time and for me to do something I enjoy. I like having them all together in a notebook and it makes it easy to pop in my bag.
If you're looking to frame or gift something you’re working on then you might want a tear off pad or a spiral bound so pages can easily be removed and trimmed.
If you're going to be working in pencil, most good quality notebook paper will hold up just fine. If you'll be using ink or fineliners it's worth getting paper that's at least 120gsm and if you'd like to build up layers of ink or paint over the top then look for sketch or watercolour paper that's at least 200gsm.
If you're using fineliners for lots of detail then something smooth And not too textured (like most paper from Japan) will allow you to get a cleaner, crisper finish!
Getting out and about
One of the things we love about drawing with analogue tools is that you can do it anywhere! No battery charger needed, just a pen or pencil.
If you're stuck for inspiration why not keep a mini notebook with you for sketching on the go. Have 10 mins waiting for the bus or sitting in a cafe at the weekend? Give yourself a few mins to do a quick sketch. A doodle a day is a great way to journal and keep a record of what’s on your mind and what you’ve been up to.
