Whether you are a professional draftsman, architect, illustrator, designer, comic book writer, and others, you must know which are the best drawing pencils and how to choose them.
In most creative industries, it is impossible to do without one fundamental tool: a pencil. Regardless of whether you are an established architect, a professional artist, or a beginner, having the best drawing pencils is essential.
Although, we already have explained how to choose good quality colored pencils. But there are other considerations when thinking about the right graphite pencil for your drawing. In fact, like most artists, you will end up using several different pencils depending on the effect you are looking for.
Finding the best graphite pencils to bring your sketches and designs to life may seem like a challenge, but it pretty much comes down to your personal preferences. Once you know which brand you are most comfortable with, you can mix and match pencils of different grades to expand your drawing capabilities. You will notice that a large part of our suggestions are pencil sets, allowing you to experiment with a wide variety of lines and shadows, but keep in mind that each brand also sells its pencils individually.
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How to choose the best pencils for drawing?
First, you should consider your drawing style, when choosing the perfect graphite pencil for your artwork. If you are doing detailed illustrations with fine lines, you will need a different type of pencil than you would use if you were sketching with heavy shading. Do you use thick and dark lines in your drawings, or do you prefer softer and thinner lines? Knowing what your personal art style is will make your choice that much easier.
Keep in mind that most artists use more than one type of pencil. This is why many manufacturers sell drawing pencil sets with different degrees of hardness, which will allow you to combine different types of strokes in the same image.
Grading of pencils for drawing
Once you have decided what type of illustration you are going to do, it is necessary to choose the degree of hardness of your pencil. Drawing pencils are made from a mixture of clay and graphite, and the type of line they produce will depend on the amount of clay present in the pencil. Generally speaking, the more clay in the mix, the harder the pencil will be and the smoother the stroke.
You have probably heard of the famous pencil number 2, which is the one used for standardized tests in schools. This scale of graduation is American and goes from 1 to 4, but in the rest of the world, the classification is different. Most manufacturers are based on the HB scale, where “H” represents the hardness (“hardness”) and “B” is the darkness of the line (“blackness”). Pencil number 2 is equivalent to HB on this scale.
The HB scale ranges from 9H, the hardest pencil that leaves fine and smooth marks, to 9B, the softest and with the most amount of graphite which leaves deep black marks. Although manufacturers use this scale when classifying their pencils, keep in mind that everything is relative to a certain brand, so the stroke of the same H6 pencil may vary slightly from one manufacturer to another.
Once you know what type of line you can get with each type of pencil, it will be easy to mix and match to create a pencil set that fits your needs as an artist.
The best drawing pencils for both beginners and professionals to buy
There are many brands of colored pencils and I have decided to list only 10 in this post, leaving aside many others that could surely be perfectly included. But I have chosen these 10 based on my personal experience and factors such as price and ease of purchase; as well as the opinions of many other users.
Made from high-quality pigments, these sets are sure to deliver the consistency and excellence you need. So whether you’re a casual sketchbook maker, an aspiring artist, or an established teacher, these pencils will allow you to do your best work.
Castle Art Graphite Drawing Pencils and Sketch Set
Personally, I think it is the best pack of drawing pencils for beginners. If I had to start now, it is the one that I would opt for as it brings an excellent presentation and is much more complete than the others but also more expensive.
It will give you the opportunity to try many materials and it has a medium quality that will not make you feel like you are wasting money.
Due to its good presentation, I also see it as an ideal gift for drawing artists if you are considering giving a present to someone who begins to have artistic concerns.
Staedtler Mars Lumograph: the best professional drawing pencils
This renowned German brand is a favorite among designers and artists, as its quality is incredible. I use them personally and they have never failed me, especially in my realistic and detailed drawing. The Staedtler range offers us a great range that covers from 12B to 10H.
This standard set includes laces 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, HB, F, H, 2H, 3H, and 4H. You can trust me that being a beginner or an expert, you won’t get any better for now.
Blackwing Matte Pencil Set – 12 Count
This is another of the best graphite pencil sets for both beginners and professional artists. In the world of pencils, Blackwing has an impressive range. It developed something of a cult following before it was discontinued in 1998.
In 2010, Palomino bought the brand and the result is more than worth the Blackwing name. There are three main pen options to choose from. Blackwing (similar to a 5B), Blackwing Pearl (4B), and Blackwing 602 (3B).
Wax has been added to the leads, making them super soft to wear and creating velvety dark marks.
Caran D’ache Graphite Line
This price may scare you. And yes, this beautiful Caran D’ache Graphite Line box actually comes with 15 pencils, plus graphite rods and accessories, at a significant price.
But we are talking about the highest quality graphite. The Graphite Line range has been carefully developed and refined in the Geneva workshops of Caran d’Ache to explore all the different shades of black and offer thick and thin lines, gradation, flat wash, blur, and watercolor effects.
It’s an incredibly expensive pencil set, but once you’ve tried it, you won’t feel the same with other pencils.
Prismacolor Premier Drawing pencils
The Prismacolor Drawing Set is a good introductory kit to start sketching. Includes seven pencils of varying grades, as well as four wood-free graphite pencils. These allow you to make beautiful broad strokes when used sideways and are great for experimenting with different techniques. In addition, the set includes water-soluble pencils, which transform the lines when they come into contact with water. This drawing kit is a great tool to start serious drawing.
Lyra Rembrandt Art Design Drawing Pencils
For a much more reasonable price, this set of hexagonal pencils from Lyra’s Rembrandt range is the ideal way to specialize your shading skills.
The Rembrandt Art Design Complete Set covers 17 pencils from 9B to 6H, and this box features a good cross-sectional display, allowing you to get really creative with your shading.
Each pencil is lined with pure cedar wood and contains an ultra-fine graphite lead that is also suitable for more rigid technical drawing techniques.
Derwent Graphite Pencil Set
The Cumberland Pencil Company has been making some of the best pencils since 1832, and they feel the quality of their Derwent brand. Sold individually and in sets, these pencils draw smooth, easy lines on paper.
They’re great for bold line drawings and freestyle sketches, and you can select the set that suits your art style. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
Uni Kurutoga – Mechanical pencil
Uni Kurutoga 0. mm pencil is probably the most modern mechanical pencil on the market. This Kurutoga mechanical pencil uses a spring-loaded clutch to gradually rotate the graphite as you draw, creating an even use of the stroke.
This means you get a beautifully thin line that remains consistent throughout your drawing, and breakage is kept to a minimum. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
Pentel P200 Series
If you’re looking for an inexpensive mechanical pencil that gives you a high-quality experience, I recommend the Pentel 200.
These inexpensive pencils may not have any distinguishable features, but they do the job very well and are really nice, these are the best mechanical pencils for professional drawing purposes. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
rOtring Rapid PRO Mechanical Pencil
This beautiful Rotring Rapid Pro metal drawing pencil is truly one of the best pencils for professionals.
It features a hexagonal body and circular cross-hatch metal grip, as well as a full metal body designed to balance weight.
The padded tip mechanism allows the sliding sleeve to yield slightly under pressure, reducing the risk of lead breakage when drawing.
The pencil also includes a clip and an eraser under the cap. It is a fantastic mechanical pencil for designing, analytical drawing, and typography. Want to know more and read user reviews? Just follow the link below.
Conclusion
It is very likely that at this point you already know which model you are going to choose among the best drawing pencils for beginners and professional artists that I have shown you throughout this post. To get them at the best price, I recommend making your purchase directly on Amazon.
But, if you still have not made a purchase decision regarding the models that I have shown you, I invite you to see the opinions of other users. Thus, you can make a purchase decision in a much faster and completely correct way so that you have the best results.
Finally, I would like to invite you to share my post with your family and friends. In this way, they can also buy the best for beginners and professional artists at the lowest prices, without having to leave their homes. And don’t forget to share your opinions with us. You can use the comment section below. Thank you.