How can you eliminate this problem, or at least minimize it? It can be frustrating, but it happens very often, especially when you are shading. Smudging can ruin all your hard work, especially if you are aiming for a clean-looking result. Based on where the primary light source is coming from, you will be able to plan your sketch in advance.Īs a rule of thumb, the parts facing the light source are always lighter than all the other parts of the sketch that are more “in the shadow.” You will have to make those parts more intense and create a contrast with the lighter parts. Is it going to be a live model (a person or an object), or will it be an image? Once you pick the subject of your sketch, it is time to identify where the light is coming from. The next step is to pick the subject of your sketch. You can also try portrait sketching or do an initial sketch of a human body or human figures. You can start practicing by trying to create a quick sketch.ĭraw straight lines, squares, triangles, circles, or other geometric shapes or geometric patterns for a few minutes to warm up your hand. Sketching, especially for beginners, is all about exploring and making all the possible mistakes. Start With Baby StepsĬan’t draw straight lines or perfect circles? No problem. The hardback will provide support whenever you need to sketch or draw something. We recommend hardcover sketchbooks over paperback ones simply because hardcovers are ideal for indoor and outdoor use. If you want to express yourself more on the creative side, then soft pencils from 2B to 8B would be your best bet.īesides picking suitable pencils for you, you will also need to buy a sketchbook. If you need to do technical drawings/sketches, then we recommend picking hard pencils. If you want a higher degree of hardness, you should go with 10H. Let’s say you have to pick between a soft pencil that has 5 H or 10 H printed on them. The numbers will make your job easier in deciding the color intensity of the pencil or the degree of hardness. Sometimes, you will also see a number attached to B, H, HB, and F letters. The last degree of hardness is HB, which stands for “hard black” and means that the hardness degree is medium. These pencils are perfect for anyone with a lot of drawing experience and who feels comfortable using them. If you see the H letter printed on the pencil, that means that the pencil is hard, and if you see the F letter printed on the pencil, that means that the pencil is firm. Usually, these types of pencils are soft and ideal for children. If you see a pencil with the word B printed on it, that means that the pencil is black. The degree of hardness is usually printed on the pencil, especially if they are made specifically for drawing. Which pencil is right for you?īefore answering that, let’s take a look at the four degrees of hardness. For detailed drawing, you might want to use fine pens or pencils, but in preliminary drawing, you might use broader strokes. However, once you take sketching more seriously, it is crucial to find out which tool is right for you and understand the importance of using different pencils. In theory, sketching requires only a pen, some paper, and your creativity.