Pencil Sketches Cartoon: A Beginner's Guide

As a beginner, it's essential to invest in the right tools to get started with pencil sketching. You'll want to have two types of paper at your disposal - sketch paper and archival drawing paper. Sketch paper is ideal for testing out ideas and refining techniques, while archival paper is thicker and has a gentle 'tooth' that's perfect for graphite work.

For erasers, you can opt for a soft gum eraser or a 'big pink' eraser, which are both low-cost and versatile options. These erasers aren't just limited to correcting mistakes; they can also be used to sharpen your pencil to different tips, giving you more drawing versatility.

A manual pencil sharpener with two openings is a great choice for beginners, allowing you to experiment with different tip sizes and graphite hardness. As you become more serious about drawing with pencils, consider investing in high-quality mechanical pencils, which are perfect for line work, hatching, and cross-hatching.

When it comes to selecting the right pencils, start by getting a variety of H and B pencils (even fancy models won't break the bank). Within each letter category, there are numbers denoting degrees of hardness or softness, with higher numbers indicating softer pencils. Don't worry if you're unsure about what letter/number you need or what type of drawing you'll be doing - pencils are graded by both number and letter, with 'H' being harder and 'B' being softer (or blacker).

With the basics covered, you can start making your mark in the world of pencil sketching. Our beginner's guide to drawing with pencils will help you master these fundamentals and move on to more complex subjects. And don't worry if you're skeptical - try the quickie sketching tutorial below to see how easy it is to create your first pencil drawing.

Pencil sketches cartoon