how to use a pencil

How to Use a Pencil By Scot Saunders

How to Use a Pencil © Scot SaundersAll rights reserved by author.

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How to Use a PencilBy Scot Saunders

www.scotsaunders.com How to Use a Pencil © 2013 Scot Saunders

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Table of Contents

How to Hold a Pencil/Charcoal: The Grip...4• Clip Grip• Tripod Grip• Extended Tripod Grip• Overhand Grip

Making a Mark.............................................6• Drawing a Vertical Line• Drawing a Horizontal Line

Range of Motion..........................................7• Range of Motion I• Range of Motion II

Learning How to Scribble............................8• “If I can teach you how to scribble, I can teach you how to draw”

The Pencil: A brief history............................3

How to Use a Pencil © 2013 Scot Saunders

The Secret to Drawing a Perfect Circle.......9• The Grip• Imagination• Application

The Secret to Drawing a Perfect Oval........11• The Grip• Identification• Application

Finding Perspective Angles with a Pencil....13• The Grip• Identification• Application

Sight Measuring with a Pencil....................15• The Grip• Identification• Application

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How to Use a Pencil

The Pencil: A Brief History In 1564, a large deposit of graphite was discovered near Seathwaite Fell in Cumbria, England. The deposit of graphite was extremely pure, solid and could easily be sawn into sticks. This was, and remains, the only deposit of graphite ever found in a solid form. Chemistry was in its infancy at this time in history and the substance was thought to be a form of lead. Consequently it was called plumbago (Latin for "acts like lead"). To this day the black core of pencils is still called “lead,” even though it does not contain the element lead.

The value of plumbago was enormous, primarily because it could be used to line the moulds for cannon balls or mark local sheep. Handling the material was a little difficult because plumbago was relatively soft requiring some form of casing. The sticks were first wrapped in string or sheepskin for stability while news of the usefulness of these early pencils spread, attracting the attention of artists all over the known world.

The Italians first thought of using wooden holders by hollowing out a stick of juniper wood. Soon after, a superior technique was discovered: two wooden halves of juniper wood were carved, a plumbago stick inserted, and the two halves then glued together which is similar to the method used today.

While deposits of graphite had been found in other parts of the world, they were not of the same purity and quality as the material found in Seathwaite Fell. England continued to enjoy a monopoly on the production of pencils until a method of reconstituting the graphite powder was found. The distinctively square English pencils continued to be made with sticks cut from natural graphite into the 1860’s. Today, the town of Keswick, near the original findings of black graphite, has a pencil museum.

The first attempt to manufacture graphite sticks from powdered graphite was in Nuremburg Germany in 1662 where graphite and sulfur were mixed together. Although the graphite sticks were usable the mixture was inferior to the English pencils.

In 1794, Nicholas Jacques Conte invented a Graphite-Clay process. He discovered that by mixing powdered graphite with clay he could shape the clay into thin rods. These thin rods, or leads, were then fired in a kiln at high temperature. The greater the graphite contents in the rod, the softer and darker the lead. The greater the clay contents in the rod, the harder and lighter the lead. This method of manufacturing is still in use today.

How to Use a Pencil © 2013 Scot Saunderswww.scotsaunders.com



How to Hold A Pencil There are a number of different ways to hold a pencil or charcoal when drawing. The following are the most common grips. Clip Grip: this grip allows complete control of the pencil and is used for detail work (*Limited Range of Motion).

Tripod'Grip:"This"is"the"grip"used"for"both"writing"and"drawing."This"grip"allows"for"complete"control"of"the"pencil"and"is"used"for"detail"work"not"long"strokes"(*Limited"Range"of"Motion)."

How to Use A Pencil © 2013 Scot Saunderswww.scotsaunders.com



How to Use A Pencil © 2013 Scot Saunders

Overhand Grip (like and orchestra conductor): This grip allows you to use the point of the pencil in addition to the side of the pencil lead. Holding the back of the pencil relieves pressure from the point and allows for loose work (*Full Range of Motion).

Extended Tripod Grip: Holding the back of the pencil relieves pressure from the point and allows for loose work (*Full Range of Motion).





Drawing a Horizontal LineTo draw a horizontal line, use the Overhand grip.

– Hold your pencil towards the back of the pencil and vertically. – Hold the pencil loosely in your hand with your thumbnail pointing towards you. – While contacting the paper with your ring fingernail or little finger pull the pencil straight down. – A combination of 1) the pencil lead and 2) the fingernail will create two contact points, which will

help to stabilize the mark being made.

Making a Mark How many times have you heard or said, “I can’t draw a straight line!” Actually, the average person can draw a straight line without a ruler from 1-2 inches.

Drawing a Vertical LineTo draw a vertical line, use the Extended Tripod grip.

– Hold your pencil towards the back of the pencil and horizontally. – Hold the pencil loosely in your hand with your thumbnail pointing towards you. – While contacting the paper with your ring fingernail or little finger pull the pencil straight down. – A combination of 1) the pencil lead and 2) the ring fingernail will create two contact points, which

will help to stabilize the mark being made.





Range of Motion

!!!The"tools"and"techniques"used"to"draw"and"paint"would"be"useless"if"it"were"not"for"the"full"use"of"our"arms"and"hands."Many"times"the"motion"used"is"assumed"rather"than"taught"and"as"a"result"many"students"are"left"

unclear"and"confused"as"to"how"to"manipulate"or"use"a"new"tool"or"technique."

"""The"movement"in"the"arm"required"to"produce"a"drawing"or"painting"is"called"Range'of'Motion."The"Range"of"Motion"used"at"the"wrist"is"very"different"than"the"range"of"motion"used"at"the"elbow"or"shoulder."

Your"Arm"as"a"Drawing"Instrument

"""When"a"student"picks"up"a"pencil"and"begins"to"draw"many"students"assume"they"are"supposed"to"draw"the"

same"way"they"write."This"is"because"it’s"assumed"that"the"Range"of"Motion"is"the"same"for"drawing"as"it"is"for"

writing."The"word"“to"Draw,”"however"means,"“to"pull.”"So"when"we"draw"we"are"actually"supposed"to"draw"from"

the"shoulder,"using"our"entire"arm,"or"full"Range"of"Motion,"as"a"drawing"instrument."

*!Tip:!Drawing!a!Straight!LineHere"is"a"little"trick"to"use"for"drawing"a"straight"line.

1. You"will"be"using"the"edge"of"the"paper,"drawing"board,"and"sketchbook"to"create"a"straight"line.

2. Using"the"Tripod"or"Overhand"grip,"extend"the"pencil"from"your"hand"holding"it"towards"the"back"of"

the"pencil"depending"on"where"on"the"page"you"want"your"mark."

3. Place"your"small"Tinger"on"the"edge"of"the"surface,"sketchbook,"desk,"or"drawing"board,"which"you"are"

working"on.

4. Apply"slight"pressure"towards"the"tip"of"the"pencil.

5. Slowly"pull"the"pencil"down"creating"a"mark"on"the"page.





Exercise:"Range"of"Motion"I

Write"your"name"in"the"upper"right"hand"corner"of"a"piece"of"paper.

Q:"What"part"of"the"arm"is"being"used"when"we"write"this"way?

A:"The"wrist

"""It’s"assumed"that"since"we"write"with"a"pencil"that"we"should"also"draw"the"same"way,"that"the"Range"of"

Motion"is"the"same."While"drawing"from"the"wrist"is"used"for"detail"work,"it"should"not"be"used"for"the"overall"

drawing.

Exercise:"Range"of"Motion"II

Write"your"name"again"Tilling"the"entire"piece"of"paper.

Q:"What"part"of"the"arm"was"used?

A:"The"shoulder,"elbow,"and"wrist

This"is"an"example"of"what"a"full"Range"of"Motion"feels"like"when"we"draw"or"paint."In"the"next"section"you"will"

take"this"a"step"further"and"learn"how"to"scribble."I"know"I"can"already"hear"it,"“Scribble?”"You’ll"see.

Learning How to Scribble“If$I$can$teach$you$how$to$scribble,$I$can$teach$you$how$to$draw”

"""I"Tirmly"believe"if"a"student"can"learn"how"to"scribble,"they"can"learn"how"to"draw."This"is"because"Scribbling"

immediately"teaches"the"student"to"use"the"whole"arm"as"a"drawing"tool"and"begins"to"break"old"habits"of"

drawing"to"tight"from"the"wrist"alone."In"addition,"Scribbling"has"a"similar"motion"for"gestural"and"contour"

drawing,"which"is"described"in"the"section"“Gestural"and"Contour"Drawing.”

Exercise:"Scribbling

On"a"large"piece"of"newsprint"scribble"using"the"whole"arm"and"a"full"Range"of"Motion"for"approx."30"sec.

*Tip:$Newsprint$is$ideal$for$this

Q:"What"muscles"do"they"feel?

] These"are"the"same"muscles"we"use"to"draw"with,"from"the"shoulder"down.

] This"Range"of"Motion"is"used"for"loose"quick"sketches"when"Tirst"starting"a"drawing"or"painting.

] The"Range"of"Motion"in"the"shoulder,"elbow,"and"wrist"is"different"than"isolating"the"wrist"alone.





The Secret to Drawing a Perfect CircleThe"secret"to"drawing"a"perfect"circle"and"a"perfect"oval"actually"begins"in"the"mind,"not"in"a"technique."The"idea"

behind"this"is"that"the"body"will"respond"to"what"we"are"thinking"about."I"found"this"to"be"true"as"a"volleyball"

coach"when"I"heard"about"coaches"of"professional"teams"directing"their"players"to"close"their"eyes"and"imagine"

themselves"playing"the"game."Each"team"member"envisioned"themselves"on"the"court"or"Tield"in"their"particular"

position."When"the"coach"said"“go”"they"were"to"mentally"play"the"game,"imagining"themselves"responding"to"

different"scenarios"being"played"out."I"decided"to"try"this"with"my"volleyball"team,"I"had"them"sit"in"the"middle"of"

the"volleyball"court,"close"their"eyes,"and"play"the"game"the"day"before"we"played"an"actual"game."The"results"

were"very"impressive."

The"secret"to"drawing"a"perfect"circle"is"actually"a"quick"exercise"teaching"the"student"to"trust"themselves"and"

the"mark"they"desire"to"make"on"a"page."Many"beginning"students"are"intimidated"to"make"even"the"slightest"

mark"on"a"page"because"1)"they"are"unfamiliar"with"the"material,"yes,"even"a"pencil,"and"2)"they"are"afraid"to"fail"

and"be"criticized."In"order"to"nurture"a"successful"art"student"they"require"achievable"goals"and"lots"of"

encouragement,"especially"the"beginner"because"they"are"already"dealing"with"self]defeat."The"point"of"this"

exercise"is"to"begin"training"the"mind"and"body"to"work"together"holistically"in"a"simple"exercise."I"have"had"

huge"success"with"this"one"simple"exercise"to"help"encourage"the"beginner"and"give"them"their"Tirst"successful"

drawing,"a"perfect"circle.

Exercise: The Secret to Drawing a Perfect Circle

The"Technique:"Pencil"Grip"&"Starting"Position

1. To"begin"this"exercise,"pick"up"the"pencil"using"the"Overhand"Grip"(*mentioned"above)."

2. Do"not"touch"the"pencil"to"the"paper"at"this"point,"but"hold"the"pencil"just"above"the"paper."

3. As"you"hold"the"pencil"over"the"paper"you"may"wish"to"rest"your"ring"Tingernail"lightly"on"the"paper"

for"support."





Imagination:"Relax"and"Imagine

1. Begin"by"thinking"“circle,"circle,"circle.”

2. Right2handed"artist:"While"imagining"a"circle"in"you"mind"and"thinking"“circle,”"begin"to"move"your"hand"in"a"counter]clockwise"circular"motion,"but"do"not"touch"the"pencil"to"paper"yet.

**$Tip:$Remember$to$use$a$Full$Range$of$Motion.3. Left2handed"artist:"While"imagining"a"circle"in"you"mind"and"thinking,"“circle,”"begin"to"move"your"

hand"in"a"clock]wise"circular"motion,"but"do"not"touch"the"pencil"to"paper"yet."

**Tip:$Remember$to$use$a$Full$Range$of$Motion.$4. Continue"to"think"circle"while"your"hand"is"moving"in"a"circular"motion."

5. Allow"yourself"to"Relax…Relax…Relax."

Application:"Drawing"a"Perfect"Circle

1. While"your"hand"is"in"motion"and"thinking"circle,"allow"the"pencil"to"rest"on"the"paper"while"in"

motion"and"draw"a"circle.

2. If"your"circle"is"a"little"out]of]round,"not"a"complete"circle,"that"area"indicates"where"you"over]

thought,"or"lost"concentration,"and"your"body"tightened"up.

3. Remember,"set"your"hand"in"motion,"think"circle,"relax,"and"allow"the"pencil"to"draw"freely."

4. Trust"yourself"to"make"the"mark"on"the"page.





Imagination:"Relax"and"Imagine

1. Begin"by"thinking"“circle,"circle,"circle.”

2. Right]handed"artist:"While"imagining"a"circle"in"you"mind"and"thinking,"“circle,”"begin"to"move"your"

hand"in"a"counter]clockwise"circular"motion,"but"do"not"touch"the"pencil"to"paper"yet.

3. *!Tip:!Remember!to!use!a!Full!Range!of!Motion.4. Left]handed"artist:"While"imagining"a"circle"in"you"mind"and"thinking,"“circle,”"begin"to"move"your"

hand"in"a"clock]wise"circular"motion,"but"do"not"touch"the"pencil"to"paper"yet."

5. *Tip:!Remember!to!use!a!Full!Range!of!Motion.!6. Continue"to"think"circle"while"your"hand"is"moving"in"a"circular"motion."

7. Allow"yourself"to"relax."Relax…Relax…Relax."

The!Secret!to!Drawing!a!Perfect!Oval

"""If"drawing"a"circle"isn’t"challenging"enough,"attempting"to"draw"the"egg]shaped"oval"may"seem"down"right"

impossible."Once"again"the"“secret”"is"not"in"forcing"the"pencil"to"move"in"a"circle."The"“secret”"is"actually"in"your"

ability"to"imagine"a"circle"in"your"minds"eye,"to"relax"and"allow"yourself"to"execute"to"movement"freely."As"

mentioned"above"the"idea"behind"this"is"that"the"body"will"respond"to"what"we"are"thinking"about."The"point"of"

this"exercise"is"to"begin"training"the"mind"and"body"to"work"together"holistically"in"a"simple"exercise."The"

instructions"for"drawing"an"oval"are"similar"to"the"circle"with"one"exception.

Exercise:!The!Secret!to!Drawing!a!Perfect!Oval



2. Do"not"touch"the"pencil"to"the"paper"at"this"point,"but"hold"the"pencil"just"above"the"paper."

3. As"you"hold"the"pencil"over"the"paper"you"may"wish"to"rest"your"ring"Tingernail"lightly"on"the"paper"

for"support."





Application:"Drawing"a"Perfect"Oval

1. While"your"hand"is"in"motion"and"thinking"circle,"allow"the"pencil"to"rest"on"the"paper"while"in"

motion"and"begin"to"draw"a"continuous"circle.

2. If"your"circle"is"a"little"out]of]round,"not"a"complete"circle,"that"area"indicates"where"you"over]

thought,"or"lost"concentration,"and"tightened"up.

3. Remember,"set"your"hand"in"a"circular"motion,"think"circle,"relax,"and"allow"the"pencil"to"draw"freely."

4. Trust"yourself"and"the"mark"you"make"on"the"page.

5. While"your"hand"is"drawing"a"continuous"circle,"quickly"drop"your"hand"as"you"approach"the"bottom"

of"the"circle"and"continue"in"the"circular"motion.

6. The"thought"and"motion"should"look"and"sound"something"like"this,"“circle,"circle,"drop,"circle,"circle,"

drop,"circle,"circle,"drop.”

7. Once"you"become"familiar"with"the"thought"and"motion"advance"to"“circle,"drop,"circle,"drop,"circle,"

drop.”




Finding Perspective Angles with a PencilWhile"a"detailed"section"on"perspective"will"be"discussed"in"a"later"section,"it"is"important"at"this"point"to"

present"a"brief"explanation"of"how"to"use"the"pencil"as"a"tool"to"Tind"perspective"angles"and"applying"it"to"a"Tlat"

drawing"or"painting"surface.

Most,"if"not"all,"of"our"subject"matter"will"require"observational"drawing"and"painting"techniques."This"means"

that"the"subject"we"are"working"from"will,"for"the"most"part,"be"three]dimensional."The"problem"arises"when"the"

student"attempts"to"draw"a"three]dimensional"object"on"a"two]dimensional"Tlat"surface."

The"following"technique"will"help"you"to"not"only"interpret"three]dimensional"perspective"angles"but"also"

transfer"them"to"your"two]dimensional"Tlat"surface."

Exercise:!Finding!Perspective!Angles!with!a!Pencil• Ideal"practice"locations"include"a"hallway,"kitchen"cabinets,"Neighborhood"Street,"your"home"or"local"

buildings.• While"this"technique"can"be"used"on"a"tabletop,"the"ideal"is"to"use"it"with"drawing"boards"and"easels."


1. Begin"by"holding"your"pencil"with"the"Extended"Overhand"Grip"towards"the"back"of"your"pencil.

2. Extend"your"arm"out"in"front"of"you"until"your"elbow"locks.

3. Hold"the"pencil"horizontal"to"the"ground,"as"one"end"point’s"to"your"left"side"and"the"end"you"are"

holding"points"to"the"right.

*!Tip:!Imagine!you!are!holding!your!pencil!against!a!Ilat!wall!in!front!of!you.




IdentiTication:"Finding"the"Angle"

1. Begin"in"“Starting"Position”"and"close"the"eye"that"is"opposite"the"one"holding"the"pencil,"i.e."right]

handers"close"left"eye,"left]handers"close"right"eye"(as"if"looking"through"a"telescope)."

2. In"“Starting"Position,”"with"one"eye"closed,"begin"to"rotate"the"wrist"clock]wise"or"counter]clockwise"

until"the"pencil"lines"up"with"the"angle"you"are"trying"to"copy.

3. As"you"Tind"angles"there"will"be"the"tendency"to"start"pointing"your"pencil"out"in"the"distance."DO"NOT"

ALLOW"YOURSELF"TO"DO"THIS."Force"yourself"to"keep"the"pencil"horizontally"in"front"of"you"as"if"you"

were"holding"it"up"against"a"wall.

Application:"Transferring"the"Angle

1. Once"the"pencil"has"lined"up"with"the"angle"you"are"copying,"open"the"closed"eye"and"look"at"the"

angle,"or"direction,"of"your"pencil."

2. The"angle"of"the"pencil"now"represents"the"angle"of"the"line"you"make"on"your"drawing.

3. Hold"the"pencil"at"the"angle"you"just"found"and"lay"the"pencil"directly"on"the"work"surface"like"a"ruler.

4. Use"another"pencil"to"draw"the"angle.




Sight Measuring with a PencilSight"measuring"is"the"technique"used"when"working"with"proportions"and"Titting"a"life"size"object"onto"a"

smaller,"or"larger,"work"surface"as"it"proportionately"relates"to"another"object."There"are"a"number"of"

different"ways"to"sight"measure,"i.e.,"the"Grid,"Sight]size,"Sight"measuring,"and"Proportional"Calipers."All"of"

these"options"will"be"discussed"in"detail"in"the"Proportion"section."For"the"sake"of"this"section"Sight"

Measuring"will"be"discussed"as"yet"another"way"to"use"a"pencil"as"a"drawing"tool.

Exercise:!Sight!Measuring!and!Iinding!Proportions• Large"objects"such"as"a"desk,"table,"lamp,"couch,"or"person"would"be"ideal"subjects"for"this"exercise.• A"student"model"will"be"used"for"this"exercise"standing"approximately"10"feet"away"from"the"artist.



2. The"Pencil"should"be"held"loosely"in"the"curve"of"the"Tingers"with"the"thumb"lightly"resting"against"the"

pencil."

3. From"this"position"the"thumb"should"be"allowed"to"slide"freely"along"the"side"of"the"pencil.

4. Extend"your"arm"out"in"front"of"you"until"your"elbow"locks.




IdentiTication:"Finding"the"Proportion

1. Begin"in"“Starting"Position”"and"close"the"eye"that"is"opposite"the"one"holding"the"pencil,"i.e."right]

handers"close"left"eye,"left]handers"close"right"eye"(as"if"looking"through"a"telescope)."

2. With"your"arm"extended"and"elbow"locked,"hold"the"pencil"vertically"so"the"point"of"the"pencil"lead"

is"even"with"the"top"or"the"student’s"head."

3. Slide"your"thumb"down"the"side"of"the"pencil"until"you"reach"the"bottom"of"their"feet.

4. Stop"sliding"your"thumb"down"when"the"upper"part"of"your"thumb"is"even"with"the"bottom"of"the"

student’s"shoes.

5. Do"not"let"go"of"the"pencil,"you"now"have"a"unit"of"measure"from"the"tip"of"the"pencil"to"the"top"of"

your"thumb.

6. Right"handed"(Left]handed):"Rotate"the"wrist"counter]clockwise"(clockwise)"until"the"tip"of"the"

pencil"lines"up"with"the"outside"edge"of"the"student’s"right"shoulder.

7. How"many"shoulder"lengths"will"Tit"inside"your"unit"of"measure?"2,"2"¼,"2"½?"This"is"proportion."




Application:"Transferring"the"Proportion• Proportion"refers"to"how"the"size"of"one"object"relates"to"the"size"of"another"object.• For"this"exercise"use"a"water"bottle"with"an"apple"sitting"just"in"front"and"off"to"one"side"of"the"water"

bottle.

1. To"begin"transferring"proportional"information,"an"object"must"Tirst"be"sketched"lightly"on"the"paper,"

i.e."a"water"bottle.

2. The"height"and"width"can"be"determined"just"like"the"student"model"exercise"above"(*see"Finding"the"

Proportion).

3. Look"closely"at"the"apple"and"where"it"is"sitting"in"relation"to"the"water"bottle."

4. Does"the"edge"of"the"apple"cover"¼,"½,"¾"of"the"width"of"the"water"bottle?"

5. Make"a"light"mark"on"your"water"bottle"drawing"based"on"this"information.

6. Once"the"height"and"width"of"the"water"bottle"is"determined"Tind"the"unit"of"measure"for"the"length"of"

the"apple."

7. Rotate"the"wrist"clock]wise"or"counter]clockwise"until"the"top"of"your"thumb"lines"up"with"the"

bottom"of"the"water"bottle."

8. How"far"up"the"water"bottle"does"your"unit"of"measure"go?"¼,"½,"¾?

9. With"this"information"look"at"the"rough"water"bottle"sketch"you"drew."

10. Put"a"little"pencil"mark"in"the"same"area"where"your"unit"of"measure"for"your"apple"was."

11. Lay"your"pencil"down"with"the"tip"of"the"pencil"at"the"edge"of"the"mark"you"just"made"and"grip"the"

bottom"of"the"pencil"with"your"thumb"marking"the"bottom"of"the"water"bottle.

12. You"know"have"a"unit"of"measure"that"reTlects"the"length"of"the"apple"in"proportion"to"the"water"

bottle.

13. Place"the"edge"of"your"thumb"on"the"Tirst"pencil"mark"you"made.

14. The"tip"of"your"pencil"will"tell"you"where"the"outside"edge"of"the"apple"should"be"placed."

15. You"now"have"the"length"of"the"apple"in"proportion"to"the"water"bottle.

You"now"have"a"basic"understanding"of"how"to"use"your"pencil"as"a"valuable"tool"when"drawing."




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