Pencil Marks
Pencil Marks
This image shows some of the masks I can make with a graphite pencil. It took approximately 90 seconds to complete.
Pick up a pencil and try it for yourself. Try altering your hand position, the angle of the pencil, the speed your hand moves, and the pressure. Use the tip and the side of the pencils point. I use a KUM long point pencil sharpener to get a lovely long point with a very sharp tip, and flat sides, which enables me o make broad marks when I’m holding the pencil almost horizontally.
Playing with a pencil like this can help you discover just how creative and expressive you can be with a tool as simple as an ordinary pencil. HAVE FUN!
Click on the image to expand it so that you can see the marks in more detail.
How many different marks can you make with a graphite pencil?
Why not take this a step further?
Can you develop a shorthand of pencil marks that directly link to painterly marks we make with brushes. It is a technique that makes your sketches so much more meaningful. As you sketch you will find yourself planning the painting, and making much clearer decisions about what you want to include…or leave out!
This is something to build up over time - keep practising!
Visit Moor to Sea Arts for more inspiration and tuition by Rob and Siân