The Secret to Creating Realistic Pencil Sketches

As a mainly self-taught artist (I had one "obligatory" elective art class in college) I have monitored my progress in creating really lifelike pencil drawings. People who see my artwork are amazed by the level of detail. And though I'm not quite the greatest artist in the world, I must admit that my skills have greatly improved over the years. The main thing that I have learned is that drawing lifelike images rarely has anything to do with how the pencil moves on the page. It has more to do with what the artist sees.

This quick guide will explain how to convince even your closest pals that you have been taking art classes for months. If you think you don't have the ability to draw, you might just prove yourself wrong.

The Materials

Drawing doesn't require a lot of physical preparation. In most cases, any old paper and pencil will do. But for the best results, I suggest purchasing a Strathmore Medium Drawing Pad. Though there are plenty of great brands, I have found Strathmore to offer better quality materials. Try getting a pad that measures 11"x14", to give you enough space to create, without feeling overwhelmed by a very large size.

Next, you will need something to draw with. Advanced artists will argue that to create masterpieces, a full set of fancy pencils should be obtained. In their defense, it should be mentioned that the different grades of pencil are indeed responsible for effecting various types of lines. For instance:

H- pencils (H, 2H, 4H) - These tend to create very thin, light lines. The lead in these pencils is usually the hardest. Thus, they smear a lot less. I find that these pencils are best for extremely light shading.

B- pencils (B, 2B, 4B) - The "B" range of lead allows for heavier, darker lines. Know that the greater the number, the heavier the intensity of the lead on the page. With this in mind, "B" pencils are great for heavy shading and darker grayscale tones.