Are you a graphite artist, or trying graphite pencils for the first time?
You don't need a large assortment of products. If you enjoy drawing outdoors, you can travel light, with no need for solvents and little to no mess.
The pencils are the most important part of the graphite toolkit, but they are more effective when combined with other products. In this blog, we discuss the five essential accessories for the graphite artist. If you are new to graphite pencils, you may prefer some over others, conditional on the style of your work.Let's take a look at them.
ERASERS/RUBBERS
Erasers are a must for any artist. Not only are they useful for erasing mistakes from your work, they can also be used as part of the creative technique. Highlight areas by erasing, lifting and softening the graphite to achieve the correct definition needed. An eraser is essential,but search any online art store and you will find so much choice. You may see it as overkill, and to a point, you are correct. Many art companies market similar products which they endorse for their own product ranges, so deciding which is the better option can be overwhelming.
Although we don't lean towards any particular brand, we provide images of the products we use ourselves, or have chosen purely for representation.
We discuss five different styles of eraser, that, depending on your artistic style, could be of interest to you. Do let us know in the comments section at the bottom of this page, what your personal favourite eraser(s) is and why.
standard eraserThis style of eraser is most commonly used. The corners, edges and the flat surface can be used wherever you need to erase. Choosing a dust-free option minimises dust drop, and is safer. Theseerasersdo not contain any harmful phthalates (chemical compounds), but contain a mixture of balanced plastics. Vertical Divider | Kneadable putty rubberKneaded erasers have great flexibility, allowing you to stretch, compress, split, and mould it into shape to achieve precision. You can create highlights, clean edges and trim lines during the drawing process. You may struggle to remove dark marks, and they can also smear or stick if they get too warm. |
PENCIL RUBBERThe Perfection Eraser Pencil is an eraser core in a wood-cased barrel. It is ideal for detailed erasing. Thewhite end erases ink. The pink end erases graphite and coloured pencil. Vertical Divider | PEN ERASERThe refillable precision eraser Mono Zero Classic erases fine lines and small detailed corrections, where precision is essential.The classic version is available with round and rectangular tips. |
the must-have eraser
Battery powered eraser
If you like detail, a battery powered eraser is the most useful tool to have in your arsenal. Use this alongside other erasers, to get the very best out of your work. There is no other eraser on the market that removes pencil from paper, like a battery powered eraser. It lifts almost all pencil from your paper, removing marks effortlessly, and doing all the hard work for you, leaving you to concentrate on accuracy.We highly recommend you practice how to hold and control this product before trying it on important work, as it is quite powerful!
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The white hairs were created with the battery powered eraser |
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| soft brushAvoid touching your paper with your hands. The natural oils in your skin can transfer onto the paper, leaving behind smears and dirt that can stain. This may cause the graphite to congregate in patches, which you may struggle to remove. We recommend that you use a soft bristle brush to remove excess graphite or eraser dust from your paper, to avoid any surface contact. A make-up brush is a low-cost option. We recommend that you place a clean sheet of paper or glassine, between hand and drawing to avoid the transfer of oils. |
Emboss tools
Embossing tools are used to indent your paper before you apply any pigment. This protects the surface of the paper from saturation. This is applied in areas you require highlights, such as catchlights in the eyes and strands of fur/hair, but it can also be applied between layers, to isolate and imprint any contours.Embossing tools are an indispensable product for artists. Sold individually or in multiple packs, each one has a metal ball attached to the tip, each with differing widths.Embossing toolscan be used for a whole manner of arts and crafts, so we would recommend you purchase a pack, even if you don't use them for graphite work. Caution should be applied when using on soft papers like cottonas you may damage the surface. Abrasive paper, are not suitable for this technique as it will weaken the grit on the surface.
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Indenting is not a challenging technique, although, as you are making a mark in your paper, you do need to plan. If you are new to this technique, practice on a spare sheet of paper first, or why not try our tutorial here, which explains this technique.
blending tools
There are numerous tools that you can use for blending graphite. Tissues, tortillions, cotton buds, even make up sponges. We discuss two of the most effective tools to blend.
paper stumps & tortillions
Paper stumps and tortillions are tightly packed rolls of paper which form a pointed tip, allowing you to burnish your work across both large and small areas. Although you can peel away a layer of the paper when it becomes over-saturated, it can be useful to leave any excess pencil on the tip, as you can use this to apply a softer layer of pencil to your paper.
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Paper stumps are pointed at both ends and are available in multiple thicknesses which can be purchased individually or in a pack. Tortillions are shorter and thinner and pointed on one end only. They are sold in multipacks as the are not as durable as the stumps. Stumps and blenders can be used with other mediums such as coloured pencils and pastels, but we suggest you keep them separate and avoid cross-contamination.
tissues
Tissues are the ideal product to use if you do not have any blending tools. Wrap it round your finger to blend larger areas, tear off a strip and wrap it round the tip of a blunt pencil to smudge and blend smaller areas. You should never blend pencil with your fingers as the natural oils will transfer to your paper and can damage your drawing. Pocket tissues are the ideal size to rip and tear to fit your needs, but you can use standard size tissues and even sheets of toilet roll. Kitchen roll may be too coarse, so may not be ideal. We do not recommend tissues that are infused with anything.
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| | fixativeIf you work with graphite pencils, we recommend that you fix your drawing once you have finished. It protects from accidental smudging (although it is not smudgeproof) and can add an extra layer of preservation if you buy a fixative with UV protection. It is important to keep some distance between the can and your artwork (around 12"), in order to achieve an even layer. Make sure you shake the can thoroughly, and give it a light, even spray, using deliberate motion of left to right and up to down. Don't over saturate. |
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS THAT MAY BE USEFUL
We include a couple of other products that you may find useful, if not for your graphite pencil case, maybe for your other artistic ventures.
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white gelly penIf you want to add some really vivid highlights into your drawing, the white Sakura Gelly roll pen is the ideal choice. With 3 nib sizes, it is waterproof, acid free and fade resistant. | ERASING SHIELD/STENCILThe drawing template shield is made of flexible stainless steel. They are very thin and work easily with an eraser. Good for precise and controlled erasing and drawing. |
LEAVE US A COMMENT
What is your favourite product when working with graphite pencils and why? Have you changed products or brands over the years, or do you have a product that you have used for many years, even decades? Share with us all below.
