My New Pencils
I bought myself a set graphite drawing pencils a few weeks back. I had never paid much attention to these things but pencils come with different types, or “grades”, of lead. Some are harder than others so they draw a thinner fainter line as less graphite comes off when you draw a line. The softer leads draw darker thicker lines.
It’s really quite clever. Kind of like different weights of thread.
So I decided to test out all the different pencils types and made this drawing. My set only had 10 pencils but my drawing required 11 sections so I went back to the store to buy an 11th grade of pencil so they could all be different.
The paper is a tad too big for my scanner so the outside lines are cut off a bit. (click on the drawing for a larger image).
Pencils © 2005 8.5″ x 10″
Things I learned doing this drawing:
1) Using a piece of paper over the top of the drawing to protect it really helps reduce smudging. Thanks for the great tip Felicity.
2) Pencils that have a hollow tube vs. lead in the middle don’t work well and require another trip back to the store to replace them. Which means step #7 in the General Pencil company’s How A Pencil is Made needs a bit better quality control.
3) I’m planning on doing more abstract drawings like this as I really enjoyed it. While trying to draw real things is a good challenge that I will continue, I don’t think I’ll ever be very good at it as I just can’t get interested enough in the process. And for me I think loving the process is absolutely necessary for my artwork.
On the other hand, I could really get into making a whole bunch more of these parallel lines. It’s just like quilting, except with a pencil. Very monotonous and probably boring to normal folks.
I’m beginning to wonder if I was dropped on my head as a baby.
Posted by Lisa in: Drawings
I REALLY like this. I’m a big fan of filling up spaces with lines. (Does that make sense?) I thought I was the only one!
… and I WAS dropped on my head as a baby.
WONDERFUL! Great exercise and getting used to different pencils — super!
Great website about the pencils. I like the drawing – I like filling in spaces as well. Did you do them freehand or with a ruler?
I had coffee dropped on my head as a baby….
I really like this too! Don’t worry about whether it’s right or wrong if it’s right for you. My drawings are made up of lines too (layers of them), I find it incredibly relaxing! Hope you have a lovely Christmas and new Year!
I really like this! What a great way to get to know the different leads. I love doing abstracts, and wish they came out better–one of my art goals for next year is to do more.
And I *was* dropped on my head as a baby. I have a weird flat spot to prove it :-)
I really like your fragmented line drawing. I too like filling in space with lines – it’s NOTmonotonous at all, it’s actually quite relaxing.
Thanks everyone – I think I’ll just enjoy the lines and not worry about if it’s “normal”.
And yes – the “filling up the space” is definitely the idea. It’s the thought that all parts of the picture plane are of equal importance not just the focal object. Something that the abstract expressionist were attracted to also.
Liz – it is all done freehand.
Process is definitely of importance. I’m glad you are enjoying it in your work.
Do you notice all the things that pop into your head while you are deep in process? I think sometimes we need more of this time with ourselves and our random thoughts -they are very nurturing- and the work we end up with tends to reflect it.
I LOVE your fragmented lines sketch!!!
I never thought anything of it before – but all my sketches (mostly ideas for quilts) have lines filled in………
Oh yes — drawing lines is VERY relaxing! I do it, too, in my doodles which can cover half a sheet of paper during a meeting … We understand!
:-)
Well maybe I wasn’t dropped on my head – enjoying drawing of lines is enjoyed by many. Mom and Dad are off the hook.
And yes Zee, the process is very important and that is when most of my ideas for new works pops into my head. With the quilts it’s generally during the “quilting” part, which is very similar to drawing zillions of parallel lines. Very meditative.