Understanding Values in Graphite Pencils

Important things to know about graphite pencils that will help you on your artistic endeavour.

Graphite pencils come in various grades, each with a different level of hardness and darkness. The hardness of a pencil is determined by the amount of clay mixed with the graphite. The more clay in the pencil, the harder and lighter the pencil. On the other hand, pencils with more graphite are softer and darker. Understanding the differences between these grades is essential for creating different tones and textures in your drawings.

When I make realistic pencil drawings, I always draw in layers. I usually begin with a 3H-pencil, and work my way down the scale. The next layer will be with 2H, and the next with HB, and 2B… This is how you gradually build shadow, working your way down to the darkest shades.

B = Blackness, H = Hardness, F = Fine point

The most common grading system for graphite pencils is the HB scale, which ranges from 9H (hardest) to 9B (softest). HB pencils are considered medium. H pencils are harder and lighter, making them suitable for fine lines and detailed work, however I rarely use any harder pencils than 3H for my own work, as I find that the hardness easily can create marks in the paper. B pencils, on the other hand, are softer and darker, ideal for shading and creating bold strokes.

When working with graphite pencils, it’s important to test out different grades on a separate sheet of paper to see how they perform. Try this for yourself and see how the pencils feel when you draw with them.

One of my older pencil drawings.

To summarise:

• Graphite pencils come in different grades, with varying levels of hardness and darkness.

• The HB scale is the most common grading system, ranging from 9H (hardest) to 9B (softest).

• Testing out different grades and experimenting with mixing and blending will help you achieve a wider range of tones and textures in your drawings

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-Camilla