Need pencil recommendations.

AlienComix · Post by **AlienComix** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:33 pm

Okay, I have about $5.00 to spend. $2.50 of that is going toward a pen, so I need a good art pencil to spend the rest on.

I would just use these BiC mechanical pencils I have, but I'm extremely messy when I draw and they smudge everywhere. Any recommendations?

Allan_ecker · Post by **Allan_ecker** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:46 pm

The lead you are using is probably pretty soft if you're having smearing problems. Get a good, HARD lead and you should do better. I use mechanical pencils (which double as GREAT for homework assignments) which really have not smudged much, although if you rub your hand over them the *can* smear a bit..

Glambourine · Post by **Glambourine** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 3:28 pm

I like Sanford DESIGN pencils (the green ones), either 2B or HB. 2H and up are way too light, while anything below 2B is really, really hard to erase when you're doing your inks. If you're planning to digital ink, then go for a 4B or something; why not?

RobertBlake · Post by **RobertBlake** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:39 pm

I use a Papermate Clickster, loaded with 0.5mm HB lead. I prefer HB because it gives you a nice dark line without having to bear down on the pencil, and clean-up is pretty neat, as opposed to using softer leads, which tend to be messy.

Robin Pierce · Post by **Robin Pierce** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:12 pm

Staedtler triplus micro 0.5 mm mechanical pencil.

it is your friend. has a triangular shape and the eraser's tops.

Warofwinds · Post by **Warofwinds** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 2:58 pm

I'm a fan of bic's clicker pencils myself. Very precise and hard lead. You just have to teach yourself not to drag your hand all over your drawing

Townie · Post by **Townie** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 6:57 pm

I'm not crazy about mechanical pencils but I got a nice combo from Techtools at Hobby Lobby awhile back. (It's a .5 pencil, black pen, red pen, and stylus. Haven't been able to find it online, though.) I personally do most of my sketching with Col-erase color pencils (http://www.dickblick.com/zz205/12/) and any gradient stuff with Ebony pencils or Faber-Castell graphite sticks (http://www.utrechtart.com/dsp_view_prod ... er-Castell) and a regular No. 2

Jkandra · Post by **Jkandra** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:30 pm

I use a really hard pencil (2H), sketch lightly, and ink over. The scanner doesn't pick up the light pencil lines.

Jae87 · Post by **Jae87** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:51 pm

I just use genaric mechanical pencils, and they smudge everywhere... I'm not sure if it's the lead or my being left-handed.. Curse you, Left-Handedness!

Thera Dratara · Post by **Thera Dratara** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:40 pm

well, I myself prefer mechanical pencils for sketching.

You can get both HB leads and b or 2b leads at stores for your mechanical pencil, and some brands are softer then others(pentel is harder then sakura)

Next to that, it's a good idea to get a fine plastic eraser, those white untextured ones, to my expierence, they rarely go hard, and don't destroy the paper too much. though this might be out of your budget, as they cost 1,5 euros here...

If you are looking for other stuff, for complete pencil drawings, you might want to get a really soft pencil, like a b4, which I find to be working very good with HB pencils.

I hope this helps

MrEff · Post by **MrEff** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 8:42 am

I have a whole army of PrismaColor "Copy Not" Blue Pencils. It's light enough to ink over and it doesn't show up at all when scanned (hence the "Copy Not"). Also being easy to erase it leaves virtually no smudge at all...

-MrEff-

Siabur · Post by **Siabur** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 11:21 am

I use an Avery egrip .7mm mechanical pencil. It's a fat pencil, meaning it's aboot the size of a black markalot marker. It works good for those of me who have carple tunnel and other arthritic issues. I use a harder lead, I trace over the pencils using a light box for inking, and recently digital. I also use a nylon glove when drawing, it helps with the smear issues and it makes drawing long lines smoother using a tablet so my hand doesn't stick.