Lyra Graphite Stick 9b

Product Information

Derwent Graphitone is a very stylish and pure graphite water-soluble pencil available in 2B, 4B, 6B and 8B. I find they dissolve better than other brands to create sumptuous passages of tone. Layering one tint over another is pure joy. Graphite Pencils are perhaps the first drawing tools you’ll be introduced to as a beginner. They’re simple and easy to use, and most people are familiar with them outside an art setting. Charcoal and graphite do have their similarities. Typically you use both on paper or card, where they rely on the tooth of the surface to adhere. You can also layer both of them to create deep shadows, or apply delicately to render areas of light. Both charcoal and graphite are compatible with a variety of drawing accessories – like tortillions, putty erasers and blending stumps. They are also inexpensive, so they are great as the first stepping stones in your creative journey. Charcoal (left) is matt and dusty. Graphite (right) is less dusty but more reflective Fixative should never be frowned on. It is an effective way of further extending your repertoire – to darken passages of pastel and drawing pigments – as well as an effective way to protect your work from smudging. There are two main types of fixative – liquid and aerosol. Hairspray doesn’t even come into the equation! Although hairspray does contain some of the materials of a fixative, the effects only last a short term and ultimately damages the drawing as it yellows over time. If you have respect for your work and your buyer – use the proper stuff! All discounts against RRP are made against the United Kingdom Recommended Retail Price (RRP). Unless specified, offers and vouchers are not valid on products which are already discounted from RRP, gift vouchers, books and from the I LOVE ART range.

Much easier to create broad, expressive marks, so may be more suitable for beginners working on a large scale. When working from photographs make A4 print-outs so that you see all the detail – but don’t copy it all! Add to and subtract from the scene to make more drama. Remember why you took it in the first place. Evoke those feelings in your drawing.Use an eraser wisely. There are no mistakes, only your thinking process. Enjoy your explorations and communicate what you see – let all your marks show. Standard traditional graphite is by far the most common choice for most artists. Coloured graphite pencils are also available, and allow you to add a hint of colour to your sketches. Manufacturers make these pencils from a blend of graphite powder as well as small amounts of pigment. Both the Derwent Graphitint and Caran d’Ache Technalo RGB are examples of tinted graphite. Typically these pencils create subtle colour that retains the reflective quality of graphite. Water Soluble Graphite

Charcoal powder. Liquid fixative is especially effective to use with Nitram Charcoal Powder. Apply liquid fixative to a support and then sprinkle the charcoal powder into the media for some great textural effects. There are many more techniques to discover with this exceptional medium. The first appearance of graphite encased in wood dates from around 1565, close to the time natural graphite was first discovered in Cumbria. Other natural sources exist in Siberia, Germany and in the USA. However graphite is now artificially produced by heating cokes (another carbon allotrope) at high temperatures. Graphite isn’t as messy as charcoal, so it is less likely to smudge and much easier to protect (requiring very little, if any, fixative). This makes it more simple to work with for new artists. Get straight to the point! Keep your pencils sharp with the Derwent Manual Super Point Helical blade sharpener.If you are working solely with charcoal, try out as many types as possible to see what types of marks you can achieve with them. Using combinations of natural and compressed charcoals will allow you to explore a broader range of shades.