Lesson 1 - Drawing Fundamentals
Sharpening a Pencil and How to Accurately Divide Lines
Welcome to the first practical lesson!
Today, we'll focus on essential skills every artist needs:
How to sharpen a pencil the right way, drawing lines, and dividing lines.
How to Sharpen a Pencil
Pencil sharpeners are for children.
The first skill every artist should learn is how to properly sharpen a pencil
— the right way
Let’s do it…
1. Safely Removing Pencil Wood with a Razor
Proper pencil preparation gives you greater control over your lines. Follow these steps carefully:
Safety First: Always push the razor away from your body and fingers.
Hold your pencil firmly in your non-dominant hand, pointed away from you.
With gentle pressure, shave small amounts of wood at an angle, exposing about half an inch of the graphite core.
Rotate the pencil slowly, evenly removing wood on all sides.
Stop once enough graphite is exposed, creating a long taper ideal for versatile drawing lines.
The end result should leave you with a graphite length of about half an inch and exposed wood of about an inch.
***Make sure the lead isn’t too long, or it will break while drawing!
Always work slowly and deliberately — patience is key!
2. Sharpening Your Pencil with Artist's Sandpaper
Now let's achieve a sharp and precise drawing point:
Hold the pencil almost flat against your sandpaper.
Lightly rub the graphite core back and forth while rotating the pencil, forming a smooth, tapered point.
Adjust pressure to refine the tip as needed.
Check frequently to avoid breaking the graphite.
A finely sharpened pencil allows precise detail and accurate hatch marks.
Some artists like to sharpen multiple pencils at a time so they can work continuously.
Personally, I like using one.
Frequently sharpening my pencil allows my thoughts to unwind so I can decentrate and look upon what I am doing with a ‘fresh eye.’
How many pencils you use is up to you.
Before we begin, a special thanks to subscribers who pay for the publication, or expense it as an educational resource or a write off on their taxes.
Let’s begin drawing👇