good pencil type for shading?

[royaltea]

i am looking for a pencil that has a large scale for shading. when i say pencil i mean like what kind, 2B, HB, 4H, etc. right now i am using the montblanc sketch pencil and while i am not sure what the lead is, i don't feel like it has a big range for shadows. i feel like there are maybe 4 different tones i can reach by using it and i don't think that is enough. but maybe that is just because of my low skill level.

are there better pencils for shading? can anyone recommend me any?

[Musselfarmstudios]

you could either find yourself a nice 6b, 8b, or even a basic ebony pencil . . . I'm surprised that your set didn't come with either of 'em. You may also want to try playing with charcoal sticks . . . they give you a different kind of freedom and you could use charcoal pencils for things like detail.

hope this helps . . . good luck!

[Blue]

I always preferred shading with a harder lead because i wouldn't need to use anything else for the job. To be honest though, each weight has it's place. When I use a softer lead, i typically do more with a smudge tool or a piece of cloth. With a piece of hard lead, i often let the pencil do all the work.

Also bear in mind, the tooth of your paper will dictate how well each softness blends. On a rougher paper (like water color grade) a soft graphite or charcoal will leave a rough line. While on a smoother/harder pressed piece of paper (Vellum or Paris paper) will allow the softer graphite to leave a smoother line on first stroke. The watercolor paper, however, will hold the graphite better then the smooth paper simply because their are deeper grooves for the particles to sink into. So it varies.

The one thing I will advice, regardless of application, is get the solid graphite pencils. They are the sexiest of all. :)
(in the image: HB 2B 4B 6B 9B)

[FlameDragon]

How quickly do the ones above 2B break apart? When I use 2B, it seems to break apart quickly and I have to resharpen so often.

[Ilaekae]

An entire 6B lasts about 3.987 seconds under normal use, BUT it leaves a hell of a lot of dark material behind. That's the advantage of the softer grades--speedy blacks.

[Blue]

Mine only break if i drop them on the ground. Never had one snap in my hand.

[VulgarDragon]

A bit off topic, but do you actually use all grades of pencils when doing your sketches? Or do you have particular favorite grades that you use all the time? I find it bewildering to have so many grades of pencil that it discourages me from sketching sometimes.

[Blue]

I use them in stages. I start with the HB and gradually go darker as needed. I never start with a soft pencil unless it is a figure study on newsprint.

It is important not to 'fall in love' with your tool as you draw. I have a stack of drawings from high school where everything is very light, because after i got something to look good i with an HB pencil I refused to do more due to a fear of ruining it. Now-a-days I will jump 3 tones. So if i start HB, i go to 2b, then 4b. If i start 4, i go to 6 then 9. etc

I think using more then 2-3 grades for 1 sketch over complicates things. I would never use all of them unless i am trying for a final finished piece in graphite.. in which case I would be using graphite powder as well. That is pretty rare though.

[Elwell]

Smooth paper.
Soft lead.
Sharp, tapered point.

[RyerOrdStar]

I don't really like working with graphite..it's too gray for me...
I prefer a soft pencil, though I haven't used a pencil to draw in a while..

[FlameDragon]

Mine only break if i drop them on the ground. Never had one snap in my hand.

Oh no not that breaking, I mean when you sharpen the pencil, drawing for a very short while causes the point to go down really fast.

[Blue]

Oh no not that breaking, I mean when you sharpen the pencil, drawing for a very short while causes the point to go down really fast.

Well it lasts just as long, if not a little longer then a wood-encased graphite pencil. The nice thing though, when it full dulls and is rounded at the tip.. it is still very usable for tone work.

[SethBedeGB]

Get The 8B right through B, HB and H to 2H Collection... It's Wicked!!

[Black Spot]

They last longer if you sharpen them with a knife.