Please help with clarifying this technique.

[Cella]

How do I get an even tone on the paper before drawing?
EG: I prefer to start by drawing on top of a tone put down on paper first, rather than starting on white. Does that make any sense? At the moment I've just been using my clutch pencil lightly on the white piece of paper to create one tone in the area that I want to draw on. After that, then start adding in form etc. My problem is, its not always even because I'm just creating very close knit zig zag lines on the paper, but some areas are darker than others.
What technique is used to achieve this properly?

[Viridis]

Well, you could do a couple different things.

One of the things we did as an exercise in drawing class was to take some powdered charcoal and dust the paper with it, then smudge it around with some toilet paper or a chamois (? those little pieces of leather), which generally gives you a pretty nice, even grey tone across the paper to work on. You can also do the same thing by just rubbing vine/willow charcoal sideways on the paper and smudging it around.

If you want a colored tone, you can paint the paper with maybe a very light watercolor wash (although it's difficult to get an even gradient with watercolor) and then work on top of that.

Of course, how well these techniques work is going to depend on what media you're drawing with... do you draw with graphite? Charcoal? Something else? Knowing might help us advise you better.

You can also simply get toned paper-- Canson/Mi-Tientes paper is very good for a variety of media, and it's colored in basically any hue of the rainbow you could want, including neutrals like grey and cream.

Hope that helps.

[Sloas]

You could always dye the paper that you plan to work on. There are several tutorials on dying papers in different ways.
Of course.. this isn't exactly what you were wanting. It's what I would do, though.
Here's the one I like: How to Dye Paper by Hibbary (http://hibbary.deviantart.com/art/How-to-Dye-Paper-75522515)

[Elwell]

Do you use a rotary sharpener with your clutch pencil? If so, use the graphite powder from that.
Or, do what you're already dong, but use a lighter touch and build the tone up slowly. When I was in school we worked on high finish bond paper with a very soft lead (6B) sanded to a long, tapering point. Holding the pencil in a soft grip, almost parallel to the paper, you can gently sweep it over the surface and build up very smooth tone.

[Earendil]

To add to what Elwell said, you can also use a kneaded eraser, twisted to a fine point, to lift off some of the darker specks that create tone inconsistencies. Combined, these methods give great results.

[Cella]

@FlameRaven: I'm using pencil mainly, maybe a bit of charcoal
@Sloas: Dying won't allow me to take away, sorry I should have explained it better.
@Elwell: That's a good idea with the sharpener shavings, why didn't I think of that. The second thing you mentioned I already do, except you explained it better than my description haha :)
@Eardenil: Sounds good, I'll try that as well.

I want to use the technique so that I can take away from it, with a kneadable eraser to create highlights. So I don't want whatever it is I'm using to be too hard, otherwise I can lift it away easily with the kneadable eraser.

[Grief]

echoing others: get a rag to keep in your toolbox for toning with the graphite powder. it'll allow you to make more diffused tones without the appearance of stroke as you wipe over the paper. (if you smear with your hand be prepared to have the oils from your skin leave prints on the paper)

also maybe buy a few graphite sticks if graphite powder isn't an option, as you can use the sides of them to make broad flat sweeps easily.

then smudge it around with some toilet paper or a chamois (? those little pieces of leather),

is that how you spell it?
i always thought it was "shammy"
boy do i feel like a moron.

but truly the best option would be to invest in Sham-Wow.
theyre so badass that they can hold up to 500x their weight in graphite.
its so intense you'll need a headset and both hands to operate the damn thing with, and a holster to keep it in when not in use.

[Cella]

@Grief: Cheers, that's what I keep forgetting to take with me all the time. Yeah, after several tries with just my hand, I was never happy with the result, so no more of that.
And I've never heard of a Sham-Wow. I may have seen it, but never heard that term/name before. It doesn't sound that easily portable haha : ] I'm quite clueless with the technical side of things.

[Jem'ennuie]

You can buy graphite powder and charcoal powder in little small ink-like bottles. Just throw it on the paper with a cloth or even your hands works.

I think the shaw-wow part is a joke. A chamois on the other hand is a piece of cloth used to mix and wipe charcoal or other mediums with. You use it for blending. Chamois comes form the goat called a chamois.

A real chamois:

http://www.italie1.com/images/moyenvalle-Delle-Rose-chamois-1.jpg

[Elwell]

And I've never heard of a Sham-Wow. I may have seen it, but never heard that term/name before. It doesn't sound that easily portable haha : ] I'm quite clueless with the technical side of things.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRISkyV_B8

[Jem'ennuie]

Or, do what you're already dong, but use a lighter touch and build the tone up slowly.

About 'lighters', never use a lighter or smoke when you're using charcoal powder..don't aks me how I know lol. Scared the hell out of me.

[Cella]

@EllWell: thanks for the link, and after watching it I have seen it before now that I've seen it. Some guy was demonstrating it just like the guy in the YT vid, at a homes convention.

[DSillustration]

When I was in school we worked on high finish bond paper with a very soft lead (6B) sanded to a long, tapering point. Holding the pencil in a soft grip, almost parallel to the paper, you can gently sweep it over the surface and build up very smooth tone.

You had Jack Endewelt too, huh?

[dbclemons]

Graphite is also available in wide bars or chunks, or wedge shaped pencils that do a good job at making solid shaded areas.

[dose]

They also used to sell powdered artist's graphite as well. I had to get a big jar once for an assignment in college. Used about 1/8 of it for the assignment and carried it around for years after that until I think I finally threw it out. Haven't looked for it since then, but maybe someone still sells it. I'm pretty sure the brand was General's.

[Elwell]

You can buy graphite powder and charcoal powder in little small ink-like bottles. Just throw it on the paper with a cloth or even your hands works.

Two posts previously (my emphasis)...
echoing others: get a rag to keep in your toolbox for toning with the graphite powder. it'll allow you to make more diffused tones without the appearance of stroke as you wipe over the paper. (if you smear with your hand be prepared to have the oils from your skin leave prints on the paper)

[Cella]

I think using graphite powder with a rag will be my preferred choice. :)
Thanks for the heads up!