January 31, 2012

the first lesson: how to hold the pencil

Either a pencil or a piece of charcoal, offers a range of marks, depending on how you hold it. For the beginner, a 2B drawing pencil is a writing implement---fingertips down near the nib, in a death grip, for maximum control. Unconsciously, the side of the hand is dragged across the paper---counted on to wipe out the drawing. Try either of these more nimble methods:
1) First, open your hand, and lay the pencil across, near your fingertips. Use your thumb to gently hold the pencil in place. The first three fingers, along with the thumb, are active drawing participants. (Make sure to hold the pencil towards the back end, which allows for greater flexibility.) Now you can use both the tip, and the side of the pencil---easily moving back and forth between them. Want to rest your hand? Extend your pinky instead. Let the tip lean on the paper---for support, and to keep your hand elevated.
 2) Interested in drawing only with the pencil point? (Or with a pen.) Return to the writing implement position. This time, hold the pencil further back, away from the nib, and again extend your pinky. 



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