Gradating with Pencil

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Another Fifth Friday Extra

Graded pencils are ideal for creating a drawing with subtle gradating nuances.

This is a drawing mini-course for learning gradating values with graded pencils.

Dianne guides you through a skill for controlling the gradating value range for each of six pencil grades according to the ability of each for creating a range of values.  She then shows an exercise employing each grade within a single study.

In part two of the tutorial , Dianne does a small drawing demonstrating how to observe and use those skills to draw value gradations as well as how to select which grade of pencil to use, depending upon whether an area is in a field of light or a field of shadow.  Her subject is something we all have with us at all times–her thumb.

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Typically, we have two misconceptions about drawing.  First, it is wrongly thought that drawing is done to be only to be shown whereas one of the most important uses of drawing is to work out ideas.  Second, it is wrongly thought that drawing should be precise whereas when searching out ideas, what becomes important is what the artist discovers rather than the drawing itself.

Drawing is indeed a powerful and delightful mode of expression and creativity.  Some of the most moving art works in existence and now being created are drawings.  But to limit drawing, or even painting, to production only is to limit potential for discovery.  After all, it is through discovery where  new ideas are born.

Michelangelo Buonarroti, one of the most beloved artists of all ages used drawing to discover and plan all of his works.  Studies for the Last Judgement in  the Sistene Chapel in Rome are found HERE, and for the Medici Chapel in Florence, HERE.