1 Introduction to Pencil Drawing

[Susan63]

Hi Nolan. The link for the templates on the forum, doesnt seem to be working today

[Val]

Hi Susan, I just tried the link on page one and it worked perfectly.  Give it another go.   

[nolan]

you can also pick up the templates from the replay

[Bev S.]

W-e-l-l-. . . . here is my tonal chart. . .I'm not too happy with the final results though. I had difficulty with the darker pencils, getting a smooth transition from one tonal value to another. I remember this exercise from Let's Draw and I think I flunked it that time. . . so no surprizes then     

Details

Faber-Castell "Goldfaber" pencils, all sharpened in the chisel point.

[doina]

It is very well done Bev  Doina

[May lynn]

Bev S.

Well done indeed!!!!!  I wish mine looked that good, I guess I'll just have to "Practice, Practice Practice".

Excellent .   

May lynn

[jillh]

Very well done Bev.

[sally13]

That's an excellent chart.

[lynn p.]

Oh my goodness Roxy, you go to the head of the class.  Looks like Nolan's!

[Bev S.]

  Doina, May Lynn, Jill, Sally and Lynn for all the kind words!
I'll tell you a little trick I used, to keep the lines all nice and straight. . . . I put strips of artists tape (or you can use painters tape or masking tape, but make sure it's not very sticky!) along the top and bottom of the lines before I start. That way, you don't have to worry about going over the line and can concentrate more on your pencil pressure and getting your values correct. Neat trick to relieve some stress   
Important Note: Pull the tape off very carefully, even use a blow dryer if it looks like it might be too sticky

[Happychappy]

    Bev, an absolute neat/tidy/pleasure to look at tonal chart.  Thank you for that good tip too.  The more we can get in our bag of arsenals, the better for us oldies whose control, eye sight, hearing and everything else has gone/going south!!!       Patricia

[jennylynn]

WOW bev what an amazing tonal chart you certainly have done very well on this one ?  great tip as regards the tape 

[Bev S.]

   Patricia and    Jennylynn! I think any little trick to make things go easier is A OK!!!!
Now, here is the famous, or perhaps the infamous "ball'. . . . . .

Details

Drat. . .now that I see it up there on the screen, I see that it is a bit wonky, still. . .even after all my hard work to make the darn thing not wonky. . grrrrr

[fruhulda]

Nolan, when we practise the line strokes are we "allowed" turn the paper around to make it easier to get good lines?

[nolan]

Great job Bev
Just one thing that needs some work : the top tonal row - the tonal transitions are not quite correct yet. I see 3 light, two mid tone blocks which are basically the same. 4B and 6B look good. Use the printable tonal chart to check your values

Fruhulda - Strictly speaking you would not turn the page, but let's face it - when busy with a real drawing you would turn the page, so go ahead and turn your page for this exercise as well if you want to