Over the last year or so I’ve started including graphite in my everyday sketching kit. There is something super nice about drawing with graphite – it’s a simple tool that feels so good to use.
When I draw with graphite, I feel a freedom that I don’t have with any other tool! On occasions when I’m not sure that I could be bothered to do a ‘proper sketch,’ I pull out a graphite pencil and do something simple. It’s always very satisfying.
So now I don’t leave home without some form of graphite, and therefore, I’ve included it in the demos of my upcoming Travel Sketching course.
Graphite is great for travel sketching!
If I was using a minimal kit and could only include a single pencil it would be a 2B Castell 9000 by Faber Castell. The Castell 9000 graphite is the nicest I’ve tried (and yes! I prefer it over any Blackwings). 2B is soft enough to get some dark areas but not too smudgy. It would be nice to have a darker graphite pencil, but I smudge graphite too much while sketching with it to use anything softer. (More about preventing smudges and transfer at the end of this article).
Here is a quick sketch done with this pencil during my recent trip to Melbourne.
But generally I carry two pencils with me: A mechanical pencil and a water-soluble graphite. I rarely sharpen pencils mid-sketch so the mechanical pencil means that I always have a fine point for details. Water-soluble graphite is very versatile and also smudges less than normal graphite.
My current favourites are :
- Faber Castell TK-Fine 9717 mechanical pencil with 0.7mm 2B lead (also Faber Castell). I’ve tried lots of different mechanical pencils over the years and this Faber Castell one is the nicest – robust and comfortable to hold. I use 0.7mm as it breaks less (I’m rather heavy-handed especially when I draw quickly) and is easier to use on its side when shading.
- Faber Castell Aquarelle Graphite in 4B. As it smudges less than normal graphite I use a softer grade so I can get blacker darks. Note: A few months ago I was using a very cool rectangular pencil by Bruynzeel. I’ve stopped using that lately as I don’t know where to buy another one, and it was a little hard to sharpen (with a knife). This Aquarelle Graphite pencil by Faber Castell is much easier to sharpen and produces very similar results. It’s also very readily available! So that’s what I’m using at the moment.
I use both of these pencils in my upcoming Travel Sketching course to show you different occasions when I chose to draw with graphite. But like all my SketchingNow courses, you don’t need to use exactly the same materials as I do. My goal is to help you find the tools that feel the most comfortable for you!
And yes! This image is from one of the course demos. To find out more about Travel Sketching and get a one-time-only Earlybird price, sign up for the dedicated waiting list here.
As for preventing smudging and transfer onto the opposite page… my solution is simple. I have several 300gsm cards (3 or 4) cut to the size of my sketchbook. I put these between the last few spreads to prevent transfer. These cards also seem to protect the earlier spreads in my sketchbook, so I no longer need to worry about fixative. I’ve been using these particular cards for over 12 months and they collect interesting marks! 🙂
So that’s an update on my graphite pencil choices.
Do you carry a graphite pencil with you? What’s your favourite?
18 Comments
I only use the graphite aquarelle in 4B (FC) when out and about- the 8B is much shorter (daily driver at home). I’ve got the HB and 4B graphite aquarelles in my travel tin of graphite matte, I kept the darker shades in the 6 tin the rest stay home. Somewhat similar diameter pencils- narrow as. Lightweight kit when I’ve just that tin, my sketchbook and phone to snap pics to colour it up at home later!
I’ve got a jumbo 5 tin of the 9000s that I only use the 6B out of (love it) so it stays home!
I use Staedtler triplus micro 0.7 and swear by the Pilot neox graphite 2B refills as they don’t crumble under hard pressure either. (My other more robust looking fancy metal staedtlers are 0.5 as is my tombow mono. They don’t leave the house…)
thanks for sharing – I’ll look up those Pilot neox leads!
I have a stardtler clutch pencil in my kit that belonged to my father, (2b), as well as a mechanical 7ml leuchtturm that was a gift at the Auckland sketchers symposium last year. I love them both. I use a blending stump for them both, I also have the small set of staedtler 5 lymograph aquarell which are also excellent. I like graphite, especially when I’m feeling a bit worried about using colour.
thanks for sharing Cathryn – yes graphite is such a comfortable media to use!
In addition to the graphite aquarelle pencils (4B, 6B, 8B), I always carry a couple of Blackwing Matte pencils. I can’t go without the Blackwings.
Thanks for sharing Jason – those blackwings are very popular!
Can’t wait for your new travel sketching course so I can start using all these various pencils, WCP and graphite water-soluable pencils that I have collected over the years! Cheers!
Hi Mercedes – me too! the Travel Sketching course will be perfect for trying out all those tools!
I always carry graphite. I need a pencil set up, and sometimes my first attempt is so wrong that I need to erase! I recently bought my first Blackwing because I like the replaceable high quality eraser. After using it, I’ll definitely be trying different Blackwing models; I like the way it writes and the eraser means I don’t have to carry a separate one.
I also have light and dark wash Derwent sketching pencils. I think they are similar to the FC aquarelles. I’ll use those for Travel Sketching. I’ve discovered that I won’t know if I like a different brand more until I’m comfortable with what I own. I want my hobby to be sketching not buying art supplies. lol
That said, I may have to buy some new FC watercolor pencils to try the colors Liz has posted for the class. .
Thanks for sharing Brooke – lots of people like the Blackwings – but I prefer the tooth of the Castell 9000. I tried the Derwent wash pencils years ago and much prefer the Faber Castell ones 🙂 But glad these are working for you! We are all different
I always take a 2B, 4B and 6B graphite pencil (Faber Castell 9000) with me, and I also have a 6B water soluble graphite pencil (also Faber Castell) that goes everywhere I do. I find the water soluble graphite from Faber Castell is a little on the light side, so a 6B behaves like a regular 4B pencil.
I also recently got a graphite stick/crayon from Lyra that is water soluble. It’s really thick, and about the length of a large pastel. I love using it for quick sketches, especially studies of people or plants. There’s something about a big dumb stick of graphite that’s so fun to use – especially when you can smudge it around with a waterbrush!
Thanks for sharing Lauren – those Lyra pencils are wonderful!
Do you have any experience with the Lamy mechanical pencil? Given that you are fond of their pens, I wonder if you have tried it (and found it lacking in some way) I like that it is clear and feels light, but those are not reasons enough to purchase one. I have a (very light and very cheap) Staedtler 777 – do you know how the FC TK-Fine you mention is better? Thanks
Hi Rachael – sorry I haven’t tried either of those pencils.
The water-soluble graphite looks like it gives such lovely textures. 😀 Thank you for sharing this!
HI London – yes, it’s a great tool! I need to use it more!
I’m so fussy about how graphite feels and smudges that I’m interesting in trying these pencils. I’d love to find a pencil to fall in love with! Ha!
I used to be the same Jamie – but somehow it’s becoming less and less of a problem now
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