Hey guys. Im new to the site but I am an aspiring animator hoping to get into RISD, and Ive got a few questions about developing my portfolio. When sketching, what softness of pencil should i use for just straight sketching? Ive got this set of derwent sket pencils, but other then the really dark B's, I wasnt sure what aspects of my drawing I should use them for. Any info back would be great. Thanks!
-Also any tips on sketching would be very much apprecieated as well.
Sketching Pencils?
Sketching Pencils?
Ask 7 artists and you'll get 7 different answers to that question (i.e. "what's the best softness of pencil to use for drawing ?" )
I'm partial to the very soft pencils for roughing out a drawing. I used to love the Blackwing pencils when they still made those (Blackwings were a sort of 4B softness , but had a unique quality) . I like the black Prismacolor to sketch with , but the quality has gone downhill quite a bit since the Prismacolor line was taken over by Sanford from Berol . I think one of my favorites today is the Japanese made Tombow pencil , again in a soft 2B or 4B . China Markers can be fun . I would say when you're trying to find "your" special pencil that you should use as many as you can afford to buy or borrow from others. You'll eventually find one that feels "just right" .
Kind of a subjective , rambling answer. Sorry.
"EustaceScrubb" has left the building
Alright thx. But how about sketching tips? Mine always come out too linear, like they were block ppl. the muscles all have a flat tone to them. Any help would be nice, and whats the best art supply store? I know there are specialty stores in the Los Angeles area and what not but around here its just Michaels and hobby lobby.
Michael's should be able to order you just about anything.(maybe not the Tombow Pencils, but they should be able to get any Sanford product, like Prismacolor, Col-Erase, Turquoise) . You mentioned you had some Derwent pencils, so I assume you got those at Michaels. If I recall, Derwent's are good pencils. But like the other guy mentioned , you can get decent pencils at K-Mart or Walgreen's : Mirado Black Warrior pencils. Also, check out the internet stores like Cartoon Supplies and ChromaColour.
http://www.chromacolour.com/index_usa.asp
http://www.cartoonsupplies.com/
http://www.pencilthings.com/servlet/StoreFront
http://www.pencilrevolution.com/
As for sketching tips : I would say try to find a good life drawing class or introduction to drawing class at a local college or something (not sure what's in your area) .
Online this site has some good material scanned from drawing books by Andrew Loomis:
http://www.fineart.sk/index.php?cat=1
The classic anatomy books by George Bridgeman are still in print from Dover Publications. Glenn Vilppu's instructional videos and books are good .
http://www.amazon.com/Constructive-Anatomy-Dover-Books-Instruction/dp/0486211045
http://www.vilppustudio.com/redesign/products/products.htm
This one by Harry Carmean is good :
http://www.amazon.com/Drawings-Harry-Carmean-Master-Draughtsman/dp/087505210X/
This book is good : [I]Anatomy Lessons from the Great Masters
[/I]by Robert Beverly Hale, Terence Coyle .
http://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Lessons-Masters-Robert-Beverly/dp/0823002810/
"EustaceScrubb" has left the building
Wow, thanks a lot guys. I apprecieate it. I used a dixon ticonderoga and I loved it. I know its not a traditional drawing pencil, but does that really matter as long as it works?
exspensive ones can be decieving.
i bought a pack from k-mart .. i know!
and there brillant.
remember sketches are there just for pre -visual , its suppose to look shit