Drawing Utensils and What They Do

Click toBegin!

How to Use This Activity

Below are the buttons you will use to navigate through this activity.

Click Here to Go to the Main Menu

This is the back button. It will take you to the slide previous to the one you were on.

This button will take you to the next slide you will need to see.

This button will take you to the main menu where you can select which lesson you want to study first.

Click to Continue

Where Would You Like to Go?

Graphite Charcoal

Techniques

Mini TestReview

GraphiteBelow are the different types of graphite pencils we will be discussing in this activity and be using in class.

2B Pencils 4B Pencils

6B Pencils

H Pencils

Ebony Pencils Pencils Shades

2B Pencils

• Contain graphite lead that is tightly compressed.

• Because of this, 2B pencils will only make light

marks even when pressure is applied.

• 2B pencils are used for making light tones in

drawing.

2B Pencils

This is a 2B pencil. You can tell because at the top of the pencil 2B is written.

4B Pencils

• The lead is packed less tight than the 2B pencils.

• 4B pencils are the in-between pencil.

• They are used for medium tones when drawing .

4B Pencils

4B pencils are labeled the same way that 2B pencils are labled.

6B Pencils

• Create a darker mark than 2B and 4B pencils. • It’s lead is compacted very loosely to make

darker tones. • Even when little pressure is applied, a 6B

pencil will still make a darker mark.• This pencil is used for dark tones in drawings.

6B Pencils

6B pencils are marked the same way as 2B & 4B

pencils.

H Pencils

• The lead is the most tightly compressed out of all the pencils

mentioned in this activity.

• The marks they make are extremely light.

• They are used for extremely light tones in drawings.

H PencilsH pencils are labeled the same way the other

pencils are.

Ebony Pencils

• The lead is the least compacted out of all the pencils.

• This allows the pencils to create a rich, dark, and smooth mark.

• Ebony pencils are used to create extremely dark shades in

drawings.

Ebony Pencils

As the other pencils are, ebony pencils are

labeled the same way.

Pencil ShadesHere is a chart of all the shades each graphite pencil will

make.

Charcoal Below are the different types of charcoals we will be reviewing throughout this activity and that we will use during class. Click

on one to begin!

Charcoal Pencils Compressed Charcoal

Vine Charcoal Chunk Charcoal

Charcoal Pencils

• They are just like regular pencils, but instead of lead there is

charcoal inside.

• There can be different levels of “B’s” for charcoal pencils like

the graphite pencils.

• Charcoal pencils are just a cleaner more convenient way to use

charcoal.

Charcoal Pencils

Here is a picture of charcoal pencils and the

different ways they are made.

Compressed Charcoal

• This is a square two to three inch long stick of

compressed charcoal.

• It is used for making marks anywhere from light to

dark depending on the amount of pressure applied.

• It can create somewhat neater strokes compared to

other charcoals.

Compressed CharcoalBelow is a picture of a piece of stick charcoal. The

marks from stick charcoal are more precise than some

of the other charcoal marks.

Vine Charcoal

• There are different types of vine charcoal, hard and soft.

• They are small, thin, long sticks of charcoal.

• They do not create very dark marks and do not blend very well.

• They are also very fragile because they are loosely compacted

and hollow.

Vine Charcoal

Below is a picture of hard and soft vine charcoal. Hard and

soft vine charcoal look the same..

Chunk Charcoal

• Chunk charcoal is a large stick with about a one inch diameter

of charcoal.

• This charcoal is loosely compacted allowing extremely dark

marks to be created easily.

• Chunk charcoal is ideal for filling in vast areas with dark tones.

Chunk Charcoal

Here is a picture of what most chunk charcoal

looks like.

Contour Line Drawings

Gradient Shading

Gesture Drawings

Cross Hatching Shading

Techniques

Below are the different types of techniques you can use when drawing.

Contour Line Drawings

• Contour line drawings typically do not use shading.

• Consist of using lines that define the shape of the

object you are drawing.

• To show shading or light you may decide to make a line

heavier and thinner, or darker and lighter.

Contour Line Drawings

Here are a few examples of contour line

drawings. Notice each way contour line drawings

can be done.

Gesture Drawings• Are a quick, rough, sketch of an object.

• The time length can be anywhere from 15

seconds to five minutes, but it depends on

whoever is setting the time.

• Typical gesture drawings are done with

charcoals and pencils.

Gesture Drawings

Here are some examples of gesture drawings. Notice how

there are not a lot of details in the drawings and how only

the important aspects of each of the objects were captured

in their drawings.

Gradient Shading• Used in drawings to show where light hits an object and where

the shadows are cast.

• The marks being made make a gradual change from light to dark.

• The change is made by gradually applying pressure or letting up

on the pressure on the utensil.

• The whole process should be a smooth transition from light to

dark.

Gradient ShadingHere are some good and bad examples of shading.

Notice in the good examples how smooth the

transitions are from dark to light, this is how good

shading should look. Your shading should not look like

the bad example.

Cross Hatching Shading

• A technique where short or long lines crossing

each other create values.

• In areas where there are darker tones, the lines

will be more abundant and closer together.

• In areas with lighter to no tones, there will be

fewer and more spread out, or no lines at all.

Cross Hatching Shading

Below are some pictures of good cross hatching.

Notice in the good examples, the lines are neat and

follow the shape of the object.

Review!Now watch this short video for a quick review of

the material you just covered in this activity.

Mini Test

Ok let’s see what you have learned!

Start the Quizzical

Question 1

True or False:The difference between a 2B, 4B, and 6B pencil

is the length?

True False

Oops! Wrong Answer!

Hint: It’s the answer you didn’t choose

Try Again!

Correct!

The difference is the shade of the marks each pencil makes; 2B being lighter, 4B in between,

and 6B darker.

Question 2

If you were going to create really light tones in your drawing, which pencil would you use?

A.) EbonyB.) 6B C.) 2BD.) H

Sorry That’s Not Correct!

Hint: There are no numbers in this pencil’s name.

Try Again!

Correct!

Remember both H and 2B pencils create light tones because the led is tightly compressed. However, H pencils create the lightest tones.

Question 3

If you want to create a rich, smooth, dark tone, which pencil would be the best to use?

A.) 4BB.) EbonyC.) 6BD.) H

Good Try, but Wrong Answer

Hint: There are no capital B’s in this pencil’s name.

Try Again!

Correct!

Ebony pencils create those dark tones so when you draw, you can recreate those dark colors or

shadows.

Question 4

The best charcoal to use when you want to cover large areas with dark even color is:

A.) Charcoal PencilsB.) Compressed CharcoalC.) Chunk CharcoalD.) Vine Charcoal

Oops Wrong Answer!

Hint: It’s name even means a larger amount.

Try Again!

Correct!

Chunk charcoal is convenient for covering larger areas because of it’s size and how well it creates

marks.

Question 5

Vine charcoal has which of the following characteristics?

A.) Thin sticks that are around three inches long that create light to

nes.

B.) Sticks that are two inches long and create clean dark lines.

C.) Charcoal that is embedded into a pencil and is cleaner to use.

D.) Grinded up charcoal that is a fine powder.

Sorry That’s Not Correct!

Hint: The name “vine” reflects its characteristics.

Try Again!

Correct!

Vine charcoal is very thin and does not create very dark marks.

Question 6

True or False:All charcoals give you the same mark, texture,

and value.

True False

Good Try, But Wrong Answer!

Hint: It’s the answer you didn’t choose.

Try Again!

Correct!

Each type of charcoal has its own characteristics. Each type has different values, marks, textures,

and more.

Question 7

Cross hatching is which of the following?

A.) It doesn’t exist

B.) A smooth transition from dark to light

C.) Lines crossing to suggest shading

D.) Lines that show the outline of an object

Oops Wrong Answer!

Hint: What does the word “cross” imply in cross

hatching?

Try Again!

Correct!

Cross hatching is where you use lines crossing to

indicate shading.

Question 8

True or False?Contour line drawings have no shading?

True False

Sorry That’s Not Correct!

Hint: It is the answer you did not choose.

Try Again!

Correct!

Contour line drawings typically do not have shading. The weight of the lines and how dark

they are indicate where shadows could be located.

Question 9Which best describes a gesture drawing?

A.) Lines that define an object.

B.) A quick sketchy drawing.

C.) Where one draws hand motions quickly.

D.) Similar to cross hatching where you use lines

to show shading but they do not cross.

Good Try, but Wrong Answer!

Hint: This kind of drawing is quick.

Try Again!

Correct!

A gesture drawing is a quick sketchy drawing of

an object.

Question 10

True of False?

Gradient shading is where the pencil is

continuously on the paper making marks with a

smooth transition from dark to light.

True False

Oops Wrong Answer!

Hint: It is the answer you did not choose.

Try Again!

Correct!

Gradient shading is where your shading has a

smooth transition from light to dark without

gaps.

Congratulations!You have passed the Mini

Test!