Pencil drawing is a wonderful medium to work in and is not as difficult to learn as it may seem. As with any form of art work, it is important to practice pencil drawing as often as is possible so that the pencil can become an extension of the arm.  The following eight tips can provide a good starting point for the beginner artist:

 

1. Ensure that you have the best tools for the job i.e. invest in a variety of quality pencils and use the best one for the task in hand.

 

2. When starting out, purchase inexpensive drawing paper so that it does not matter how many mistakes you make. As your drawing skills increase, you can gradually invest in some high quality paper.

 

3. Take a sketchbook with you wherever you go so that you can capture inspiring scenes the moment you see them.

 

4. Practice your pencil drawing from life if possible and not by using photographs as it is much easier to capture the spirit of the subject if it is there in front of you.

 

5. Try to keep your drawing subjects simple initially, it can be easy to choose a complicated subject and then feel despondent when your pencil drawing goes wrong.

 

6. At first, draw without constantly looking at your own drawing, as this may put you off especially if you can see very little similarities between the subject and your masterpiece.

 

7. To keep your practice sessions varied, try altering the timings allowed for each drawing. Attempt to draw fast (time yourself) on some projects and then allow longer for others.

 

8. When pencil drawing, adjust the pressure on the paper so that the lines on the paper have different thickness as this will greatly alter the appearance of your drawing. Learning how to control the pencil so that it becomes an extension of your arm is vital.

 

9. Keep all of your drawings even those that you do not like yourself. It is so important to be able to gauge how improved your skills have become over a period and this can only add to your enthusiasm for your artwork.

 

10. Always ensure you have adequate light so that you are not straining your eyes at all. It is very frustrating for all artists to not be able to see properly so it may be worth investing in some daylight bulbs from the art shop if your drawing activities have to take place in the evening.