Art Tips | Blending Graphite

There are countless ways to blend graphite in a pencil drawing. Here I am going over the 3 methods that I used most often in my drawings.

1. In the first technique, we use a tissue to blend super smooth textures. This works well for any large area that requires an even value. Any household tissue works great for this, but make sure it doesn't have any additives like aloe. Cheap tissues work best. Don't waste your money on "artist's chamois cloths"; tissues work just as well.

2. The second technique adds subtle texture. This is achieved using a blending sump or a tortillion. Start with your lightest values (4h or 2h) and add the graphite to the page with small circular motions. Blend it in using the same motion with your blending tool. Remember: More pressure= darker. Build your values slowly. Start light and darken as you work.

3. The last method is cross hatching. This is one of the oldest techniques around. Here we do not actually blend the graphite, but achieve different values from the amount of pigment added to the page. This works great for pen, ink, or marker drawings as well.


00:00 Intro
00:41 Supplies
01:27 Blending a smooth texture
04:17 Blending an organic/skin texture
09:09 Hatching
10:30 Examples

• #howto_style
• #hyper_realism
• #realism
• #photorealism
• #pencil_drawing
• #realistic_art
• #how_to_draw
• #blending_graphite
• #photo_realistic_art
• #art
• #how_to_draw_realistically