Widen Your Pencil Strokes: Techniques For Broader Lines

Creating wider strokes with a pencil is a foundational skill for any artist to master. The most basic stroke is the line, which can be manipulated in a variety of ways to create different effects. By adjusting the grip, the pencil's sharpness, and the amount of pressure applied, artists can achieve a range of stroke widths. Wider strokes can be created by using the side of a well-sharpened pencil with light pressure, resulting in softer edges. Alternatively, holding the pencil further up the barrel allows for better control over the amount of pressure and the angle of the pencil, facilitating wider strokes.

Hold the pencil further up the barrel for better control

Holding a pencil further up the barrel can give you better control over the amount of pressure you use, as well as the movement of the pencil. This grip also allows you to adjust the angle of the pencil on the paper while you draw. However, you will need to practice this grip before trying it with a drawing.

To get used to this grip, try some simple exercises. For example, draw tight lines back and forth from one end of your sketchbook to the other, gradually increasing the pressure as you go to get a smooth gradient. Then, do it again, but this time go from dark to light. You can also try drawing a solid tone without lifting your pencil, or shade a solid tone from one end of your sketchbook to the other, lifting your pencil now and then and rotating it slightly.

Holding the pencil further up will also help relieve hand fatigue if your hand gets tired but you don't want to take a break. This grip also allows you to hold the pencil in a more horizontal position while drawing. This can be useful for creating wider strokes, as it allows you to angle the side of the pencil lead towards the paper, resulting in thicker strokes that are easier to blend.

Use the side of the pencil lead

Using the side of your pencil lead is a great way to create wide lines or broad areas of colour. This technique is perfect for laying down glazes—colour applied with very light pressure to tint an area.

If you're using woodless pencils, you have even more versatility as you can draw with the entire length of the pencil you're holding. You can apply colour in long sweeping motions over large areas, or in circular motions.

To achieve a smooth shade, you'll want thick strokes that are close together. Move your hand high up on the pencil and away from the tip. The more you angle the side of your lead towards the paper, the thicker your strokes will be, and the better they can be blended.

If you're shading into a lighter area, reduce the amount of pressure at the end of the stroke so you get a nice gradient instead of an abrupt change in value.

Holding your pencil like you would if you were writing can make it more difficult to blend and requires more time and effort to keep your strokes tight. A drawing shaded like this will look very scratchy.

You can also use a blunt pencil and twist it for line variation. Blunted pencils are great for drawing even colour in small areas, especially if you use a circular stroke. But you can also turn the pencil slowly as you draw and use the blunted tip to draw marks that vary in width and darkness.

Sharpen your pencil to a wedge shape for even more interesting results. The wedge shape dulls quickly, so keep an emery board or fingernail file handy.

Use stippling for broken colour and accents

Stippling is an advanced decorative painting technique that uses small, deliberate dots to create a soft, textured appearance on walls. This technique is also used in pencil drawing to create a pointillist effect.

When stippling, you tap the paper with the tip of the pencil, creating a series of dots that build up colour, tone, and texture. This technique is perfect for adding accent details, creating broken colour, or drawing interesting textures.

To create darker, denser areas, place the dots closer together. For lighter areas, space the dots further apart. By manipulating the density of the dots, you can create a three-dimensional effect.

You can also experiment with varying the size of the dots. Larger dots can fill space quickly, while smaller dots can add delicate details and subtle tonal shifts. Mixing dot sizes can add depth and complexity to your artwork.

Stippling allows for beautiful and subtle colour mixing. By overlapping dots of different colours, you can create new colours or visual blends, enhancing the richness and complexity of your drawing.

Stippling is a time-consuming technique that requires patience, but it results in a unique texture and level of detail that is challenging to achieve with other methods. It is ideal for adding texture to subjects such as rocks, sand, or distant foliage.

When stippling, it is important to embrace randomness. Allow your strokes to start and stop at varying points, avoiding the predictability of a straight line. Additionally, vary the angles of your strokes slightly to create a natural, organic look.

Keep in mind that stippling for extended periods may cause wrist fatigue, so take breaks as needed.

Stippling is a versatile technique that adds depth and interest to your artwork. By mastering stippling, you can create stunning effects and elevate your pencil drawings to the next level.

Use a blunt pencil and twist it for line variation

Using a blunt pencil and twisting it as you draw is a great way to create line variation and achieve a range of effects. This technique is particularly effective for drawing even colour in small areas, especially if you use a circular stroke.

By slowly rotating the pencil as you draw, you can create marks that vary in width and darkness. This method allows you to achieve a wide range of textures, from short grass to tall grass, and even long hair.

You can also try sharpening your pencil to a wedge shape for even more interesting results. Keep an emery board or nail file handy, as the wedge shape will quickly dull.

Additionally, you can combine this technique with stippling, which involves tapping the paper with the tip of the pencil to create a pointillist effect. Stippling is perfect for adding accent details and creating broken colour or interesting textures.

Experiment with different grips and pressures to achieve the desired effect. For example, holding the pencil further up the barrel can provide better control over the amount of pressure you use and allow you to adjust the angle of the pencil on the paper.

Use hatching and cross-hatching for depth and texture

Hatching and cross-hatching are excellent techniques to add depth, texture, and dimension to your artwork. These techniques are commonly used in drawing and can be effectively applied with coloured pencils.

Hatching involves creating a series of lines or strokes in the same direction to build up colour and shading. Cross-hatching is a similar technique, but the lines are drawn in different directions and overlap. The direction of your pencil strokes can be varied to create interest and achieve different effects. Play around with horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or even curved lines to see what works best for your artwork.

When cross-hatching, the second intersecting layer can be positioned at right angles to the original lines or at a less acute angle. Adjust the density of your cross-hatching by spacing the strokes closer together or leaving more space between them. Dense cross-hatching will create a darker and more intense area, while sparse cross-hatching will result in lighter shading.

You can control the pressure applied to the pencil while hatching. Lighter pressure will produce more delicate strokes, while heavier pressure will create darker and bolder lines. Gradually build up the layers to achieve the desired effect.

Cross-hatching with different colours can add depth and subtlety to your drawings. For example, you can use Olive Green and True Blue at right angles to each other and then add Light Grey over the top to help blend them without drastically altering the colour.

A sharp pencil tip will give you more precision and control over your lines, which is particularly important when cross-hatching. Regularly sharpening your pencils will make your strokes more defined and clean.

Cross-hatching takes practice, so start with simple shapes like cubes or spheres to get a feel for the technique. As you become more comfortable, move on to more complex subjects. Every artist has their own unique style of cross-hatching, so don't be afraid to experiment with different stroke directions, pressures, and pencil colours until you find a style that you like.

Remember, the goal of this form of mark-making is to create depth, texture, and shading. It's a versatile and effective technique that can enhance the realism and depth of your coloured pencil drawings.

Frequently asked questions