Whether you are a student, artist or a regular office goer who likes to plan things on paper, a pencil must be an indispensable tool for you. However, all pencils are not created equally. Some are apt for sketching whereas other work well while you scribble or work on a technical thing, say, machine drawing. Read on to explore the varieties and find out which one works best in your case.
When we were in school, shopping for us used to mean loading up the pencil box. Because of their erasable nature, pencils have been an integral part of our studies. Not just studies, they let you quickly scribble down anything like a to-do list, grocery list, meeting notes etc. They are an essential part of every artist’s life who work on visual arts like drawing, sketching, and painting. Architects, designer and engineers use them to make sure all dimensions related to their projects are laid down correctly. However, all pencils are not created equally. There is a different type for different uses. So, on this page, we will explore everything you need to know about them so that you can choose an appropriate one.
Exploring popular varieties of pencils
Pencils come in a wide assortment of options based on their core, material, length, colour and more factors. They usually comprise of two components- one is the solid pigment core, and another is the protective casing. Most of the cores are made up of graphite power mixed with a clay binder. However, nowadays, you can find a wide variety of cores to achieve different results. For example, Charcoal core is popular among sketching artists whereas coloured crayon-like pencils work well for drawing projects at schools and even professional spaces. Speaking of the casing, it can be of wood, glass, plastic and even paper. You can even find the pencils in which the core is not bonding the case. Let us explore more about popular varieties.
Graphite or lead pencil
A graphite or lead pencil is the best pencil for drawing and writing. It contains a thin graphite core that is embedded in some other material, mostly, wood. We have been using it since our childhood. It produces black or grey marks that you can also erase easily. However, they are resistant to most of the chemicals, moisture, and even ultraviolet radiations. Graphite is produced in various grades which is why you get different marks from different pencils. Your choice depends upon the type of work you are doing, the type of paper you use and the pressure you apply while writing. For example, if you apply much pressure then 4B can be dark for you but 6B or 8B may work.
Charcoal pencil
As the name suggests, it contains compressed charcoal enclosed in a wooden case. If you are looking for a clean, fine, and crisp drawing then it should be your choice. It lets you develop black matte shades that do not have a shiny appearance. Just like graphite, Charcoal also come in light, moderate and hard consistencies, Even the medium one will be darker than the darkest type of graphite. So, it is an apt choice for both white as well as a bit of dark shade paper. You can find them in both sticks as well as pencil form. However, artists prefer sticks since they can turn them around or lay them down to cover a large area at once.
Coloured pencils
A coloured pencil is an art medium that contains a pigmented core enclosed in a wooden case. These pencils are different from the above two types. Their core is wax, or oil-based and contains a variety of pigments, binding agents, and additives. They come in a wide range of colours, so the possibilities are just endless with them. Artist-grade, student grade, watercolour pencils and pastel pencils are some of the popular types you can find in the market. These pencils can also be used with another drawing medium for the best results. You can do layering, roughening, scoring, and more techniques with them.
BIC pencils, Staedtler pencils & other popular varieties
BIC is a well-known name for its basic and best mechanical pencils. They come with break-resistant and ultra-solid leads. You can erase the marks with latex-free erases easily. Staedtler is another brand that comes up with high-quality pencils of different grades. You can even get your hands on mechanical ones for better and ceaseless writing and drawing experience. If you are looking for the best pencils for your workplace, then they can be your choice as they are also pocket safe. You can easily carry them in your bag wherever you go. If you are looking for colourful options, Crayola coloured pencils are a popular art medium that comes with decent colour application. There are many more brands you can find here with the best ever collection.
