9 Ways to Blend Graphite Pencil

[@psychicart5670]

So glad your demonstrating and talking at the same time. I can’t cope with videos that talk and talk and you have to wait for the demo to start 💞

[@Artista365]

Thanks so much glad you enjoyed the format. I agree I don’t mind a quick intro but much over that it needs to just get on with it. Lol.

[@michaelbarra5681]

Thank you for making this video. Very informative ❤

[@Artista365]

Absolutely happy I could help. Glad you enjoyed it

[@fangchick93]

I'm a tortillion blender. I got a whole bunch for a steal at my local art supply store and I fell in love immediately. I also like that you can use the tip for smaller details and the bottom part for larger spaces

[@Artista365]

Oh yes. That is also my go to for the same reasons. They are definitely a game changer. I do use other methods for certain things but 9 times out of 10 I reach for that tortillion … their versatility is just unmatched by any other method in my opinion.

[@loutenant2817]

Straight to the point, short and easily explained. Thank you

[@Artista365]

Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Failedpess]

Very helpful to me as a beginner, thanks!

[@Artista365]

That’s awesome so glad it was helpful.

[@Xrissart]

This is terrific Wendi, enjoyed watching this demonstration. Very informative and value adding. Love the video editing.

[@Artista365]

Thank you. Trying to make some changes. Hopefully for the better. Did you notice I left more pauses in this time...just for you 😉

[@Xrissart]

@@Artista365 yes much better, now I feel special 🤣🤣🤣 love the angles too, nice work

[@thalesmenezes8087]

Good work

[@Artista365]

Thanks so much

[@Gunsong1]

I find myself combining these options. I wrapped a blending stump, or other objects of an expedient shape, in tissue papper, and experiment with differen presure and angle. Other than that I use burnishing for pin-point precision. I am trying to get the hang of softer brushes for soft and large shapes.

[@Artista365]

That is so awesome. Combining techniques really gives you more options. There is no right or wrong just what works for you. So awesome to hear you have found a couple that make your workflow faster and easier. For a brush sometimes a slightly stiffer one works better than the super soft. Just depends upon what you find works for the look you are going for. Experimenting is the best way to find that. Not every techniques works for everyone that’s why experimenting is so important. Keep up the good work and experiments and you’ll be surprised at what you find…even when you do art for a long time. Always something new to learn.

[@Immamom2]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was using kleenex but it had lotion infused in it. The difference is noticeable! And i really thought make-up brushes were the best for smoothness, but i haven't tried those soft tools in #8. Have you tried kitchen sponges for large areas? If you try it, please post. Thanks again...a grateful student. 😊

[@Artista365]

You’re very welcome. I have not tried kitchen sponges. That’s a great idea to try. I do worry about the texture affecting the final result but it’s a great idea to try. I love to experiment and find new ways to do things. Thanks so much for the idea.

[@georginabach1442]

Amazing

[@Artista365]

Thank you 😊

[@chukkamanasreeartstudent1577]

Good information mam tq so much, one doubt which one is best for bleding

[@Artista365]

Thanks so much. As with most things are it’s personal preference as to which one is best for you and your techniques. My personal favorite is the blending stump for most things.

[@chukkamanasreeartstudent1577]

Tq mam , I'm a BFA student 2nd yr I'm full off confusion for bleding shading

[@Artista365]

It can be confusing. The best way to develop your skills for it is to try different methods to see what works best for you. There is no right or wrong. Everyone develops their ow techniques by combining what they learned in different places and keep what works and discard what doesn’t. It takes time, practice and patience. Everyone learns at a different pace. If there are specific questions feel free to ask and I’ll try to help out as much as I can.

[@DicedTea]

is there any difference between a blending stump and the other rolled one? Also, does lotion or aloe infused tissues affect the blending quality? and nice video! my hs art teacher assigned us this video for homework 😊

[@Artista365]

What great questions. Pressed belong stumps and rolled essentially work the same. In the end it comes down to preference. My personal preference is the pressed blending stump for most applications. The reason for this is I find the rolled lines some leave the line marks if you use it on its side. I believe work smarter not harder and trying to clean up those lines is just not worth the hassle. I do find I like them for very small areas where I am using the tip and work in small areas such as eyes. Since you can insert the back of a paint brush or skewer in the end and push it out a bit to recreate the fine point it makes it ideal for those applications. So lotion/aloe infused will definitely affect blending quality. Just as you wouldn’t want to put lotion on your hands just before drawing the same is true for your blending tools. It creates smudging and may be difficult to layer with the lotion on those areas. Also, if you’re concerned about archival qualities, those tissues may negatively affect those qualities and may even fine oil spots where you used those lotion infused tissues. I am so glad your teach found this video a helpful tool to teach their students about blending and hope you found it useful. Please give your teacher my regards. Thanks for watching and feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need more clarification

[@DicedTea]

@ thanks!

[@Artista365]

@DicedTea your very welcome

[@emmanuelbuah6107]

Thank you very much

[@Artista365]

Thanks for watching

[@billlegend277]

You have an excent hand to draw,i have tried to blend with graphite and brush or paper but i am not satisfied with the result so i get smoother results with charcoal.I write with the charcoal bar and then i use the makeup brush on it (charcoal has no powder),in that way i have better shading and values of black.

[@Artista365]

Thanks so much. Charcoal is a great way to push your darks even darker as graphite alone is very difficult to achieve especially if you don’t want the shine. There is a new set of pencils that recently got released that supposedly will not create the shine and supposedly gets darker. I haven’t tried them yet but once I do I will for sure put a video out on that. I also used charcoal and find the blending very smooth. I too scribble some on a paper and lift it with the brush or even the belting stump to get the control in values especially for portraits. I do have video on that. Not sure I talked about the lifting part. The one that is a portrait that is of a fighter I did that a lot. In fact I used the dark area on the pice since there was so much of it to pick up and create the skin tones. Just reapplied if it got too light. I think it’s an excellent technique and so glad you found something that works well for you. It’s all about that journey and seeing different ways artists work and see which techniques work best for you. Love art because there are so many ways to get a final result and there is really no wrong or right in technique as long as the final result is what you wanted to achieve. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@billlegend277]

@@Artista365 i think you talk about pitt mat faber graphite pencils ,mayby i'll truy them.The problem that i have with graphite (portrait -skin) is that i cant lift with the brush to shade and it doesnt look realistic (mayby i dont know how to do,or its not so easy.. you can tell me that. ),thats why i use charcoal that is easiest to lift

[@Artista365]

Yes I think those are them. I totally get the lifting part but takes a bit of practice. I find myself using a brush more with charcoal and blending stump for graphite as you are correct the brush doesn’t left the graphite as easily. Sometimes if feel I spend more time with the blending stump than the pencils themselves lol 😂. The portrait of the child was done with graphite. Much like the lifting with brush from the darker area for charcoal I do the same but with a blending stump on the graphite. I also like to mix the two graphite and charcoal but the charcoal needs to go down first since it won’t stick to the graphite. And if you can get the blend between the two it is amazing 🤩

[@billlegend277]

@@Artista365 i agree everything you wrote! I also use blending stamp with graphite at small points (eye,nose..) and brush with charcoal..Keep up the good work!!

[@Artista365]

Thanks so much! You too! Have an awesome and Arty February and 2023 😃

[@rainnymph]

I'm not sure if its just me but I find blending with tissue and or stumps is like the equivelent of nails scratching a chalk board lol

[@Artista365]

I do like to use stumps but I find it difficult to control with a tissue unless it’s large areas. I think it also depends upon the paper used on the sounds as well

[@rainnymph]

@@Artista365 Oh yeah!! The paper could be the reason why the sound is so annoying as I use quite smooth scrap paper for practise so that's probably the reason xD also i agree with tissue being sometimes hard to control

[@rjw638]

You got awesome ways out there my friend .good one👍👍

[@Artista365]

Thank you so much. So many techniques to do the same thing. Love that about art

[@michaelangeloalcanzado4300]

Thanks a lot

[@Artista365]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@tekannon7803]

Excellent advice!

[@Artista365]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it

[@squeise_art]

Hiii Can u help me when i blend The paper becomes dotted with black, and that blackness does not go away ☹️

[@Artista365]

Great question. Not sure if it is where your trying to blend or something else but here’s a few suggestions: Could be the texture of your paper. Paper choice is very important as each have their own unique texture. If your paper has more texture (even if it feels smooth to the touch) then those raised areas will catch the graphite and leave the valleys open giving you a more dotted or pixelized appearance. Try blending In layers to help build up the graphite. Sometimes once application isn’t enough. You could also help this by applying a bit more pressure to flatten those peaks to get a smoother/more blended appearance. The down side is that you won’t be able to layer as much. As mentioned above layering is very important. To achieve a smooth blend it doesn’t always happen with one application. Sometimes you have to apply your medium blend and repeat until you reach the desired look. Be careful the pressure you use with application and blending as flattening the tooth of the paper will limit your ability to easily manipulate your medium. So take care when blending. Another thing to consider is the medium that you are using. Not all pencils are created equal and the additives used in the graphite can also affect the final outcome. So maybe try different pencils and see which ones work best for your techniques. Finally, the blending device you use will also affect the final appearance. So try different ones and see which creates the look you are going for and works best for your technique you use. If you work in multiple Mediums try not to use the same blending device for multiple mediums. Ie blending stump as it could affect the final appears as if there are ingredients say in charcoal or pastels that negatively affect graphite, it can also affect the final appearance. I know this was a lot but there are tons of things to consider when things aren’t working out as you would like. experiment with different papers and pencils and find which one gives you the best results for your technique. As they aren’t all created equal and what works for one person may not work well for another. I hope this helps and please feel free to ask any additional questions you may have or if you need further clarification on any of the above. Thanks for watching and I hope that a few of these tips will help you achieve the appearance you are trying to achieve.

[@Artista365]

One last thought…if you are looking at it close up you may see some of that “dotting” for the blending due to the paper texture but when looked at from 5 to 7 feet it should appear smooth

[@squeise_art]

@@Artista365 thank you !! 🙏❤️❤️❤️

[@Artista365]

@squeisedit your very welcome

[@RusticatedArt]

Nice tutorial Wendi! I use 3 or 4 of these methods, but mainly a blending stump, I also use a micro brush for the finer detail. New friend here!!👍✏️😀💯

[@Artista365]

That is so awesome and welcome! Yeah blending stump is definitely one of my favorite to use. Finer details are certainly one of the most difficult to find tools for. So glad you were able to find the micro brush for yours. All about experimenting and see what works best for each individual technique and section. Again, welcome and so glad to meet you.

[@marablack1233]

Bravo on this one Wendi!👏👏😊💞

[@Artista365]

Thank you so much

[@elymarksoguilon3370]

For me you and me is the best🙈 loving from Philippines thanks for helping us😙💕

[@Artista365]

Thank you so much. Always happy to help and so glad you have joined the Artista365 family.

[@elymarksoguilon3370]

@@Artista365 yeeyyyy thankyou so muchhhhh so appreciated😍🙏

[@RJTermulo]

Thanks for this! Just great!

[@Artista365]

Your very welcome so glad you found it useful.

[@johnroberts5865]

Have you studied the five pencil method

[@Artista365]

What a great question. I have not actually studied it, I have heard of it and find it to be a similar manner to my value build, but I also feel that the 4B doesn’t get dark enough for my preference. Maybe there is a 4B out there I haven’t come across that gets darker? Either way I think it’s definitely worth me checking out further and seeing any new techniques I may be able to pick up. I always love learning and trying new ways of doing things. Thanks so much for reminding me of this and putting it back in my radar.

[@samdraws1652]

I like the soft tools the best

[@Artista365]

They are a great tool. And so versatile.

[@mikeburb9246]

"It is always handy" 😆

[@Artista365]

Thanks

[@user-ze1kb9wp1l]

Thank youu😭❤️

[@Artista365]

Thanks for watching

[@gailbaskett812]

Awesome 🎨🖼 and keep up drawing then you will be famous.

[@Artista365]

Awwwe thank you. Your very kind 😊

[@gailbaskett812]

Your welcome.

[@mardal9708]

Loved it! Thank you I'm learning this so my graphite doesn't look dull and boring without volume :(

[@Artista365]

Thank you so glad you liked it and it helps you. Also to help you have more depth be sure to have the widest range of values in your piece that your art will allow. Meaning the darkest darks and whitest whites that you can achieve to still create the look you want. This will also help to give you a more interesting piece and keep the attention of the viewer longer

[@mardal9708]

@@Artista365 HII It has been a month since I took your advice on this comment and you wouldn't imagine how much my drawings have improved, thank you much! - now I'm struggling with colour on my painting class :'( haha

[@Artista365]

Awwwe. I am so glad that it helped you. Thank you girl erring me know. What problems are you having with color. Maybe I could help you sort that out

[@sofiepiercing]

Hi I just wanna ask what is the most best or easiest from all of them?

[@Artista365]

Thanks so much for watching. What a great question. While it really comes down to personal preference I prefer the blending stump. I feel it is very versatile and you can blend larger areas by using it at an angle but also get into those very small areas with the tip so no need to change blending tools. Almost like an all in one tool. I do use many of the others depending upon my needs but most of the time reach for that blending stump.

[@sofiepiercing]

@@Artista365 thank you very much did is my first time blending with a pencil and another question is burnish more easier than layering?

[@Artista365]

This is another great question. There are a few things to keep in mind when deciding to burnish. The first is are you going to want to make adjustments later in your piece. There’s always the chance that it will be necessary to so if you decide to burnish then it should be one of the last steps in your process. The reason for this is burnishing flattens the tooth of the paper so your pencil will have very little of anything to grab ahold of making the adjustment process a bit more challenging. Next, when using burnishing with graphite it tends to get shiny as you end up “polishing” with the softer grades. All of that being said I typically use burnishing more for colored pencil than graphite. And even then i still layer prior to burnishing. This helps get an even layer of pencils and in the nooks and crannies of the paper helping to avoid the little white specks without flattening or using a lot of pressure. Layering can get you to the full coverage without using a lot of pressure. And with colored pencils it creates a depth of color and color mixing not possible when you start out with burnishing. Yes it maybe take a bit longer but I find it creates more depth in the piece especially when layering colors. Also, if your constantly burnishing your hand ends up getting fatigued much faster and in my case flares up my arthritis so using less pressure in my case is important. I hope these considerations have been helpful for deciding when to use the burnishing technique. Let me know if you have any other questions or would like further explanation on burnishing vs. layering.

[@latha6890]

Which is better

[@Artista365]

It’s really personal preference. We all work in different ways so what might be right for me may not be right for you. I tend to lean toward the blending stump the most then the brush, but I do use most of those techniques at some point just because that’s what the area or artwork calls for. If I am using say graphite powder I usually use the sofft tool to do the background and block in areas. So as you can see they are all useful, just depends upon your preference and your methods.

[@sanelekabinde625]

Burnish method is the best

[@Artista365]

It is definitely one of my favorites as well

[@giftyezeakachukwu8197]

But y bo all of them look good 😂

[@Artista365]

Thanks.

[@syaukanimntp5198]

I usualy use tissues bc i don't have the other tool🙂

[@Artista365]

It works well too. Best to use what you have on hand as long as it doesn’t affect the archivability of your work. No need for specialty tools to get good results. Thanks for sharing.