Try This to ELIMINATE Shine in your Drawings

[@HArtDrawing]

Graphite shine used to be an absolute nightmare for me, but I’ve been using the Staedtler Mars Lumograph Black pencils for a few years now and they’re amazing. I’ve also recently got some Faber Castell Pitt Graphite Mattes that I’m looking forward to trying out

[@pathyziermalandrinha]

I was about to talk about the new faber castell matt pencils! but its way difficult to search

[@joeblankenship377]

I use both of those. The Matt graphite still has a little bit of shine. A black Polychromos is good too. And erasable if you keep it light.

[@blakearius]

They have about 1/3 the shine but I struggle to get a sharp point... the Pitt Mattes

[@HArtDrawing]

@@blakearius Yeah, I use a helical sharp point sharpener on all my pencils now and it’s limited lead breaks a lot, but with the Staedtler carbon pencils and the Pitt Mattes I still get breaks sometimes and have to be really slow and careful

[@claritzairosario68]

@natalia gomez oh! thanks for that😉

[@notAlly._]

Never been so early! Trust me ! Kirsty you always helped me! You must have never seen me in ur comments but I always watched ur vids! Thank you Kirsty! This one was needed

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

So happy my videos have helped you 😁

[@james_rubenach]

Great tips! I love the Staedtler Lumograph Black pencils. Another way to eliminate shine or glare is to use a matte fixative spray. I use Micador Matt Spray PCA055 on all my graphite and charcoal drawings. It provides permanent protection against dirt, moisture and smudging while also eliminating shine.

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

Great tip 👍🏻

[@claritzairosario68]

Thanks for this tips!

[@blakearius]

I wonder how the lumagraph Black compare to the faber castell Pitt graphite Matt. They have about 1/3rd the shine of regular graphite and feel better than carbon pencils but I just can't get them very sharp.

[@yt87pam]

@blakearius I experienced the same thing. Just ordered a “long point”pencil sharpener on Amazon. There is a wide range. I read the comments to find a suitable one for my needs at a price I could afford.

[@KMGunnArt]

the shininess is why I've decided I don't want to work with graphite anymore. Just a side note: I am using your legacy classes on charcoal and the graphite lessons to level up on my drawing (I just uploaded my first art vid this morning, highlighting my charcoal work), and am happy with how this is helping me better achieve what I am aiming to achieve.

[@itsnangi219]

It's like you're a psychic because I was JUST complaining about this like an hour ago and then BOOM here we are! I love this video it's a life saver

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

Aha great timing! 🥰

[@marciocardoso75D]

Hi Kristy,thank you so much for another great drawing tip. I am a portuguese speaker brazilian boy,graduated in arts many years ago,and thanks to living in the US for many years i a can understand you perfectly. You are hands down the BEST gifted drawer on youtube. May God bless you always so you can keep always bringing more and more very useful drawing tips like this. Ps: i love your british accent !

[@weefirebelle]

Your lion drawing is beautiful Kirsty. I bought the new Faber-Castell matt pencils going up to 14B, they're a lot less shiny but not 100% shine free. I think they may have Carbon blend in these pencils, they do blend well with themselves but not quite so happy with normal graphite FC 9000 pencils. I have another tip for getting pure jet black matt from graphite pencils. Have you tried using water soluble graphite pencils. I tried using 8B FC graphite aquarelle, draw and erase as normal using this, but when you're finished, gain that non shiny pure blacklook by very lightly going over the pencil using a damp brush, not wet so the marks won't move. It does set the tone and will be very difficult to lift once set but it's great for black backgrounds or really dark black areas (tip I picked up from Lisa- Lachri fine art). I tried this tip using other water soluble graphite pencils too( Derwent, Gioconda and a couple of others too) and got similar result. Absolutely no shine and the blackest black, charcoal matt effect but with no dust!

[@JamieBoots]

Graphite pencils mainly consist of graphite and a binder generally clay/wax or a mixture of both, the darker the grade the higher the ratio of graphite to binder. Because graphite is a crystal it will there for shine to some degree depending on the grade. If you press hard or burnish this will have the effect of polishing it and increase the shine so building the tone in layers does reduce this a little but it will still have a shine. Personally I don't find the shine an issue as when a picture is finished it needs to be framed and glazed to protect it. This will also reduce the overall shine to a degree but the main thing is to light it correctly as this makes the most difference and as with any picture avoid hanging it in direct sunlight, it is also worth remembering that the best way to view a picture is to view it from the front and not the side. As someone else has mentioned you can use a matt fixative but personally I find fixatives can change the look of a picture. The nice thing about using graphite is the ability to create smooth transition of tone and as I said most shine can be reduced by good lighting. Hope this is also useful.

[@velvetoren]

Tissue and cotton has different effect when using for blending purpose, tissue decrease the volume of the darkness, it makes even softener, while cotton opposite with that, cotton increasing the darkness and make the color more bold, and darker

[@joeblankenship377]

Faber-Castell has some new matte graphite pencils. They don't completely eliminate shine, but it's noticably better than regular graphite.

[@JohnSmith-xb4ux]

You might want to look at the Faber-Castell Graphite Pencil Set Pitt Graphite Matt Tin of 11. It's actually 8 pencils and when I swatched them I didn't have to put any great care in them to get consistent shading with each , and the softer they are the darker the shading, they seem very very controllable. Being that you are professional and this is a great product and brand you might find it very useful. Hope it helps 😁😁

[@obieldenook1142]

Seeing the dark values first does indeed help judge mid-tone values better. I've never drawn like this before so it will take time to unlearned what I've learned to do it like this. I've never cared about the shine of my art for several reasons but I should start learning these techniques more for when I do. Thank you, Kirsty. :)

[@yollexart]

Such an incredibly helpful video. Thank you for showing us your drawing process with the Lion. My goodness it was so great to see your process and the time and patience it takes to truly finish art. I really need to enjoy and take my time and keep coming back to my art. Thank you so sharing your skills and talents. Stunning!

[@art.by.eddyeule1023]

Just try out the Pitt Graphite Matt pencils from Faber Castell. There is even with 14B next to no shine 😊

[@Wilmy.]

Yes they are fantastic !!!

[@art.by.eddyeule1023]

@@Wilmy. I love them!!!

[@Wilmy.]

@@art.by.eddyeule1023 Me too, I don't use any other pencil anymore 😉

[@andreasnape1923]

The technique I've been using is the one where I first block in the darkest area with the hybrid pencil of carbon and graphite and even out the texture with graphite powder. But looks I need to try out the coloured pencil one too!

[@artplanet520]

Kirsty you are inspiration ❤️ I'm only 9 but I just started my little drawing channel. Drawing is super fun!

[@artkitekviktor6897]

Thanks Kirsty, your tips are always helpful to me🙏🙏🙏

[@cliveangelaedwards8854]

Watching you draw this lion now has encouraged me to take up my drawing again... I haven't drawn for years and have painted lion for my cards. I love the way you use the polychromos pencils to darken areas and must try this method. I must also watch your video on Tombo erasers... I have their duo pens but they are very old (like me!) and are very dry... must replace them... 😊... thank you so much for showing this... much appreciated...😊😍

[@the_artist_sarwar8654]

Hi kirsty, you can try the CONTÉ A PARIS Pierre Noire pencil, it is the darkest matte black pencil ever. Please try it and make a video if possilble

[@figgypudding]

These videos are so helpful, thank you ✌️✨

[@jamesaritchie1]

BUAUTIFUL lion. First, I can tell you that not all black colored pencils will work. Some have even more shine, and with less burnishing, than graphite. It's tricky, but I have used a black pastel pencil in small areas. A good pastel pencil can get very black without shine, but I'm sure you know the problems pastel can present. I love my woodcase pencils, and use them often, but I love mechanical pencils, too. I always recommend the Pentel P200 pencils because these are the ones I see in professionals kits far more often than any other single pencil. I've been using a P205, a P207, and a P209 for forty years, and all three still work. Not bad foir a five dollar pencil. Anyway, I have four of each, and I use the _205 at least ninety percent of the time. In the four P205 pencils, I have one with 4H lead, one with HB, one with 2B, and one with 4B. There is very, very, very little I can't do with these four leads. I think using just these four leads can be very beneficial for beginners. Or for pros, for that matter. I have a friend who showed me a set of pencils that went from 9H to 14B. He couldn't get over believing that not only were more grades better, but that if you had them, you had to use them. Why else would anyone make them? I will sometimes use a 6B, but very carefully. If I need blacker I do as you do and use a black colored pencil or a carbon pencil. Very, very often, however, I don't need anything darker than the 4B, or lighter than the 4H. If anything, I'm far more likely to use a higher H pencil than a higher B pencil. I'm old, and I've been drawing for a lot of years, but I'm new to an H pencil above 5H, so I do experiment with them, and I've found I can take glaring whit spaces away while still leaving them white, if I use a 7H, or a 9H, depending on the paper. Graphite does the lighter tomes very well, it does shades of gray very well, but not so well with black. I think more beginners should experiment with drawing using a much narrower range of pencils. They don't have to use the same four I do, but making 6B the softest they use is, I think, a good idea. When possible, and it usually is, keeping the softest grade at 4B is even better. Don't be like my friend and think that more is always better, and that you should use every pencil in a large set.

[@jadedenthusiasms]

My goodness that's gorgeous!!! I just love watching people make things in front of your eyes that are so cool..drawing, painting, cooking,so many things. I only have cheap pencils and some FC9000 and some charcoal blocks and a couple, almost gone,charcoal pencils. So I have some new things on my wishlist to try, because I just love the deep dark contrast in anything. I don't like the feel if charcoal pencils, like a fingernails on chalkboard thing...but I like the dark, so I deal :) but I'm just very new to using charcoal sticks and have had some fun with that, but not for any detail work of course. So, I'll keep these others in mind! I know this is a dumb question, but, the FC polychromos(which I'm sure I spelled wrong but this old brain can only retain so much anymore 🤣) I take it they aren't just colored pencils, or are they? I'm just curious :) Thank you for sharing so much information, helps a ton!!

[@Logooarts]

Amazing tips there!😘 Just took a leaf from your video for my people too 🙌😁

[@heidekrause469]

Thank you Kirsty!!! What a lovely tutorial!!

[@johnsalinas327]

Graphite shines has never been any problem to me, but I do like to lessen the shines. Thanks for this wonderful video!

[@sougenshio]

I just use a matte fixative/matte acrylic varnish spray and it completely does away with the shine. One or two layers and it's all good.

[@bokape4472]

What a lovely and thorough video! So so helpful!

[@anitha.007]

Thank you mam for giving a solution for this problem. You had changed my drawing method in a better way.

[@grahamekellermeier8280]

Great advice beautiful art, shine on Kirsty.

[@ficheye00]

I mount the final drawing to a acid free board, then spray it with Krylon matte fixative, using several light layers.

[@ScottJSchrecengost]

Hi Kirsty! I've heard a spray fixative can reduce graphite shine. Do you have any experience with this, and if so, any recommendations? Thanks, excellent video as always.

[@jenniefrench1338]

There is a Winsor & Newton graphite or charcoal fixative but it doesn’t get rid of the really shiny areas.

[@ScottJSchrecengost]

Thanks so much! I'm going to test a few different ones I guess... they all seem to be rather expensive.

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

I personally haven’t got much experience with fixatives but I am sure there are some good ones out there that could help reduce the shine 😊

[@ScottJSchrecengost]

Thanks again, have a great day!

[@sukhmankaur_arts]

I use brustro fixative spray and it's really effective to get rid of graphite shine.... I really like it... If you tried it or even something else please share your experience .

[@smoothvoice9108]

Thank you so much ma'am.... Your every hacks...in every mediums are amazing.... Thank you once again ❤️

[@catherineraper]

Hi! I love the Staedtler Mars black lumograpgh, I also bought the faber castell Pitt graphite matte and I love these.

[@katladragen7435]

Ooh, thats terrifying, straight in with carbon..... I would not dare... Just shows how good you are!!!

[@helengill5481]

Thanks that's great to know cos I don't always like the shine 😊

[@jonugrohoart]

Thanks for valuable info Kirsty. 🙏🙏

[@Deadpool....]

Would you recommend spraying finished charcoal pieces with a matte clear coat spray paint to prevent them from smudging? I always wondered if that method would work

[@AnnaYV]

Maybe do a tiny tester and give it a try :) it could work 😃

[@TheKathept]

Fabulous drawing!!!

[@eurgen674]

Thank you, wonderful course!

[@ce7601]

so maybe you can try the Faber Castell matt Graphit pencil...

[@JamieBoots]

I tried the Graphite Matt and they are only reduced shine they also feel different to regular graphite pencils. I also found the 14B shines almost as much as regular graphite and is no darker than the 8B in the range which doesn't shine as much but that's only my findings.

[@KunjuzzCreation]

Waiting for this one

[@EveReznor]

Thank you for the tips. I was always struggling in my realistic portraits with achieving matt dark shade. Charcoal don't work for me that well though, as I'm left handed. I will be happy to try carbon or black colour pencil. Just one question: Did you use oil colour pencil or watercolour one? Because it does matter I think.

[@cboss2444]

She used polychromos which is oil based.

[@dreamrabbits5072]

Actually it doesn't matter. It's a common misconception that watercolor pencils are just pigment like real watercolor, but it's not. It's wax or oil based, with an emulsion added to dissolve in water, just like water mixable oils or watercolor crayons which are wax of course. Faber castell albrecht durer is oil based, and caran d'ache and others are waxed based, just like their colored pencil counterparts. Watercolor pencils are just as shiny as colored pencils when used dry. But none of these are as shiny as graphite though.

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

I use the black polychromos from Faber castell, feel free to experiment with other pencils though to see which you prefer 😊

[@s.a.b.i.]

@@dreamrabbits5072 Wow, I didnt know this!

[@helenmendham2814]

Fascinating watching you draw. Love the lion, you have captured his grace. So glad i come across your channel. The tips are brilliant and certainly game changers. I have been using a battery-operated eraser. Very slim tip and works better than i was expecting, but i will be investing in the one you were using. Look forward to seeing more vids from you.

[@arachne4070]

Amazing video as usual!

[@Shadow-ew3je]

Tip: Polychromos work well bcs it is oil based. But wax based colour pencil won't allow pencil to stick on top of them. Unless you put pencil first then colour pencil.

[@rainbeauxunicorn5237]

Staring with the darkest values is a really good tip. The best even.

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

I have found it a game changer! Especially for getting more accurate values 😊

[@claritzairosario68]

Wow, beautiful!!!! Thank you for this interesting video, I have a question... Carbon and charcoal is the same? Or not!

[@jackmemphis3139]

Amazing tips! Thanks! ❤

[@Jadeddoxy]

Aye thanks man,I'm glad to learn new stuff everyday

[@Jadeddoxy]

Learn new *good* stuff

[@jenniefrench1338]

I really enjoy the Mars Lumigraph pencils, they are my to go pencils and I love charcoal and tinted charcoal by Derwent plus a couple of Contes

[@zixiongwang9659]

Thanks for the tips, though i wonder if the shine is consider a “problem” in graphite drawings? Like does it mean a drawing is considered bad if it has that effect?

[@FlowerKimonoCaptain]

Links for the products in the description would be usefull.

[@rkarts5482]

That's amazing 💕💕 Back after several months I needed the same thing and that's here Nice to join the friends again Have a nice day :-)

[@Pebblesmas]

Wow your animal drawing is really SO AMÁZINF! And your tips are fabulous. I can't draw, but watching your videos is still great. Thx.

[@femaf5262]

Please upload every week if you don't mind

[@BackYardBoxGardening]

I use black water color pencils. Once the dark areas are laid in, you will still have shine. However, once you GENTLY wet the black water color pencil areas (don't overwet or you kill the drawing) the shine disappears. Little extra work, but worth the effort.

[@sricharcoalworks]

Yesss..this is really helpful...❤️❤️❤️ Every time I learn new things from your videos🌝😀😍🐱

[@johnhoffmanpaintings8512]

Have you not tried the Faber castel matt graphite yet? they reduce the shine and are still graphite, a lot of the other pencils feel different to graphite.

[@busingyejoseph4555]

Hello I love your art I want to start but I have never done it how do I start with

[@tyoafka3062]

Thanks so much...its so helpfull for beginner like me....

[@jdstamm9663]

lady you are brilliant , and you for real read my mind, thanks for the cool video 😎

[@Cara84de]

greetings from pencil-country Germany :-D I was amazed to see everything in your test was a German brand :-D I like charcoal on its own for exact that shiny - reason!

[@lefthandstory1280]

Great drawing nice work👍

[@vghardman2173]

this really helped me thanks👍🏼

[@jet3561]

Nice tutorial! Though is it bad to blend with ur fingertips as compared to using tissues?6:11

[@tselampe]

That is the white pen used at 14:40 ? Is it a gel pen? Or an eraser?

[@cyleewelch5226]

You have to try the new Faber castell matte graphite pencils! I absolutely love them. They are the same set up as the 9000 series, but all shades are matte. They also go up to a 14B. They're my go to now.

[@KirstyPartridgeArt]

I have just brought them, I didn’t even know they existed, they sound perfect!! I will do a video soon testing them out 🥰

[@johannakromer6828]

I was looking for this comment :D

[@juancalzada2294]

Hola mi artista favorita y hermosísima, felicidades y gracias por tu canal, consejos, técnicas y tips👏🏻🎉🥳🎊😉💐😘👍🏻

[@rgrdesigns]

Brilliant! Thanks.

[@meeranatarajan4487]

Thankyou Kirsty . I find that the carbon dust is messy and it flies off making the drawing lighter . Am I right?

[@wanderlustaesthete4117]

I use the Mars Lumograph black Staedtler pencils love them 🫶🏽

[@kiranhegde7606]

Im struggling with the sketches of the drawings as im not getting the perfect sketch im not doing the detail coloring so I request you to do tutorials about sketches

[@danajohnson5398]

I made a giant portrait in graphite and what helped was hanging the drawing in indirect lighting! Haha

[@artwl]

Thanks for this idol🥰

[@stephenleslie9282]

Hi kirsty would be better use hard graphite like 4h and use dark pencils like charcoal or carbon for darker areas that's what I do would you recommend this thanks kirsty

[@hussmetal]

Hi Hope your are doing well, can you please check the Cretacolor nero , its an Austrian brand.

[@SkellyofSkellington]

Peoples nightmares: losing everyone they know Graphite Artist's nightmares: they're drawings becoming a flashlight because of shine

[@khalidaldobaie671]

Thank you

[@alexiswilliams3233]

This video is very helpful also I tried downloading the guide and there was an error. Am I doing something wrong?

[@frosinon]

Helo Mrs kirsty, which paper are you using to draw the lion?

[@tomblack2064]

Hey! How do you get your pencils so sharp?

[@ami-do5ku]

This is amazing

[@YashSancheti_Art]

Thank You for this great help😇

[@ericbeich]

it's been awhile since I've used Graphite really, have you tried any of the available Matte finish sprays?

[@pherd4892]

Thank you, this is my problems too

[@breezedoart]

Yooooooooo this is the video in need.

[@godiejosef3788]

Great tips thanks

[@artforyou7653]

Your vedio us very helpful for me . thanks u dear.

[@cimagarahau4675]

great video!!

[@pinkzdraws4511]

What about colour pencil drawings!?

[@danisejacoby7051]

Hello, I really like your channel I would just like to know if there are subtitles in French on your patreon courses. Thank you

[@paulwoodford6229]

This is why I prefer black ballpoint pen

[@Krish._.arts0]

Awesome artwork

[@Meep10king]

Hi do you have any alternatives for Caran dache luminance

[@professionalnoob7585]

Please draw Wanda Maximoff! I regularly watch your vids💕

[@lia1b74]

Can you give tips an sharpening charcoal pencils bc it is impossible for me to use mine after trying to g et them sharp :(

[@georgiamay4045]

thanks KP

[@chantalmassin1756]

Hello Kristy I have tried to email etc. I wanted to take part of your art class on sale for $197. But now it says $297. Could you tell me when you have a sale again. Please and thank you

[@rusticagenerica]

God bless you for this advice

[@SansTheSkeleton_]

Are graphite and normal pencils the same?