Blending and Shading Your Drawings

Explore which drawing tools and techniques work best for adding those smooth gradients and rich shadows to your drawings.

Shading is a key part of drawing, helping to bring depth, dimension, and realism to your art. If you're wondering which pencils are best for shading, you're not alone! Different pencils can create different effects. So it’s important to understand how they are graded because pencils are marked with letters and numbers to tell you how hard or soft they are.

H pencils are hard. They leave lighter marks because less graphite is laid on the paper. They’re great for light shading or outlining, but not ideal for deep, rich shadows.

B pencils are soft. The higher the number the softer and darker the pencil. These are excellent for smooth shading, as they allow you to easily create darker areas and blend shadows.

HB Pencils are in the middle, offering a balance between light and dark marks. They are versatile but not as good for deep shading as softer pencils.

The type of pencil you choose is only one part of the technique! Shading isn’t just about laying down graphite, it’s also about how you blend and smudge to create smooth transitions so it will help to have a few other tools as well.

Blending Stump: Get a rolled piece of paper so you can use it to smooth out pencil marks and create soft, realistic shading.

Tissue Paper: Using this tool will help to lightly blend areas of your drawing, especially large sections of shading.

Your Finger: While not the most precise tool, it is the easiest and many artists use their fingers to blend graphite and create softer shading.

When it comes to shading in drawings, having the right pencils can make a big difference. A good set of pencils, usually ranging from 2B to 8B, will give you the flexibility to create light, medium, and dark shadows easily. Combine these pencils with blending techniques, and you’ll be on your way to creating beautifully shaded drawings that pop off the page!

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