How is Drawing in Graphite Different to Coloured Pencil Drawing?

Even though I usually use coloured pencils in my drawing, I do sometimes like to mix it up and use graphite pencils instead. You would think the switch would be easy, it’s still drawing after all, but the techniques, process and tools make it quite a different experience!

Many of the techniques I use have been learned from the amazing graphite artist Jamie Boots – I was even lucky enough to attend one of his workshops last year, he’s a great teacher! Check out his website to be amazed by his work, watch his fab YouTube channel or find details about his online tutorials or in person workshops.

Working in Colour vs Working in Black and White

The most obvious difference between the two mediums is that one is colour, and one isn’t! To me this makes it neither harder nor easier, just different! You don’t have to worry about getting the colour how you want it, but it’s much more important to pay attention to the tones to create enough contrast and separation between the elements of the drawing. I wrote a blog earlier in the year about using coloured pencils to create black and white art, you can read about that here. Both require working in light layers and building up tone gradually, a graphite drawing takes me about the same amount of time as a coloured pencil artwork.

"Hanging Out" tested all my graphite tricks and techniques!

Drawing in Graphite - The Negative and The Positive

Coloured pencils aren’t the easiest medium to erase, so I tend to try and work in a way that means I can avoid this where possible. If an area looks too dark, then I can use a white or light coloured pencil to correct it. Graphite pencils don’t come in white, only varying shades of grey, but they are much easier to erase. This makes it much easier to lift out or lighten areas as you go, rather that planning ahead in order to protect white areas, which you may need to do when drawing in coloured pencils. An advantage of this is that you can block in areas of tone without having to dive straight into the details, as these can be finessed later.

Less Pencils, More Tools!

I usually grab a huge pile of pencils of multiple brands when I’m working in colour, but not much else. Working in graphite thought only requires a couple of pencils, and my preferred brand is the Caran d’Ache Grafwood, but I do like the Faber Castell 9000 series too.

Working in graphite means more tools in addition to the basic pencils. Putty erasers are indispensable, they can be shaped into a small point and doesn’t leave those annoying crumbs all over your work like a regular eraser does. I also use a Tombow Mono eraser, these look like a retractable pen and again allows for precision when erasing.

One of the more surprising tools I use is a blunted dart! This is a technique I picked up from Jamie, you use the dart to make an indentation in the paper, this means that if you use a blunt pencil over the top, the indented are stays white. It’s a great technique for creating texture in fur, feathers and even wrinkly elephant skin! You need a good quality paper for this technique, such a 100% cotton watercolour paper, which is robust enough not to tear and thick enough for the marks made by the darts to show.

Adding texture to the feathers using a blunted dart

Graphite also moves on the paper in a very different way than coloured pencil – the stricture of graphite means it can even be used as a lubricant in manufacturing, so it almost slides across the paper! Paper stumps are a great way to blend and move the graphite as you work to soften areas and create initial tones. I also like to use make up sponges, which is a great way to create toned backgrounds, although I still haven’t managed to work out how to get them totally smooth and even yet! Both will eventually become saturated with graphite and can be used as drawing tools themselves.

Make up sponges are great for adding large areas of tone, just don't use them for your make up afterwards!

I'm exhibiting two of graphite pieces at the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society (MIWAS) exhibition at Marwell Hall, Marwell Zoo from Friday 23rd to Monday 26th May 2025, visit their website for more information.

Do you prefer a pop of colour or the drama of black and white? Please add your thoughts in the comments, I'd love to know!