So given that I'm on an art supply binge I picked up Staedtler Mars Lumograph Black. I believe these are called carbon pencils and a few companies have them for order (Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Matte Pencils are another brand). These boys are apparently a mix of carbon and graphite that give deeper blacks without the graphite sheen. Neat! So I did some experiments. First off the pencils have a slightly waxy feel to them, like china markers. when I compared them with the standard Staedtler Graphite of the same hardness there wasn't much of a difference between the two. What was obvious was that the at the 4B level the Carbon pencils. What was surprising is that I also applied a blending stub to each of the swatches and lo an behold the graphite sheen was muddled while the carbon pencils gained a less matted waxy sheen. Not what I expected. I tried to also erase them and it appears that, at least with a standard plastic erase, the carbon pencils marks want to stay around, especially when you get to 6B,7B and 8B. Finally, since I would expect to use the carbon pencils in conjunction with graphite pencils I tried to draw graphite over carbon, then carbon over graphite. The Carbon over graphite seemed to work well and even dampened the sheen from the graphite. The Graphite over the carbon felt a little "slick" and it seemed to make a more pronounced graphite sheen (perhaps because the carbon pencil filled in groves of the paper, giving the graphite more area to directly reflect light...just a thought). So what do I think as complete novice who has tried to restart drawing at least 3 times before. These pencils are cool.....and completely unnecessary until you start doing final pieces. Let's face it they really are there to fill a niche of people completing graphite pieces where they need darker non reflective areas but have no interest in charcoal. Since I am NOT a fan of charcoal, that may be me....SERVERAL years from now, but for now they go into the draw. Anyone else try and use carbon pencils? I'm curious what the result have been.

Hey Folks. My first time joining/drawing. I assume this basic course is just these 6 lessons on tools and generic info about the course. I haven't found the actual 'meat' of the course though, like the stuff that Stan mentions the course is actually about? Anyway, I just sketched these little random guys. I know they're a bit rubbish, but hey something to progress with - no where near some cool sketches I'm seeing here, but yeah. LMK if I missed on something though please, I'm a bit confused where the actual lessons on stuff that Stan is talking about are (I bought premium) - like the pear and the face of the asian guy, shapes? lines? etc.

Latest work that wasn't just an exercise. Portrait of my young cousin as the Terminator. I have to work more on metal textures with ink. Anyone have tips or resources?

I don't think this is too plain, as this type of drawing has a long history in cartooning. It looks good. One little comment I'll make is to be consistent with your line weight. What I mean by this is, that on the back of the head, shoulder and hip you have made a thicker feeling of line which gives the sense of a possible shadow side ( something cartoonists do all the time) I would also expect that thickness under the left arm and the chin, nose etc. Not a shadow but a slight increase in weight. Just a bit to add line variety and set up your future painted shadows. Other than that, you have a very clear, clean character. Great job.

Masterstudy, Michelângelo

This is a drawing I did last year from an original by E. Renard

1- Masterstudy 2- Imaginative Sketches 3- Brushpen comp 4-Head Sketches Masterstudies

Hi Allan, I like your use of coloured inks, and I love the third one with the man in shadow (is it done in ballpoint pen?). I've posted some of my Inktober drawings from this year. I love drawing in ink, but my go-to medium is pencil.

I like your different shading methods in your drawings :) Nice touch with the darker areas around the skulls, gives them some punch. I'm new here, just registered today, so I'm still getting the hang of the site. I have not even set up my profile yet ;) But I guess I could manage to post an image, so here it goes. A portrait, done with fountain pens, technical pens and fineliners (for the lightest parts).

Glad to find a place for ink lovers. This is just anatomy study based on Stan's tips of trying to maintain gesture, but also an attempt to be less dependent on hatching. Done with brush an ink ( though I did use the computer to make the paper completely white).