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Position:Home>Visual Arts> I have a question about how to hold a pencil while drawing?Question: I have a question about how to hold a pencil while drawing!? I read a book written by an accomplished artist and he wrote that when drawing, "you can hold your pencil anyway you want, except for the way you use to write with it"!. Is there any truth to that is is he just basing this on his own experience!? Does the way you hold your pencil have any effect on your drawing skills!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: When you write with a pencil (or pen) you grip it near the point, so as to have good control over relatively small shapes!. This can severely limit your freedom and accuracy, because you tend to "tighten up" if you draw that way!. If you hold the pencil further back, with an overhand grip similar to a violin bow hold, you are drawing more from the shoulder, which lets you make freer strokes!. It also puts some distance between you and the paper, which makes it easier to do accurate observational drawing as well as make expressive marks!. There is no right and wrong here, but there are more and less effective approaches!. And there are plenty of people who try to dictate their own methods and beliefs! But all that really counts is what works, and obviously the greater the range of techniques you try out and master, the better your range of options for getting the effect you want!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Different methods of holding the pencil produce different effects with the marks it makes!. You can also vary where you hold the pencil at!. So the answer is "yes!." Try a few different holds with your pencil and see what happens!. I just tried it out (because I wasn't sure), but I don't hold my pencil the same when I write and when I draw!. The default for both is very similar, but I can't quite draw with my writing hold or write with my drawing hold!. It's weird, but I guess I do it unconsciously!. So, uh, he's completely right!. ^_^ It doesn't change your skills though, it only changes what appears on the paper!. Skill is something within you, the marks your pencil make are just how you express that skill!. It can be a new skill to learn different ways of using your pencil though!. o!.O; I wonder if that even makes sense!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com My drawing professor insisted we all hold our pencils (& any other utencil) grasping it with all fingers (as you would pick up something flat off a desk!.) She also said not to move our wrists at all, but instead move our arm!. This not only helps with overuse of our muscle & carpul tunnel syndrome, but it helps keep our drawings loose!. She's right, though I found it to be a pain to get into the habit!. I hold the pencils now both ways (this way & the way I hold a pen while writing) I like doing both!. Something you might want to try is taping your pencil or charcoal to a long stick or dowell!. Put the paper (large piece) on the floor in front of you & draw while standing over it!. Anotehr professor had us do this, & we all whined about it, but we ended up with some fantastic work!. Excercises like that keeps us from getting to finicky & prissy!. Ha!.!.!. it's late, I'm getting tired!.!.!. Anyways, try different ways to hold the pencils & you'll come up with a favorite!.Www@QuestionHome@Com It does in the long run!. Holding a pencil properly will supposedly reduce your chances of getting Carpal Tunnel!. Anyway holding the pencil near the eraser allows you to make longer strokes with more accuracy!. Holding the pencil near the tip allows you to do more detail work!. Personally I think it's most important to draw using your entire arm not just your wrist!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I have never noticed really, I do cartooning and scetching and pretty much hold my hand/pencil the same way with both, without any wrist pain!. I guess I should add, I dont really hold a pencil to write! lol!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |