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Do you have big expectations for what you will be able to do with the 5-Pencil Method?
You should
As you may have heard, this is a step-by-step approach to mastering the skill of drawing. Each new lesson builds on the previous lessons.

Of course, we're all in a hurry to see results super fast!

And, actually, if you're like the thousands of other students who have experienced the thrill of success, you will see results very fast--most likely more than any other drawing methods you may have ever tried.

But if you try to skip steps, chances are you're going to end up frustrated and confused and not sure why you're not seeing the results you expected.

Darrel specifically picked these materials because they performed best with the 5-Pencil Method drawing techniques. 

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Materials: About

Materials: Paper

Materials: Pencils

Materials: Erasers

Materials: Brush

Materials: Straightedge

Materials: Divider

Materials: Circle

Materials: Sharpener

Work area drawing surface

Work area lighting for drawing

Lesson 1: Before you draw

Lesson 1: The Tapered Stroke

Lesson 1: An Exercise in Gaining Control

Lesson 2: Paper Texture for Drawing

Lesson 2: Building Patches with the Tapered Stroke

Lesson 2: Troubleshoot Your Patches

Lesson 3

Lesson 4

Lesson 5

What is ArtStudio? Watch the video below to learn more:

**Weekly Critique submissions:** To use one of the CRITIQUE tokens on your account (purchased or earned) **[CLICK THIS LINK TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK AND REFERENCE IMAGE](https://form.jotform.com/71506781794163)**. EACH WEEK... the deadline for Art Studio Classic submissions is Tuesday evening at 10 pm EST. For the Art Studio PhotoRealism Class deadline is Sunday night at 10 pm EST. You may submit up to 2 works. Darrel will pick 3 to 5 each week to include at the end of his Wednesday Live Class or to add onto the recorded PhotoRealism lesson on Monday . Your token count will be reduced only if your critique is selected for Darrel to use during class. Please be sure to use a scanner if possible. If you need to use a picture, please be sure to have good lighting with no shadows or borders on your photo. If you need any assistance, please email support@fivepencilmethod.com or call 833-5-PENCIL.

Critique Tokens

Materials

Introduction

Find out what tools and materials you’ll need as you learn the 5-Pencil Method.

You'll go step-by-step through my drawing techniques, and see the basics of how the 5-Pencil Method can ignite your drawings with a surprising realism. Learn about the exact materials that I use in my drawing classes in Boise, Idaho. I'll also show you my unique tapered stroke, and then give you exercises to perfect your precision. And we'll cover the principles of light and contour that are the secrets for creating the illusion of depth in your drawings.

Want a quick overview of the items you'll need to get started?

[Quick shopping list](https://cdn.makerstreamer.com/cdn/9IiWVhp4tDVgCXsxYeQJ/uploads/1f688k4ovajjw_Shopping%20List.pdf)

Your Work Area

Having a good work area can change how much you enjoy your drawing experience—and even if you can see well enough to know what you're actually doing.


E-Book How to Draw Realistic Skin-2020.pdf

BOOK: How to Draw Portraits With Realistic Skin — Even If You Weren't Born With The “Art Gene”

# Materials

## **Paper**

Getting the correct type of paper is extremely important. It must be the Strathmore, 300 Series, Bristol with the vellum surface. Accept no substitutes!

Watch this video to find out which sizes of a tablet to buy and more.

Update from Strathmore: All of the 300 Series Bristol Vellum paper is 270 gsm (100 lb).  If you see 260 gsm, it is a misprint and has now been corrected.

# Materials

## **Pencils**

We come to what my technique is named for: the 5 pencils - 4H, 2H, HB, 2B and 4B - out of the 20-or-so total.

These are the 5 graphite drawing pencils that we will actually need to use. They will give us the best tonal range, keep our paper from getting damaged, and help keep our lives sane, because we won’t have to continually choose from 15 other pencils.

The #1 recommended pencil brand is BLICK STUDIO made by [dickblick.com](http://dickblick.com).  They are also manufactured under another name, Koh-I-Noor pencils, and may be easier to find for our foreign members.
#2 recommended - Caran d'Ache Grafwood pencils
#3 recommended - Faber-Castell 9000 pencils

The Prismacolor Turquoise pencils are no longer recommended. After using these pencils for 40 years with consistent results, this brand has sadly changed and is no longer a quality pencil.
The five pencil values again are:  4H, 2H, HB, 2B and 4B

# Materials

## **The 3 Erasers**

This video will explain the 3 eraser types that are integral to the 5-Pencil Method.

These erasers are used differently than you may think. They are about more than just fixing mistakes and making alterations: they are essential tools for drawing realistic images, while also helping you avoid paper damage.

# Materials

## **Brush**

The camel-hair brush is used for keeping house. We'll use it for dusting, removing eraser bits and graphite fragments leftover from sharpening pencils. Plus, you'll use it in the one-and-only place where blending is utilized in the 5-Pencil Method.

The brush is another essential element to your drawing arsenal.

# Materials

## **Straightedge**

The straight edge is one of the most important tools for laying your picture out and finding problems with proportions. Find out exactly what kind of straight edge you will need for the 5-Pencil Method.

# Materials

## **Divider**

The divider is another measuring tool, along with the straight edge, which is invaluable in making sure that our pictures have the correct proportions.

It's simple, yet powerful.

# Materials

## **Circle Template**

It makes perfect circles and costs about a nickel! Here's a method you may not learn at art school.

Yes, you're just going to have to watch the video to find out!

(Don't forget. You'll be receiving your next lesson in a day or two. Your next tutorial will go over the 'tapered stroke' that I use 99% of the time in my drawings.)

# Materials

## **Sharpener**

A good pencil sharpener will give you the correct bevel, a sharp tip, a round lead, and will do the job quickly.

Can you guess what type I recommend? (Hint: it isn't an Xacto knife.)

# Work Area

## **Drawing Surface**

It's important to protect your drawing. You will spend a lot of time working on it, and when you're done it will be a work of art. You don't want it to get damaged accidentally.

Choosing the drawing board that best fits your style will provide one more way of keeping your drawing safe, plus provide a good way to travel with it.

# Work Area

# **Lighting**

You may be forced to be a 'kitchen-table' artist, but that shouldn’t stop you from improving the lighting wherever you draw.

Watch this video to learn the basics of how to set up your lighting. Learn about color temperature issues you may have to deal with depending on whether you use fluorescent fixtures or incandescent bulbs.

As you will see, the most important things to consider about your lighting is the amount, the distance, and the angle.

Video 1 of 3

Here are the basics of prepping your work area and getting your paper ready to draw on. You may already know it all, but I’ve found from years of teaching students that sometimes the obvious…well, it isn’t.

So make sure you go through this checklist, take your paper out of the tablet the correct way, use a sheet of paper under your hand to prevent smudging, and keep your hands clean--that includes even from your own body oils.

And, most importantly, I’ll show you how to choose the correct side of the paper for my technique. This may not seem important, but each side of the paper has a different texture. You want the less textured one.

The seven minutes you spend watching this may save you hours of time by starting your drawing out on the right foot.

Lesson 1a: Before you draw

Video 2 of 3

There are many facets to my overall technique. Each one has its place. Some add more value to our pictures than others. The tapered stroke is one of the most important.

Understanding and perfecting this stroke is one of the most pivotal elements to being able to achieve the technique. It will be applied in many ways, but the basic stroke remains the same.

Make sure to practice the tapered stroke over the next couple of days so you’re ready for the exercises that you'll receive next.

Lesson 1b: The Tapered Stroke

Video 3 of 3

It's one thing to be able to draw a tapered stroke. But can you draw the same stroke on top of the last one just the same way? You can if you practice!

Stick with it. Practice the tapered stroke and this tracking exercise. You'll need it for the next step that will be coming in a few days.

I'm cheering you on!

Lesson 1c: An Exercise in Gaining Control

Video 1 of 3

As you learned in the materials video that covered paper, you need to get the vellum finish on your Strathmore Bristol paper.

I'll now show you why this is so important to the 5-Pencil Method. Understanding how our pencils interact with the paper is another critical element to achieving the realistic textures that create the illusion of the reality that our brains see in the world around us.

Lesson 2a: Paper Texture for Drawing

Video 2 of 3

Now that you’ve learned the tapered stroke, done the tracking exercise, and understand how our paper texture will help us out, it’s time to take it to the next level.

We’re going to build on the tracking exercise and make gradation patches for each individual pencil. The strokes will gain their full value by utilizing the tracking procedure. Then, leaving a clean edge on one side of your patch, they will become progressively lighter as you move away from the darkest value of the pencil. As you lay them side, by side, you should see a gradation of values. It should fade away to nothing. As you become sensitive to the pressure and visual aspects of your patches, this will add the next dimension of contour and curve to your stroke.

Lesson 2b: Building Patches with the Tapered Stroke

Video 3 of 3

We don't want to focus on the negative, but if you find your patches aren't looking exactly like the demonstration in the above video, don't worry!

These seven common mistakes shown in the video below may help you see where you are going wrong. If you still have questions, leave a comment below and I'll see if I can help.

Lesson 2c: Troubleshoot Your Patches

"The Darrel Barrel"
If it weren’t for the light, there would be no such thing as drawing. As a person’s features are illuminated, it reveals the curves of the face or the folds of their clothing. But it isn’t just what the light shines on that shows us the detail: it’s where the light doesn’t shine that reveals the depth, contrasting with the areas where there is more light.

In this video, you’ll learn the 3 rules of light that will let you add depth to your image, even when you can’t see it in the reference pictures that you are drawing from.

Every artist can gain deeper levels and explore new facets. But even a beginning student can learn and apply these simple rules to add a striking illusion of depth to their drawings.

Barreling into the Light

Lesson 3 - Rules of LIght

Here’s where it really gets fun. This is the first demo where we’ll actually put all of our pencils together and see how they interact with each other.

pencil-layering

sphere-finished

Sphere-Stages

Lesson 4 - Sphere part 1

Here are some common problems that I’ve had and seen many students run into when drawing the sphere. Don’t give up! These problems are easily corrected.

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