In Appreciation of Pencil Drawing

Perfection in simplicity, pencil drawings are a simple work of art and have a unique way of capturing an essence seen in a moment.

An artist using a pencil learns to listen to what language the pencil expresses at the moment the fingertips touch the pencil. How heavy is this extraordinary little tool? The artist then consciously records this in his creation algorithm; the fingers then wrap and grasp, another milestone. This connection point is one of the central points of the drawing that is about to unfold. Feeling how the pencil feels in the fingers, an understanding of how this pencil dances arises. Now the language is understood.

Pencil on paper: the fusion of the human being with the drawing pencil, visible on the canvas.

A pencil drawing portrait is an intimate experience, the artist sees through a different lens, allowing himself to be reflected in the dance of the pencil and appreciation of the timeless tool.

The artist has an uncanny ability to bring out the beauty that he perceives, creating through pencil drawing not only a flattering perspective but also weaving something that is seen through the face, an aspect of the personality, a twinkle in the eye, to which the heart whispers “Wow” in return.

Now, there are a number of ways that such a pencil drawing can be recreated using computer programming, and from what this offers, they are potentially very useful. However, allowing an artist to create this with drawing pencils touches a completely different aspect, it is simply like comparing a photocopy of a poorly taken photograph of a work of art with the original. It is at the meeting point of the elements: the pencil, the subject and the artist where the real magic happens.

The year 1564 saw the discovery of the first pure graphite mine, which catapulted the art of the pencil. After centuries of the pencil in the hands of the human race, art has become a huge market and still remains true to its simplistic roots. The photographs are given new life after the pencil artist uses them as fuel for the pencil portrait.

There are many variations found within the drawing pencil market today, with artists having a wide selection to choose from each performing their own unique dance on the canvas. However, it is common for many to stick with a few favourites, knowing each one intimately.

In tribute to this wonderful little creator of beautiful creations, I have compiled a variety of information about the pencil. Now let’s imagine, just for a moment, that the pencil is an active, conscious little thing. It may seem inanimate, yes, but definitely conscious.

Let’s imagine how smart the pencil is; used by a single hand (well, without hands) transcending the environments of bankers, bookmakers, poets and artists. The pencil is in charge of registering the most intimate details in the perfumed pages of a love letter or in the rough notes jotted down by a passionate inventor. Essentially a lightweight pencil, the average pencil is seven inches long and has the potential to create a line thirty-five miles long, which is more than two million inches (2,217,600 inches to be exact).

Pencil drawing is a timeless art form, and with the help of technology, it is expanding a bit more. By submitting a photo, you no longer have to sit down and ‘pose’.