Agh! Pencil marks.

Skyther · Newb Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 23

Got a question about drawing with pencil. . . I think I draw ... okay... yet they would ALOT better without all the pencil. Everytime I draw something, the pencil always rubs in and it looks messy and disgusting. I try erasing it, but I can never get
in the smaller areas, and the rubbed in pencil still shows a little bit.
Is there anything I can use, or a way of drawing with the pencil getting smudged?
I don't draw with my hand all over the paper, it just happens. O.o

LucidaLownes · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:11 pm Post subject:

Well...My pencil marks tend to smudge because I rest my hand on the paper when I draw. Everyone makes fun of how I hold my pencil...But my suggestion is to every few minutes, check the side of your hand for pencil marks and if there is some, then erase it.

London · Moderator Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 6474

If you're finished with a section of a drawing, cover the unfinished parts with paper or something and spray the finished part with fixative.

Another suggestion is to use a small piece of paper to prevent the edge of your hand from smudging what it rests on when you draw.
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AmayaHayate · Very bored Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 152

Your eraser - get one of those putty erasers! I'm not saying you said this, but if you touch your solid erasers, you get your oils on them. Then, when you go to erase, you permanently smear your drawing when you erase.

For your pencil - DON'T PRESS! First draw lightly, then if you're right handed, solidify the lines from the top left of the paper, working your way to the bottom right. If you press, and then you set your hand on the paper, you'll smear the excess led grains. If you draw light, there won't be any excess grains to smear around.

Stratadrake · Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:32 am Post subject:

For erasers, use either a kneaded eraser or a mechanical (click) eraser -- the ones that look kinda like a pen or pencil, but with an eraser tip.
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VIleMaverick · Member Joined: 04 Jan 2007 Posts: 50

I can only offer information if your left handed so... might be vice versa for rightys XD

STart drawing from the right side of the paper to reduce hand friction and smudges.

As for the ANNOYING ERASER MARKS Banghead

Dont erase hard and dont use a cheap brand, buy a seperate eraser and sue it WITH your pencil. I ruined one of my best drawings with a smug on her face, looks like she gets beat by her husband now >_>

SilverKitsune · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:39 am Post subject:

Dont erase so hard and when you first start the drawing, draw lightly. dont carve into the paper. That might help.
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Stratadrake · Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:51 am Post subject:

I've never had any trouble erasing mechanical pencil off of my paper, even those that end up "carved" rather deeply into it. It kinda messes with coloring, but no leftover lead to worry about.
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AngelusMortis · Very bored Joined: 30 Nov 2006 Posts: 159

For the artistically inclined, kneaded erasers are usually better because they don't ruin the paper as much as normal erasers do, and you can use them with a dabbing motion rather than a rubbing one. Although I'm also usually just a mechanical pencil sketcher at most. I don't have an entire set of sketching pencils.

Battou · Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:58 pm Post subject:

[quote="Stratadrake"]For erasers, use either a kneaded eraser or a mechanical (click) eraser -- the ones that look kinda like a pen or pencil, but with an eraser tip.[/quote]

I have found those mechanical pencil erasers in brick form and use them almost exclusively. They are a soft plastic, I literally cut one down into a point and use it for tight spots. they erase very clean too. I am not sure what all brands make them but the ones I got are cheapo's from the Dollar Store, Be Sharp I think mine are.
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Lennex3 · Member Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Posts: 75

i do everythign in pencil, and my advice would be some of those Staedtler drawing pencils and the Staedtler eraser. the eraser itself practically erases anything and the pencils have soft lead, so no need to press hard when drawing Razz

AriaGunnir · Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject: Well, how about gloves?

I wear latex gloves because I am afraid of smudging or sweating or something getting on to the paper after... You can get them by the box full at a drug store. Whatever mess does get onto your hand, you just peel off and chuck in the garbage.

As soon as you get some pencil on your bare hands, I suggest going and washing your hands to be completely rid of it, and then drying off really well... Otherwise sometimes it looks like your hands are clean, but they still have pencil on them... If you mix sweat and pencil led together and they soak into the page, it is more like a stain than simple marks that could be removed with an eraser.

What angle are you drawing from? This could also be part of the problem. When you draw flat, you are more likely to rest your hand or arm on the paper (or, horror of horror, spill something on it). If you could actually get used to drawing on an angle like an easel or slanted table top, or for lack of anything better, the wall, and you train yourself not to rub up against the picture with your hand or rest against the picture while you are drawing, you might have better luck.

For the most part, I rarely touch the paper I draw on, unless I'm doing fine detail (but like I mentioned, I wear latex gloves).
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falkonns_flight · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject:

First of all, the reasons the smudges are so hard to get out is because the natural oils in the skin of your hands mixes with the pencil lead and practicly BONDS to the freaking paper. Try making sure that you wash your hands really good with soap and make sure they're completely dry before drawing.
Second, you may trying a smoother paper, and a lighter pencil lead. That, and pretty much all of the stuff people suggested above, including the fixative part. Good stuff. If you don't have any, Aquanet hairspray works just as well.
I pretty much always draw in .7 mechanical pencil, and a specific Proart paper (the expensive stuff, I kno I kno, disgusting huh?) and I NEVER have the problem you're having.
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BlackPaint · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject:

If you get alot of lead on the side of your hand, go and wash it off. That'll reduce the smudging ALOT, so check the side of your hand every so ofter. And if u smudge it while brushing away the eraser crap, take a dry paintbrunsh and wipe them off instead of using your hand.
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Kegget · Member Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 79

[quote="Skyther"]Got a question about drawing with pencil. . . I think I draw ... okay... yet they would ALOT better without all the pencil. Everytime I draw something, the pencil always rubs in and it looks messy and disgusting. I try erasing it, but I can never get
in the smaller areas, and the rubbed in pencil still shows a little bit.
Is there anything I can use, or a way of drawing with the pencil getting smudged?
I don't draw with my hand all over the paper, it just happens. O.o[/quote]
After I've draw a bit, I dpray the area with hairspray... I know it sounds weird... But yes then I go and have a break from drawing while it dries... It works wonders for me!

hammychick01 · Rookie Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 33

I just edit it once I scanned it

scanbomb · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:34 am Post subject:

use a gum eraser....
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scanbomb · Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:35 am Post subject:

and me two... I edit it after I scan it...
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flying-poptart · Rookie Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 26

Do what stratadrake said. He's right!!!!!!