How to Sharpen Any Pencil Like a Pro

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Drawing & Painting - The Virtual Instructor

2 жыл бұрын

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Learn how to sharpen your pencils like a professional artist. Learn several techniques for sharpening any pencil to a long fine tip. These techniques work for any type of pencil - graphite, charcoal, pastel, and colored pencils. Explore options like a knife or specialty sharpeners.
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Specialty pencil sharpeners featured in this video...(The following links below are affiliate links which means I make a small commission if you purchase.)
Plastic Long Tip Pencil Sharpener - amzn.to/3y0r3AO
Blackwing Long Tip Pencil Sharpener - amzn.to/3dtf718
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Пікірлер: 73

@JamieBoots 2 жыл бұрын

This may sound strange but as somebody who works with graphite pencils and works in fine detail I actually use most of my pencils relatively blunt. The only 2 pencils that I keep sharp are a 9H and a 4H as these will maintain the point for a long period of time. If very fine dark lines are required this can be achieved by running these through a darker tone as being graphite pencils they will pick up the darker tone and drag it producing a very fine dark line that could not be achieved by using something like a 2B as it would lose the point almost immediately. Both the 9H and 4H are very hard so I just use a normal pencil sharpener and then finish the tip with a fine file. This makes the pencil incredibly sharp and it will hold the point for a considerably long time. Hope this is also of help.

@zenbkk 2 жыл бұрын

Good content aside, am I the only one who is amazed at the Blue color of your eyes !? I think that is a lovely tone of blue. Something difficult to replicate with paints, I think. They were glowing too with the help of the orange color of your shirt. The color of your eyes is exceptional !

@hennybrunner8939 2 жыл бұрын

You make me to replay the video again just to watch the color of his eyes😃

@zenbkk 2 жыл бұрын

@@hennybrunner8939 Worth watching twice and more. I assume He knows how lovely his blue eyes color is so he matched them with orange shirt, and everything else in the vdo is controlled with blue and orange. The first sharpener is blue and the pencil is orange., etc. Fantastic combination, right? 💙🧡

@sunnyschramm9650 Жыл бұрын

tested so many sharpener and ended up the "dahle 133". super sharp pencil with much less loose of wood and the lead. for harder leaks (polychromos, luminance, polycolor, etc.) I use the sharpest setting, put the pencil in the dahle and spin the wheel two or three rounds (depends on pencil brand and pencil thickness) - a perfect result. for dwent drawing and primsacolor pencils I use the middle-setting - rest same way and be happy ❤

@kathleenalbright3908 2 жыл бұрын

How dull is my life that I'm spending time watching a video about sharpening a pencil! LOL!

@doomsday8015 3 ай бұрын

I'm watching that same video on my bday 🎉😂😂😅😢

@natomiltary4573 2 ай бұрын

@@doomsday8015 HAPPY BIRTHDAY

@karenvenning5744 Ай бұрын

I'm here too says alot doesn't it ??? 😂😂😂😂😂

@Starforme-xr6sb 24 күн бұрын

Lol

@quintessenceSL 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! After years of broken leads and filing on tips, I had no idea such products existed.

@sandyoliva7179 2 жыл бұрын

I NEEDED this video !!! Thank you SO MUCH

@celticpeasant9753 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Matt. I really needed this information and your You Tube was super helpful.

@nikahadasart3207 2 жыл бұрын

I really like this video. And your tips concerning pencils are very useful, thank you

@BusyPencil 2 жыл бұрын

My father was a draughtsman (back in the old days before CAD) and he taught me to use a blade to sharpen pencils when I was about 10. So I have always used a blade for sharperning pencils for drawing. However, I can see the value in using a specialized pencil sharpener for artists. You mentioned soft leads breaking; I have similar problems with my extra-dark Staedtler Lumograph Mars 8B. I think it is due to it having a somewhat brittle lead? But yeah, I get out the sandpaper and only use the blade for removing the wood for that pencil.

@noxiousbaz 2 жыл бұрын

My new favourite art channel . I would love to join in with a live lesson. Just to hear you say 'live lesson'.

@lesleyevans6938 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the info.

@Littlewings1211 2 жыл бұрын

I have also found that it is better to use a separate sharpener for each medium you use as they all leave behind different residues that can affect how other mediums sharpen. For example if, like me you enjoy your coloured pencils quite soft and waxy these leave some of that waxiness behind which coats the blade. Pastel pencils/charcoal pencils are a lot rougher than coloured pencils or smooth graphite so blunt the blade a lot faster. By using a different one (or different blade if you have a sharpener that you can switch out the blades on) it helps preserve your pencils longer.

@dominiquecruz7503 2 жыл бұрын

Run a graphite pencil through inbetween mediums, and every 3 or 4 colored pencils. The graphite cleans and lubricates the blade

@twopencilartacademy 2 жыл бұрын

..Beautiful Very nice.. I watched the full video

@lefthandstory1280 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful great sharing friend😃✌️

@artifexmom3824 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the nice tips sir.☺️❤️

@fiery.mercaba 2 жыл бұрын

The sandpaper part makes me wince as I contemplate all that loss of the pigmented core. I've known how to sharpen pencils with knives & razors from I was a boyhood artist (&, yes, I did get a cut a few times, I'm fairly certain, & so, yes, the caution for young artists is appropriate), but I've also had sharpeners that brought my pencils to enough of a point to suffice. Too much pigmented core exposed, & you'll be nearly certain to snap the exposed core from the pencil before too long, for the core's material is really only so strong & no more. But thanks for bringing up the topic, sir. 👍🏼

@dacwebb 2 жыл бұрын

I pick up the leftover pigment with a brush and/or stomp use it as shadowing and enhancement to the drawing I am working on at the time... I have not used colored pencil shavings/dust, I am uncomfortable/awkward with colored pencils. I do use graphite, charcoal, and pastel dust.

@fiery.mercaba 2 жыл бұрын

Clever, @@dacwebb. 👍🏼

@CSGraves 2 жыл бұрын

he use of sandpaper makes me wonder how long a single piece can be used before it becomes too loaded or worn. Also, with coloured pencil, one might seek to use a fresh area for each colour... I could see hat using up a lot of sandpaper fast. I've had good results just from using a really sharp, thin knife, no sandpaper required. Then again, I understand not everyone is going to be able to get or maintain such fine edges for repeated use.

@artycharr Жыл бұрын

I have never seen such blue eyes! and also thanks for the tips on sharpening pencils!

@jeregamm 2 жыл бұрын

Great video.I never really understood the point of making those long points. Then I had a bunch of charcoal pencils that kept breaking in a sharperner (I suspect they were handled roughly during shipping). So I starting sharpening with a knife and It helped. Then once I got used it I started sharpening all my pencils -- charcoal and graphite -- like that and I love it now. It's almost meditative. I'll just sharpen 10-20 pencils at a time; then they're all ready for use. I have an electric sharpener -- the AFMAT long point -- and it's really great at coloured pencils! Such an amazing and long point. The Blackwing sharpener you mention is just a rebranded KUM Automatic Sharpener, which I have. It's fantastic. I have the version that also has a sharpener for a 2 mm leadholder and it's the best sharpener I've ever used! P.s. I'm a member of your site and I love all the courses, especially the pen-and-ink and ink-and-wash courses. Excellent stuff!

@Ngantheara 2 жыл бұрын

Wow wonderful

@sharadaramadass9732 2 жыл бұрын

Which is the 4 size sharpener brand? I do have trouble getting sharp tips with normal sharpeners and the pencils become blunt too fast or break very easily

@creativecolours2022 Жыл бұрын

You can always buy one or more 2mm clutch pencils , a barrel sharpener and different types of leads and have always the best sharpened pencils. The leads are available in all different grades of hardness, from 7H to 8B but for the very black ones that are thicker you are going to need a clutch pencil that accepts thicker leads which you sharpen of course with just a sand paper. Some companies offer coloured leads too. The clutch pencils are literally indestructible btw. I still have one that I bought back in 1986 and another one that I bought in the early 90s and they still work the same.

@greenskies1291 2 жыл бұрын

I need one of them sharpener👍I use to break a regular school sharpener n take the blade to sharpen my pencils, was lucky that I've never cut myself when sharpening my pencil.

@Gina-qc2xx 7 ай бұрын

When I was growing up, we didn’t have any other option but use a knife….. my dad helped us with all that. 😊

@purushottamnavkar4935 Жыл бұрын

Very helpful video I,m an artist too😎🙏

@evelynpeavy 2 жыл бұрын

Very helpful. Thank you.

@kezzatries 2 жыл бұрын

New subscriber

@dalehallmark9174 2 жыл бұрын

I have never seen the need for this technique. Obviously, it is a personal preference. With that being said I don't like the sharpeners that provide a short stubby tip either. I have about 20 sharpeners from about a dollar to $40 and I like the ones that provide a tip like the ones in the wall mounted sharpener shown in this video (I have a couple). I also like my electric too. Next, I want to try a vertical electric by School Smart. Yes, I am an art material addict and I make no apologies for it.

@xcosmoo2119 7 ай бұрын

isnt a mechnanical pencil basically the same thing like this? (ig colour pencils arent the same)

@sohailaihab1533 2 жыл бұрын

This is actually really helpful to me as an artist. Well it's better than many times resharpening your pencil while working, and certainly better than using a mechanical pencil. When there isn't sandpaper, I personally use the knife method and I sharpen first the wood then I go to the graphite.

@bethnolastname 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@dshe8637 2 жыл бұрын

I try to create my own sharp points as I work, so I don't lose any coloured core.

@Yuvie303 2 жыл бұрын

Love from India🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

@noorahmad6959 2 жыл бұрын

i used to this before you for long time

@mardehierba 2 жыл бұрын

The problem with the usual sharpeners is the razor, after a certain time they are not sharp anymore....It would be very nice to sell them with extra razors, giving you the possibility of changing them when needed....

@jeregamm 2 жыл бұрын

The KUM products are good for that. The Blackwing sharpener mention is a KUM Automatic Long Point sharpener and it comes with extra blades.

@mardehierba 2 жыл бұрын

@@jeregamm Thank you for your advice!

@dshe8637 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, the KUM two hole sharpener comes with extra blades. Just take care not to tip them out when you empty out the shavings. It's a pain having to rummage through wood shavings to find two very sharp blades!

@FernCurtis 2 жыл бұрын

@ignacio b - you could also get a M&R hand held sharpener, which have extra blades you can purchase. I find this sharpener can get really long tips, longer than what I personally need, 3 maybe 4 turns max and I am good.

@jeregamm 2 жыл бұрын

@@dshe8637 :) Mine are in pretty securely, but caution duly noted. haha

@DeAzul7902 6 ай бұрын

Liife with Art is never dull.... pencil sharpening, ole(y)! Too bad I don't have all the diacritical marks I'd like....

@ztmorris9738 3 ай бұрын

The innuendos I could make here

@Linda-qq5mg 2 жыл бұрын

This video has very interesting tips! Pun intended! Kidding aside, it is so very good! Thank you so much.

@chaz9808 2 жыл бұрын

Still waiting for technology to make a perfectly sharp pencil that never dulls

@heelerjustheeler879 2 жыл бұрын

Mechanical pencil.

@kristindingle4399 16 күн бұрын

That is the hardest way to sharpen a chorcoal pencil with a blaid because if your not careful the tip of a chorcoal pencil will brack off

@Zentio_Builds 2 жыл бұрын

Nice

@twopencilartacademy 2 жыл бұрын

....👌👌

@ashishranadrawing 2 жыл бұрын

Super

@zCoin1 2 жыл бұрын

I saw my dad doing this as a child, when I tried it… I pointed the knife toward my hand… all I can say is that I still have the scar on the end of my thumb

@mohammadrezaesmaili9611 2 жыл бұрын

🙏🏼

@mikebillinghay5036 12 күн бұрын

Cricky I need to get out more. I’m reading comments people are making about pencil sharpening videos 🙈

@teresarosas3943 Жыл бұрын

Nice shopping in your yeah cancel

@SevenDeMagnus 8 ай бұрын

Cool,I wish mechanical pencil lead will have 0.001mm point. God bless.

@eurekandavani5089 6 ай бұрын

So sharpner is for amatures

@oddoneout1835 3 ай бұрын

Electric pencil sharpener.

@hzbznajajahag7638 2 жыл бұрын

Bruh I swear. I lose more length off my pencil since I can't sharpen worth a shit

@davidbyers7246 12 күн бұрын

Personally I see no point in having the lead in a pencil sticking out so far. I have never found it to be of any benefit whatsoever. I do however like the sharpeners that produce a long cone shaped point.

@desiman2320 4 ай бұрын

Your blade technique is WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The correct approach is to hold the blade in your dominant hand, with the blade facing AWAY from you. Holding the pencil, in your other hand, pull it back against the blade. This works for shaving the wood and sharpening the lead. Finish up with gently scraping the lead to a fine point, while it rests on paper. This way you have more control, there is practically zero chance of cutting yourself AND the lead is not likely to break. Finally, a finer point can be obtained with sandpaper.

@johnkon2810 2 жыл бұрын

* I highly disagree sharpening away from you. There is actually less of a chance hurting yourself cutting towards you. * You have x10 more control sharpening towards you. You can also "feel" the knife cuts, when moving towards you, far better than cutting away. 👀

@dx4055 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the piece of advice

@toade1583 Жыл бұрын

I disagree. Your control is determined by how well you grip the pencil, not where you sharpen to. When you sharpen away from yourself, it means the blade won't come flying towards when you make one of those harder cuts.

@johnkon2810 Жыл бұрын

@@toade1583 ... yes cutting away is technically safer for the masses because people in general are dumb. That said... Cutting towards you provides the most control as I've already stated. This isn't just an opinion, its also based on fact. Watch 10 videos on sharpening & 8 out of 10 will tell you the same thing; it's physics.