Pencil Pencil
DRAW A SCENE IN GR APHITE
NIK HENDERSON demonstrates his process for drawing a whimsical aviation scene in graphite, from thumbnail to final
Graphite has always been the go-to medium for me. I love the way it feels on paper, and the myriad of textures and techniques I can get from it. Working traditionally forces me to learn and adapt. I can’t simply undo a line or delete a layer: I have to work around my mistakes or confront them head ‐on, and I find that so exciting!
In this workshop, you will see how I plan and build up my drawing in stages. I’ll show you my process for thumbnailing, rendering, and adding final touches.
I grew up around airplanes and lots of goats and chickens, so my work often centres around aviation and anthropomorphic animals, typically birds. So this piece will be a love letter to both, in the form of a whimsical flight deck run by strange avian creatures.
MATERIALS
PAPER Bristol paper Tracing paper
PENCILS Graphgear 500 (0.3 ‐0.7mm) Tombow Mono 4B HB-4B lead refills
MISCELLANEOUS Hard eraser Kneadable eraser Mechanical eraser Soft paper towels Soft paint brush Pencil extender Artist tape