Today, we talk about art material to add in your drawing tools as an artist or designer.
After sketching The Grand Budapest Hotel in the plane with a Twin Marker,
I wanted to practice an other great tool: The mechanical pencil with color lead.
With that, you will draw better croquis!

Mechanical Pencil 0.7mm
Mechanical Pencil 0.7mm

red-pencil-fragile-theDesignSketchbookGreater croquis with a color lead

Color leads naturally give some warm effect to your croquis.
As you know, I love drawing with ballpoint pen. However, I warmly recommend you to sketch with color leads as well.

They do great for research of new ideas or forms.

Overall, drawing with color leads gives an authentic look to your creations.
They allow you to show more sensitivity thanks to the wide pen pressure possibilities.

NOTE: Designers love using color leads as an underlay.
They are great for, drafts, croquis (in other words, “inaccurate sketches”).
You can then use a bolder pen (ballpoint pen, felt pen, marker…) to draw a more precised version on top.

Colour leads 0.7mm for mechanical pencils

Colour leads gives your drawing a lively feel. You draw with more energy!
Plenty of colours are available.
My favourite colours are the classics: Blue or Red.

the-chef-theDesignSketchbook1.jpg
Chou-Tac CHUNG | Red girl croquis with mechanical pencil

 7 TIPS TO DRAW BETTER CROQUIS WITH COLOR LEADS

  • Colour leads break easily compared to regular graphite leads. It can become frustrating.
    I recommend avoid 0.5mm and buy thicker leads from 0.7mm.
  • Preferably choose mechanical pencils that include a metallic tube to support the lead. (See picture above)
  • Buy 1 mechanical pencil for each color you plan to use often. Match the mechanical pencil color to the color lead.
  • Draw without fear of making mistakes. Do not look for perfection.
  • Start your drawing light, and bold along the way when you feel more confident.
  • Draw neat shadow using hatching.
    You don’t have to color covering the whole surface of your croquis – like you would do with regular color pencils.
  • Avoid using the rubber too much. If you start drawing light, you will still be able to iterate a lot.
See also  What is the best Ballpoint pen for drawing?

Remember, your goal is to sketch fast and drop your ideas fast on paper.

Extra color leads:

IMG_20140927_004524

Today I passed by an art shop, I picked up the light pink and light blue colours.
I bought 1 extra mechanical pencils for each color.

That’s all for the sketching TIP of the day.
See yah!


Meanwhile, feel free to learn the benefits of creative thinking here.
It was during my flight to Singapore when I had 13 hours available, and I decided to sketch. :)

Sketching the Grand Budapest Hotel movie
Sketching the Grand Budapest Hotel movie in the plane.

1 comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello! I'm Chou-Tac, a Product Designer from France.

If the sketching methods I’ve acquired aid me in my life and in my industrial design career, I believe that they can also help you reach your dream goal as a student or professional designer.

Leave a comment in the blog or send me an email at choutac@thedesignsketchbook.com : )

Chou-Tac

Trending

Last comments

  • Rashon Richardson: “1 – Florida. 19. 2 – currently studying to be an electrical engineer but I have an interest for designing…Jul 6, 02:07
  • Chou-Tac: “My pleasure Linda. I do have some content about Urban sketching. Hope it helps! Feel free to leave me a…Jul 5, 21:37
  • Adam: “I’m 40 y.o. from Czech. I need to improve to visualize my sketches. I dicover this from Google.Jul 5, 13:06
  • Adam: “I’m 40 y.o. from Czech. I need to able to visualize my idea. I believe it can improve my communication…Jul 5, 13:04
  • Candy-Chan: “I’m from Chicago and I’m 20. I want to learn to sketch to improve my art skills and be more…Jul 5, 09:00
  • Linda Cadeau: “I am a senior and started drawing about 5 years ago. Just want to learn how to draw objects that…Jul 4, 22:09
  • Marc Benitez: “USA 67 1. I have been drawing and scribbling since I was a child. I’m doing some blackletter calligraphy and…Jul 4, 11:27
  • Go: “hi, i want to learn how to draw, sketch, color reflections on glass cups, carafes, windows, doors, buildings, etc problems…Jul 2, 15:45
  • Gurupreet: “Hi, I come from India and I am 20 years old. I am an freelance artist and I use to…Jun 30, 22:14
  • Jatin Verma: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, 1.India, 30 2. Studying graphic design and Sketching 3.…Jun 30, 14:19
  • Jatin: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, 1.India, 30 2. Studying graphic design and Sketching 3.…Jun 30, 14:11
  • Murad: “Google search Yes learning more Intersted with your blogJun 29, 11:08
  • Fausto Blanco: “I’m an stell erection and construction estimator, my field is estimate. Labor and material quantities for big warehouse buildings, also…Jun 28, 09:14
  • NISHTHA HARSH NIRMAL: “I come from India. I want to learn sketching in general, but product sketching career-wise. I discovered this through PinterestJun 27, 14:32
  • Nishtha: “I need this book as im an aspiring designer. I love to sketch. I discovered this blog through pinterest.Jun 27, 10:57
  • Joh: “Brisbane, 37 Looking for a new hobby :) googled contour lines!Jun 26, 13:31
  • Chou-Tac: “Hi Adrian, We are in 2025, and I am re-reading my article. :) The example I gave here: Some applicants…Jun 25, 18:33
  • Chou-Tac: “Hi Hana, Sure you will! You got all the content you need in the blog. :)) For the shoe design,…Jun 25, 17:02
  • Chou-Tac: “Hey Haitam, The first step is to study perspective. From CAD, you already got a great grasp on it. You…Jun 25, 16:59
  • Iwan: “Indonesian, 30 Hobby From Youtube ThankssJun 25, 12:56
  • India: “1. Australia, 20 2. Studying interior design and architecture 3. While researching for an assessment – I am researching for…Jun 24, 11:06
  • Haitam KHLIFI TAGHZOUTI: “Dear, First i want to say thanks for creating and sharing with us wonderful informations anout sketching. I am Haitam…Jun 24, 03:17
  • Vanessa: “France , 42 To improve my skills. A link on a blog (don’t remember the name)Jun 23, 22:11
  • Z: “Pakistan/ 18 Wanna polish the skill Chat gpt suggested itJun 23, 18:58
  • J: “Can’t wait toJun 23, 01:30
close-link
Start Sketching Today Step-by-step!

GET YOUR DESIGNER STARTER KIT NOW!

The
close-link
The
YES! I NEED THE BOOK!
Send me The Book
close-image