LEARN 1 TIP A DAY, Sketching Tutorials

TIP101 How to Hold Your Pen for Maximum Sketching Precision: 3 Essential Positions

Not sure if you're holding your pen correctly? Explore three common pen grips and find out which one maximizes your drawing agility and control. A simple adjustment can transform your sketching experience. Ready to refine your pen technique? Try these grips now!

Are You Holding Your Pen the Right Way for Drawing?

While drawing outdoors at Garden by the Bay in Singapore, a friend caught attention by holding her pen in a way I hadn’t seen before.

Curious, I tried her grip but immediately felt limited in my movement. It made me realize how important the way you hold your pen is to your drawing agility and control.

When I showed her the way I usually recommend (Position A), she was surprised at how much more fluid and agile her strokes became. Sometimes, simply adjusting your pen grip can unlock new levels of precision and ease in your sketching.

Three Common Pen Holding Positions

how to hold a pen - the design sketchbook Pen grip

There are mainly three ways people hold a pen when drawing:

Position A: The most recommended grip, providing optimal control and wrist movement.
Position B: A looser grip that may feel comfortable but sometimes limits precision.
Position C: Similar to B but with a lighter touch on the pen, allowing slightly more wrist flexibility.

Try It Yourself

Take a moment to observe how you hold your pen or stylus.
Experiment with these three positions to see which gives you the best mix of control and comfort. You might discover improved line quality and drawing speed simply by changing your grip.

Practice and Improvement

In [the Designer Starter Kit], there are exercises designed to help you practice these pen positions and build foundational skills, such as drawing perfect straight lines and circles. Adjusting your pen hold is a small change that can make a big difference in your artistic confidence.

Cheers,
Chou-Tac