Question: Which pencil should I use for line drawing?
Answer: The most popular 'general use' pencil is a Number 2 - in drawing pencils, its the HB. But the HB is a bit hard for drawing - its fine for very light sketching, such as when you are lightly sketching out a composition. When you want more variation or a firmer line, a B is much better. It is soft enough to give you a good line without pressing too hard, but hard enough to keep its point quite well. This might vary depending on your paper, and how much pressure you apply. For larger, expressive drawings, you can use a softer pencil, such as a 2B. The look of the pencil line will vary according to how hard you press, how sharp the pencil is (you should be using a sharp pencil for most drawing, unless you choose a blunter tip for some effect), and the texture of the paper you are using. Try experimenting with your softer pencils too - a 6B used for a large, vigorous, expressive drawing can look very strong and effective.
