AbigailsArtwork

Artistic Technique: Using Graphite Pencil to Create Shiny a Metal Look

Hello you! thank you for finding your way over to my little art blog and I hope this helps you with little tricks that can make your art pieces really pop!

For this technique, you will need:

  • Graphite Pencil (The chunky ones are great for this technique)
  • Paper

Before we start, please be aware that graphite pencils, depending on the brand and type, can be messy – so make sure you aren’t wearing THAT amazing outfit and go get your messy clothes on! Also make sure that you aren’t scribbling this over your nice worktops or above your carpets.

Now, onto the good bit…

Scribble your graphite pencil all over the paper, then pick up the paper and rub the graphite coloured sides against each other. The friction makes the graphite squidge into the paper and makes it look shiny. Crumple the paper, trust the process, to make it more flexible to help rub it against itself and plus the outcome makes it look like a really cool distressed metal. If you can still see white paper, go back in and colour some more graphite on there, and rub it against itself again.

Side note: you will end up with grey fingers doing this, but who cares? its fun!

You can experiment with different background papers, trying different colours and thicknesses as well as textures. it makes a fabulous addition to scrapbooking or for pieces of ‘metal’ on costumes where having actual metal might not work.

Preserving this type of work can be difficult without changing its overall ‘look’. For example, if you were to use a laminator it will change the level of sheen that gives this style its metal-looking properties. I haven’t tried using a PVA glue to cover it yet – so if you do decide to try PVA for costume use or to prevent the graphite from rubbing onto other surfaces, then please leave a comment to let us know and tell us how well it worked.

Overall, I love this technique, and it is one of the first techniques I think about whenever I remember my college tutor. How well did it work for you? did you enjoy making metal with your bare hands? Let me know below.

After scribbling the Graphite, rub the graphite coloured side onto itself. a lot.
sometimes, you might need to go in again to get better coverage.
the finish should be something light this. see how the light is reflecting like its metal on the left and the lighter part that i didn’t go back in on, isn’t.

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