NPS Sketchbook Club

  Have you ever wondered why your pencil sketches sometimes don’t look quite how you imagined? Maybe the shadows seem patchy, or the tone feels flat, no matter how carefully you try. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, too. Often, the secret isn’t just in your hand, but in what’s under it, your paper. Let's dive into both the pencils and the paper. A Quick Look at Graphite Pencils Graphite pencils are made from a mix of graphite and clay. The balance between the two determines how light or dark your pencil marks will be. You’ll usually see pencils labeled from 9H to 9B: H pencils are harder and lighter, precise and fine for details B pencils are softer and darker, B pencils as soft and rich for bold, dark shadows F pencils sit comfortably in between If you’re shading, softer pencils like 2B, 4B, and above, are your friend. They lay down more graphite with less pressure , making shading feel smoother and more forgiving. Four Simple Ways to Shade: Shading is ...

A question we often hear is: why do we distinguish between sketchbooks and drawing books? Aren’t they essentially the same? Image Courtesy of Tt Pen The answer is no—there is an important distinction. Sketch paper is designed for practice, experimentation, and quick studies. Drawing paper, on the other hand, is meant for refined, finished artwork  and supports a wider range of techniques. They simply serve different moments in the creative process. Drawing Book (Versatile & Durable): Made for Finished Art:  The substantial weight and durability allow for extended work, repeated erasing, and fine detail. Superior for Dry Media:  Its "toothier" surface grips graphite, charcoal, and pastels brilliantly, enabling richer darks, greater depth of color, and more dramatic contrast. Handles Light Washes:  While not a dedicated watercolor paper, its weight and treatment can support light ink work, markers, and light acrylic or watercolor washes for mixed-media pieces. Form...

Why Paper Matters More Than Most Artists Realise and What You Need to Know We see this a lot. Beginner artists blaming their “lack of skill”, for results that were actually caused by using the wrong paper?  And countless of artists frustrated because their colours kept dulling, their sheets kept buckling, or their drawings looked different the next day.  Most thought they were doing something wrong. But the truth often lay in the paper and not the technique. Today’s post is here to change that. Whether you’re an upcoming artist, a hobbyist sketcher, or someone rediscovering art in adulthood, understanding paper is one of the most empowering steps you can take.  This week, as part of our commitment to supporting our growing art community,  we begin  a series breaking down the foundations of paper, in a way that is simple and practical for everyone wanting to improve their paper options. T his blog series will go deeper than a quick Google summary, as we will ...