Black Carbon Pencils – 12 Pencils for Drawing, Shading, and Deep Contrasts
These black carbon pencils are designed for sketching, academic drawing, volume studies, and working with deep contrasts on paper.
The carbon lead produces blacks that are more matte and denser than classic graphite, with less sheen in dark areas. It allows for precise lines, gradual shading, textures, and dark solid fills.
Each box contains 12 pencils of the same grade, chosen from: Medium Carbon, Soft Carbon, or Very Soft Carbon. The chosen grade affects the depth of the black, the softness of the deposit, and the level of control during drawing.
INFORMATION
The carbon pencil is useful when graphite becomes too shiny in dark values, but charcoal seems too volatile or difficult to control. It allows for deep blacks while maintaining a legible line.
It is suitable for studies of faces, bodies, drapery, objects, landscapes, textures, and volumes. It can be used to establish a structure, reinforce shadows, or create more prominent dark masses.
The result depends on the paper used: smooth paper gives a sharper line, while more textured paper holds the material better and creates more granular blacks.
FEATURES
Contents: 12 pencils per box
Material: wood
Available grades: Medium Carbon, Soft Carbon, Very Soft Carbon
Recommended support: drawing paper, sketchpad, lightly textured paper, or study paper
CHOOSING YOUR GRADE
Medium Carbon: more controlled, suitable for constructions, lines, structured sketches, and gradual shading.
Soft Carbon: softer, useful for reinforcing shadows, developing volumes, and achieving more prominent blacks without completely losing precision.
Very Soft Carbon: denser and more generous in material, recommended for deep blacks, dark solid fills, organic textures, and strong contrasts.
USE & CARE
Use light pressure to build values gradually, then reinforce dark areas with successive layers. Too much pressure from the start can saturate the paper and limit corrections.
For gradients, work with hatching, smudging, or layering. A blending stump, cloth, or finger can alter the texture, but they also move the material: test first on a scrap of paper.
Sharpen with an appropriate pencil sharpener or a craft knife to achieve a longer point. Protect finished drawings in a closed sketchbook or with an interleaving sheet to limit material transfer.
BUILD YOUR DRAWING KIT
For studies, sketches, and black-and-white explorations, these pencils can be paired with the
black sketchbook with beige paper,
suitable for dry lines, visual notes, and contrast experiments.
To organize a more complete drawing set, you can also consult the
Drawing
collection, which includes sketchbooks, papers, tracing tools, and accessories useful for graphic practices.
To delve deeper into the choice of media, leads, and uses, the
Ikane guides
allow you to compare materials, papers, and tools according to the desired result.
🤍 Ikane Workshop Tip
Choose a softer lead for deeper blacks and more organic textures. Firmer grades are better suited for constructions, outlines, and precise lines.
