Hello everyone, In this tutorial I will be sharing some Tips on Pencil drawing in Clip Studio Paint.

There is a Video version as well as an article with images to explain the process.

1.Introduction

Pencil drawing is mainly distinguished by its unique texture and variety of strokes.

In this tutorial, I will be showing you how I use the Pencil tool in Clip Studio Paint to create both a loose sketch and a detailed illustration, along with some other techniques you could use on your own drawings.

2.Let's get to know our Tools

What you need for pencil drawing in Csp :

-A pencil tool (Brush)

-The blending tool

-Soft & Kneaded eraser

The pencil tool is a digital brush that imitates the texture of a real pencil on paper

Once you open Clip studio Paint : On the tools bar, you can find a set of pencils provided by the software along with other brushes I downloaded from Csp assets.

You can download new Pencils as well as other brushes from Csp assets by accessing the website :

Csp Assets

Here is a link to some of the pencils I will be using :

Realistic Pencil

Feel free to test a variety of Digital Pencils before choosing the one you'll be working with.

As for the other tools :

We will be using the blending tool to soften the texture in some areas for a Smoother gradient of value.

The soft eraser will be used to correct the value in some other areas.

As for the kneaded eraser we will be using it in areas where we need to keep the rough texture.

3.Pencil Strokes

There are different types of pencil strokes depending on the pencil you choose, its size and the pressure you put on it when you draw.

The overall mood of the drawing can change depending on how you handle these three aspects.

I can make different strokes and create a gradient of values just by adjusting the pressure I use on the Pencil.

A small size gives a more defined line while If you increase the brush size you get a wash that is more suitable for shading.

4.Shading Techniques

Shading is what gives the illusion of a 3D form in a 2D drawing and it can be applied using different techniques of Pencil Strokes.

When it comes to Pencil drawing, there are some unique ways to shade and create value using different pencil strokes.

Here are some shading techniques : 

Hatching : This technique consists of drawing parallel lines to create the illusion of form. 

The more lines you draw and the closer they are, the darker the value.

Make sure not to press too hard on the pencil and keep the strokes light to preserve the pencil texture.

Cross Hatching : is basically the same technique, only this time we draw lines in two different directions opposite to each other.

Stippling : refers to shading with dots. The more dots there are and the closer they are, the darker the value. 

Scribbling : as the name suggests, it is a free form of shading by moving your pencil in random scribbles.

Like always, the closer and thicker these random lines get, the darker the value.  

Circling : is another technique that consists of drawing continuous circles.

And lastly what I like to call Basic Shading : 

This is a layering technique that with real pencils we would be holding it tilted and shading but digitally, we have the advantage of increasing the size of the pencil and just moving it around the area and then layer on top of it to create a darker value.

5.Using the Pencil to sketch

I mostly use the pencil tool to create the initial sketch or a thumbnail for my illustrations because a loose pencil sketch allows me not get too caught up on the line quality in this initial phase.

I will be using the Pencil-Tilt (Link above) for this sketch.

The digital pencil is to be handled the same way as the real pencil while making use of the digital aspects such as layer, undo, pencil size.... and so on.

I increase the size of my pencil and press lightly on it as I'm drawing because I want it to look loose.

6.Using the pencil to draw a Realistic Illustration

The pencil tool can be used to draw realistic and fine details with a more traditional texture.

I will be drawing a realistic strawberry using some of the techniques we learned so far.

First : Simplifying Shapes

I first made a sketch using Pencil - sharp and Kept the overall shape simple and clear.

Second : Separating Light and Shadow

Knowing where the light is coming from, I separated the shadow from light.

Third : Shading with the pencil tool

I started shading dark areas using the same pencil (I just increased its size).

I used the lasso tool and selected inside the strawberry to keep my strokes inside and applied less pressure on the pencil to shade the overall strawberry.

And then blended everything using a Csp blending tool.

Make sure not to over blend and keep the pencil texture apparent.

i added the small detailed with sharp strokes and then blended to get a natural look

i added the highlights with the same pencil and blended

final product

Here’s my social media for reference : https://www.instagram.com/cherrzart/