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The Art of Sharpening Pencils (Styles & Techniques)

8 Oct 2007 — Updated 13 Mar 2023

A nice sharp pencil

Table of contents

Welcome to the world of pencil sharpening — this may sound like a dull topic but there is a lot more to it than you think.

There are several different sharpening styles and methods that all good artists should know.

The trick is using the right one at the right time.

Pencil Sharpening Point Styles

There are four main points to select from; the one you choose will depend on the type of pencil you use, and the style of your drawing.

The Standard Point

A pencil sharpened in the standard point style

Everyone knows about this one, its trademark conical point is the most common and the most versatile of sharpening styles.

It's a good all-rounder for many reasons:

If you don't have a sharpening knife then you probably don't have a choice, this is the point for you.

There are a few drawbacks to this style, however.

Foreshortened girl with a ring
This is one of my life drawings that I drew with a standard conical point pencil. Click for more detail of the linework. Check out my other graphite pencil life drawing.

The Chisel Point

A pencil sharpened in the chisel point style

This is a rarely seen style where the end of the pencil is cut with a knife into a chisel shape.

The main benefit of the chisel is its ability to draw multiple types of marks on the paper:

Another neat feature of the chisel point is its self-sharpening property. As you use the chisel on the faces it helps to keep the edge sharp. This means you can spend more time drawing and less time sharpening — great for softer pencils!

There are only a couple of small issues:

If you can overcome these minor annoyances then the chisel point may be for you.

Man in red chalk
I drew this life drawing with a red chalk pencil which I cut into a chisel point (click for more detail). If you like this one, see my other chalk life drawings too.

The Needle Point

A pencil sharpened in the needle point style

This is a specialist design that is carved with a knife into a sharp concave point. The idea is that such a fine point can wear down a long way before it becomes too blunt to use.

Here is why I love this point style:

But it's not without its downsides:

Male torso drawing in graphite pencil
In this life drawing, you can see the fine detail that you can get with a pencil sharpened to a needle point. Unfortunately, you can also see some vertical lines, these were caused by my old scanner :(

The Bullet Point

A pencil sharpened in the bullet point style

This is my favorite way to sharpen pencils and a method I devised myself.

In this style the wood is removed from the last centimeter of the pencil then the end of the lead is sharpened into a bullet shape.

Two types of marks can be made from this design:

Plus it has a few good properties:

There are not many drawbacks with this design:

If you haven't tried this sharpening method before then I highly recommend you give it a go.

Girl reclining with head on hand charcoal drawing
I love to use the bullet point on my charcoal pencils because it gives me the most amount of control and flexibility while I'm life drawing. See more of my charcoal life drawings.

Pencil Sharpening Methods

Here are the main methods of sharpening that I use:

Traditional pencil sharpeners

Sharpening pencils with a standard sharpener

It's always handy to have one of these traditional sharpeners in your kit as a reliable backup.

If you like experimenting with lots of different media then it's a good idea to get your hands on the double sharpeners that have two different sizes, they come in metal or plastic. There are a lot of great pencils out there that are a little bigger than normal so if you forget your knife then you can still sharpen them with one of these bad boys.

Here's a good metal sharpener: (Amazon link)

Knife sharpening

Sharpening pencils with a knife

A knife is the most versatile method of sharpening a pencil because you can use it to cut any styled point. It can take a little practice but it's a useful skill for an artist to master.

To sharpen a pencil with a knife, hold it in one hand over a rubbish bin with the tip pointing away from you. With your other hand, gently cut in an outward direction removing thin strips of wood and graphite. Rotate the pencil between cuts to fashion an even point. Most sharp knives can be used.

If the 'lead' or graphite keeps breaking, try cutting even finer slices at a time.

Here’s the utility knife I recommend: (Amazon link)

Using sandpaper

Sharpening pencils with sandpaper

This is a neat little trick that I use regularly.

Try clipping a little piece of sandpaper to your drawing board and if your pencil starts getting a little blunt just run it over the paper a few times to bring the point back. This is especially useful during quick figure drawings when there is no time to get out your sharpener.

Paper wrapped pencils

Sharpening paper wrapped charcoal pencils

Some pencils come with their own built-in sharpening method!

With paper-wrapped pencils, simply pull back the string to cut a new segment of paper then unroll it off. This is great for messy mediums like charcoal.

The best thing about this method is you are left with the bullet point style of sharpened pencil, very nice!

Here are the paper wrapper charcoal pencils that I use: (Amazon link)

Mechanical pencil sharpeners

Mechanical pencil sharpener that looks like a robot

Mechanical sharpeners work brilliantly but can only cut the standard conical point.

To use a mechanical sharpener, simply pull out the face and clamp your pencil in place then wind the handle to effortlessly sharpen a perfect point. These are so fun to use that you might need to buy pencils more often... and don't get me started about electric varieties! ;)

Novelty pencil sharpeners

My Living Dead Dolls Sadie Pencil Sharpener
My 'Living Dead Dolls' Sadie Pencil Sharpener

This is my favorite pencil sharpener. It's a doll's head and you stick the pencil into her eye to sharpen it. There is a little button on the back of her neck that pushes the shavings out of her mouth!

Unfortunately, it's not very practical and it only cuts in the standard conical point :(

Drawing With Short Pencils

Drawing with a short pencil animation

Most people throw away their pencils when they get too short but I find them easier to use.

When drawing I hold my pencil in two different ways:

I'm constantly swapping between these two positions as I draw and my hand gets in the way if I'm using a long pencil. With a short pencil, I can fluidly and rapidly move from side to point and back again without restriction. It's a beautiful thing!

I find shorter pencils so much better, so I have started chopping my new pencils in half after buying them. You get two-for-one that way!

One word of advice: after the chop, be sure to make a note of the hardness on the ends, otherwise, you will have all these mystery-grade pencils!

Next up:
Life Drawing: The Complete Guide
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Matthew James Taylor

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