![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTHZjE4z7uc3wkT2FfCbDfHQSJFm-QxZPEBrpY08f0gWKU8ZpUAl3LZ8-fvFaAot1W2IZOXbWV36rsC7juTGqMmH__NJKOIM_OAFM4Wmaoj3QBr0h0Fs1rYuDnPa5vYDZpxk34CBuPw_z_G2TFRx4YpLuZ57pdBb5aCLPM7y8sztuShCKmYx6LEQfI/s320/20231112_094858.jpg) |
As most German pencils are, this one is a nail! It's a 3B that feels more like an H! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSU9yMdTl3QYx6f0h-gOv0Z1Ee0ezRkBNdIyf_HoSrhDQIAPYUyFy74iwczzwT34yEYkGnlG0nyTs9C8Gtthwuwt2VqDdZg74Z8FIr7knApx20gVYxvCXgslv9IKgT-Py72qNPqJCpnBi_d8dbkUHqARtl2wiPQTEm2FEgXcWp3YnNvUJG8PaKHn5/s320/11-12-23%20vintage%20Staedtler%20Mars%20Lumograph%203B,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/12/23 vintage Staedtler Mars Lumograph 3B |
By the third week of a month-long drawing challenge, I’m
usually starting to look at the calendar to see how many days are left. But what
started out almost as a whim is turning out to be one of my favorite challenge
themes: Who knew that sketching an ear a day would be so much fun – and illuminating?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUrqQWw23Rxm1CI085WXEFiHsyQQPuAco5ptqB-aWiytBp_RyrNWdBZPoaixtDPI7I5QXnjezgBH1aUDE9L6AvK-dbWwCWjQGxa_B_xmCfd2di6EA0Mu5ESGNWrUQB4NNTNwsxXGHjXujjKS2gLDfZBlONRazMazq1h56omlV525GGYsCzv7nlm4c/w300-h400/11-13-23%20Dixon%20Ticonderoga,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/13/23 Dixon Ticonderoga No. 2 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGX-LbHWWXHblj4M16zs1duQIHClM366pjk_zZ8XPX4IBANm2-XY7An3S_77kOXQq83A6pZOv1XiwwoPAPDzihWq8e1OoWbzZ4zU7tVVeUHZN48FdgylMT7xYam1uN6ghI5daFd34hpjcE_W-CfiFO2qMnx8yd4a7vtgkWCuXhQFlnLJZ6mQEhb-I4/s320/20231113_090518.jpg) |
The pencil that most American kids used in elementary school (though mine was never neon pink back then). No nostalgia here... happy that I have much better options now as an adult. |
It’s the combination of the subject matter (endlessly
varied) and the material (also endlessly varied) that is making the challenge
so compelling. Although graphite pencils are among my favorite drawing
materials, I tend to use them sporadically, not daily, so this month is a fun
opportunity to learn, compare and appreciate pencil qualities.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLloQwHe8GG-uf4hZkwSjaMCySk2nK6vG5DezrPwV1atzdRkgPGrJXKT9utt6PO3IaM6HxYrvtuuNqim7Gdid_6RggQtqXLKNVF-tgtKB4DGO5EZwtqwPU9P1B3NejfWs2Pa9eyJCIzfLobhxjEXIWl2WsdlDh6ygGGhMEPNdgGJvm0IjZwHsRqanC/s320/11-14-23%20Pentonic,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/14/23 Pentonic |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7Q0DsdErvlpy-ElV7UChzXXDjUCwrIzL6OA0n3pd3HpBbfSvwFp0TnHCDxJQVO3mKTTB0O2VZj9jbRL-qAuPUUYzaEZhDTcCvjbRLgta5uA4AO__aIN3NphmGp_z-UYaQB8guVdDPrmnBxwf5QroZw8ihBj52QhFeOAmUYWfiL1aF2BKMIGKCmdu/s320/20231114_094609.jpg) |
I know nothing about this Pentonic, but it was very pleasant to use. |
In my previous Pencilvember post, I had mentioned the
comment from a blog reader who had said ears can be used to identify
individuals for genealogical purposes. Shortly after that, when I exclaimed my
fascination with the uniqueness of ear shapes, an Instagram follower commented,
“That’s why mug shots have a side view; before identifying individuals by their
fingerprints, the ear was the identification.” I didn’t know this, but it
doesn’t surprise me at all.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij71n91TPkC168ruwv04i_x42RZni5xQqOWhtvVI-TyTL4omCBxe8aY_T_ITH-zusDLmA1FxWJMkV8aqAHkdT4Puz9Re0y5NLnJIgy141JQU3YM91RtBOw-zW6TMf5deJha1PHGb8Pc0jW1yAHfm7PC5zLmZSSs9XdcMQaeg_hn6h7XHrCUoVeX_-J/s320/11-15-23%20Nataraj%20Trikone%20Super%20Black,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/15/23 Nataraj Trikone Super Black |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1LVJA1lTeveOHizyZ4oE4E6Qs8tubEQPV0U4cLYcg1fZgMRpyHBhudkT-242HOurNdYoJVy15aOgSrvV384VOXTWzJ0wnsA6lpYZVpLLFXoqEIzPxuXUy22KMYnf1oCYDKyIfq4AIJKX57-nEohOc1M_XY-0pyZA0zx9bEowo1Io7owm4viuDNRi/s320/20231115_095930.jpg) |
Another India-made pencil, this one has a triangular barrel and excellent dark graphite. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9E5C8j_p5iL6bUa9mL6XAnTAm3_mc2aPGWn_j8w8J6ecRe6mPVpc9UOQC3JglvyIG9wF-MmRRj-f0cZHdUcmshYGmTEAI-XCk03V949Vkj6XAQ7jvykWu3io1AlFlNkRSU4z_ZbUw4yvdSeXSe0VfNBzmgCTOVkapoew-o6SkM4n6P9gAGGloY5Wz/s320/11-16-23%20Musgrave%20600%20News,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/16/23 Musgrave 600 News |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tw9PDQrd3YnNHjIAo9nSqHgKeuOBbZ8hdmiDMrFTiGAUl5Lfnm59EkpiLmWC4KmROxrm-3zQmRiB2uXbb9vCFt4Yz0NatqUZEyUtXMi9eKJjwnTam9IQJFhrpp0Vz0faZ_pv9DSRZLxMpd5lyfT0B84IITUIRNumnZ7Paq4FDAHO6BKBFXuBJzVF/s320/20231116_100056.jpg) |
This US-made pencil is extremely dark yet retains a good point. It's apparently a favorite for doing crossword puzzles because the soft, dark graphite works well on newsprint.
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6A91XWOihOICNRPAXEuBeoDTCBdTzcVWbFyadARtSuhTyreWuGnB6_FpaC_vyxBZvsr2EqHOKUFIToRMoDQCsQn01PLdK5Zg9xI6J-McX9iUHZ3EMcqX1fORpc0A7xgD5QnybEF7GEw/s320/11-17-23+Pitt+Matt+4B%252C+Uglybook%252C+Pencilvember%252C+Earthsworld+reference+photo.jpg) |
11/17/23 Faber-Castell Pitt Matt 4B |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYVNV_eka8p5UUheSnN-8pZJ_Sq-LDiebGbzpzsxYHHFlJ8ggf-T3k408uZZ3mLv9jd4E0JMwPZxjqLJYr2ziQS5uf7zrxwR3E2aBNDSsry-6EXi9B3qPqzR0A9fP0oA9khziLYsOiXAYkGdc_mufX_xx3e5C9L4cY9B88wstWyStpU2JPjrWFYt2/w200-h183/20231117_094716.jpg) |
I wish I liked the innovative Matt more (reviewed on this blog), but I just don't care for the "stickiness" when applied. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QakVwzMClcf-M9KDe0mqtf2uqn1ECBR8RAQW0-1qjAEDMOeUbVJyU6EZWJ-T51rGWjSmIbxJwg2lmxaZPs_JiHNEjlaEQ0b2vjKGjOY-852tRpu8CDu0BXRd212XlrewfcqeQpdWkBHT1dWRBR43CAc1rb4uDkRpXflpgE-tyvYlQ5knOGHRNvBw/s320/11-18-23%20%20Bic%20Criterium%204B,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/18/23 Bic Criterium 4B |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKejTyAWBH3lpK0UEdWBXphlC-gtEhm10oCCzwtb4Teh0Czrv-uAkIj-kk36CiSVU75RHdlcJ0Fk2Q-TUaNI2pylEEy084v3UFtMjYWnaiL47iqDzslVdsmct4TVuIU_Sh89RJqsbuCgI-hmybtYkFu7zkhBZoXfkv9zzMP-ihgl7hIepsSpYCC6xz/s320/20231118_130052.jpg) |
At least now I can say I have used a Bic that wasn't a ballpoint. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbi5cT1gjMcHiKOOLb51rLCHvpSYW-_6Wile-yhPF7S_YglhZ_g-u4nDU4RpPNvvZk_65bupcLkFXfMqtas50zdQqt8bBE01rO0XJ9eEIn5E6oJUzfYBxuEi3W-69sDS8UitsWeOb-eko-bFhlwGCwYt2nbgPCCpGF6paItOJA3MkkgDVDuL67BrVg/s320/11-19-23%20%20Lyra%20Rembbrandt%209B,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/19/23 Lyra Rembrandt 9B |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPDbZUlIsf3YtEv3x4udfNNs74gH3C0-sQ6RMuPS-abSRHXtN8KVrPIY1Z_4YivpS8zPpL0rMneoSCtcY5z4J5_qamwpx8IdcnDBUq4Mryd53EPX_llTeLDGaQkonId_nmVhsgBVsRgKspkEf8S-Qr6wESi2ppTovczE6mF3Z8fgU_EKrFGbfAP5bZ/s320/20231119_094657.jpg) |
Another nail-hard German pencil! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjovX6v2xkpFQTmseCksgm_Y3W6EE_Z2TkVw0hyphenhyphenCyeYmHDzsRkddg7-VAYXuZzHUUlItBa6_brZyzNP_woA8xIm7LoNFhmpUc8EflvV16E_UTzNs_EgX7jRNhx08svfgJWMeotAfMNddHVJYf7p5teI1vbHBzhOnQv3zSpe7exDSiJ1SQXT48f7Jzgo/s320/11-20-23%20%20vintage%20Microtomic%206B,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/20/23 vintage Eberhard Faber Microtomic 6B |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiuVxLZBepbtd560cwX3eN-vAJSoNZZDXII90Y1L-S8F92asiu_gSkibkQwgjsxksKK8HuZ7WrylfFVSK801mmusGSxAf5TWjNK2p1ENXVlJIGzhPP1RuWHBWUL0zEu-3n_6PCm_FjdVeERSbUglcA3T6YZF-3Wx84jVj3HtFRK-Z9Oulx0_539AN/s320/20231120_090716.jpg) |
Fabulous vintage graphite that is a joy to use. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXGAP794eerKydiFJ8kK3BRDlT4eaVr8fPQ9NscLL6al0Fw93ylQnzdvGHkHIyhLzQA1BwACnV39mzRIwErma4H_6DGNqJHb-OPkFobsa2dQs_j7WfIaa3bXIx86LoKgRjqMUgUsoOuDuJlxppIqpEJlzzSM1lzQ2g-0LLNnESxjlnFeJLj51hDGbp/s320/11-21-23%20%20RoyaL%20Sovereign%20Wolff%204B,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/21/23 Royal Sovereign Wolff 4B |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhXOnG5_Zy18BuULq8qMa8bTTjlMXGa9XIdZoc87A2Rx23HpAe_y7Zk-mlZC-J0qpLsOFUo96fRsP7fOrixVVIjamJAp_q-sXWBOPgOK_w_bkgvlQVvfzW3kAm_dJ9wpdb7iUwaFk3Qe3npZZXXv8W9a2IEkt6P0eCsTMdzb9gE3sH6rsDKd2LKVN/s320/20231121_090040.jpg) |
Very soft for a 4B, this Royal Sovereign was difficult to use when I wanted to apply lighter tones. I was tempted to switch to something harder for those areas, but my rule for this challenge is one pencil per drawing. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXT2Oz-BwQWNCRd1UQFQFnINOd-bMl2gzCm4zBBiZKM_Xx5e2i-BM7-lUmCUexC8qJCoTfmUYyxOfs_YMPvBTqplFamzys_0a5KoiPohKGOdgdkUmfiUJM3iXMO6EJCkPyX7HGLfFUpEZgJ4b70hJtRXZabNdNSGR2oL53ZKakGBEfxnewQWXv7YQ/s320/11-22-23%20%20Tombow%202558%20B,%20Uglybook,%20Pencilvember,%20Earthsworld%20reference%20photo.jpg) |
11/22/23 Tombow 2558 B |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_E6jRGGb0oHlrPEStgLPqz-WH_ADCxlK0OTiLRk88VmQ6jor5_H9WqwB6UlQcmU0Hf2nPi21WBeKWhDEwT0P141z_nz2XBIsF0qFL6ThAJd-yrsVForOOYNBbCCxIkyFHvT_R1UZI7NPL5KkePSxowgmtgLIstWxLoVDlv5HbkizwL7HCahZJJQ_/s320/20231122_091218.jpg) |
Predictably solid Japanese graphite with a surprising bit of grit. Also, please note: In case it's confusing without context, this is a LEFT ear. Must have been a painful incident! |
For some reason, I rather like the ear on the 14th. It looks natural and like what I would expect an ear to look like, not the least bit creepy (yes, I cannot avert my eyes!). Interesting additional info on the use of identifying a person by their ear - who knew? Well, SOME bright person did!
ReplyDeleteI tend to pick the "unique" models to draw (perhaps the ones you find creepy! ;-) ), but after looking through and drawing so many ears, I do feel like I have a better sense of what is a "generic" ear, and the one on the 14th is one of them.
DeleteI think that's exactly it.
DeleteUntil you really look you think that an ear is an ear...but what a difference there is between them. Love your shading on them!
ReplyDeleteDeveloping the form with shading is the best part for me! I'm really enjoying it!
Delete