The two grips

There are two ways to hold a pencil, and each produces a different kind of mark. The overhand grip (pencil under the palm, held between thumb and fingers, the side of the lead on the paper) moves from the shoulder and lays wide, soft, even strokes. It is how you block in masses, lay tone, and draw long straight lines. The wrist stays quiet; the whole arm travels.

The tripod grip is the writing grip, but held an inch and a half further back from the point than you hold a pen. It pivots at the wrist and fingers and makes short, exact strokes. It is how you place a contour, construct an arch, or set a window into a wall. Holding it further back than you want to is what stops you gripping and pressing.

The masters switched between them constantly. A Prout street scene was blocked in overhand and finished tripod. A Corot charcoal is almost entirely overhand, with a few tripod accents for branches. Learn to notice which one you are using and whether it is the right one for the mark you want.

Sit back from the board. If your nose is a foot from the paper you are in tripod grip whether you like it or not, and everything you draw will be small, tight and cramped.