How to sharpen pencils – ninja style

There are many ways to sharpen your pencils. This is the method that I use when I need precision.

Tools/Materials

Step-by-Step Process

• Step 1) Remove the wood.
• Step 2) Sharpen the lead with sandpaper.
• Step 3) Clean the point.

Tips

Blade Technique

Push the blade with the thumb of the hand that is holding the pencil. If you apply any force with the hand holding the knife, you will likely break the point while you remove the wood on soft pencils.

Use Sandpaper Pads

I recommend using a sandpaper pad instead of a loose piece of sandpaper. The latter tends to make a mess and I’d rather be drawing than washing my hands or studio surfaces. 🙂

What can I do with ninja pencils?

A sharp point like this is excellent anytime you need precision. Don’t use a point like this for an initial block-in.

These exercises are a perfect match for ninja pencils:

• Practice drawing smooth tones
• Do the Value Gradient Challenge
• Do the Value Scale Challenge

Happy drawing!