Have you ever wondered why artists hold their pencils differently? The way you hold your pencil when drawing does matter. Different grips allow you to make different movements with your hand, giving you a range of marks and lines.

The best way to hold your pencil really depends on what you are drawing and how much freedom of movement you need. Here are three pencil grips worth practicing to improve your drawing skills.

The Standard Grip

This is the way most people learn how to use a pen or pencil as a child. A tripod is formed by your thumb and first two fingers. The hand rests heavily on the page and doesn't move much. Most of the movement of the pencil comes from your fingers and wrist.

The advantages of the standard grip are:

It's very stable. You’re not going to lose control of your pencil or your line because your hand is supported by the surface you are working on. This allows you to write or draw with clear, solid lines.

The disadvantages of the standard grip are:

Because of the stability, your range of movement is limited by how far you can move your wrist. Which is fine if you are drawing something very small. But it's not good for making large flowing movements. There is a lot of downward pressure on the paper which makes it difficult to change the pressure when you want lighter lines.

The Overhand Grip

This is the grip you've probably seen some artists using. The pencil is held under the hand and is gripped by the thumb and one or two fingers. The hand doesn't rest on the page for this one but you can use your ring finger and/or little finger to help stabilise the hand as it moves around.

The advantages of the overhand grip are:

You have lots of freedom and range of movement. Moving from the shoulder enables you to create fluid, natural looking lines. You can easily change the pressure of the pencil to move from light to dark lines. You can also change the angle of the pencil against the paper, accessing more of the pencil lead to get thicker lines, or more of the point to get thinner lines.

The disadvantages of the overhand grip are:

It takes a long time to learn how to use this grip properly. If you are an adult learning to draw then you've probably been using a pencil the same way for a long time. Switching to an overhand grip will at first feel like you have no control and you'll need to learn how to use the pencil in a new way.

The Loose Grip

This third grip, though it is less talked about than the overhand grip, is actually used by many artists. I call it the loose grip and this is what I recommend using when you are learning to draw. The pencil is held further back from the tip. The side of the hand slides across the paper as you draw. The fingers are relaxed and the pencil tip rests lighting on the paper.

The advantages of the loose grip are:

You have more range of movement than the standard grip but also more control than the overhand grip when you are first starting out. When using this grip, allow your Because of the angle of the pencil when you hold it further back, you can apply more of the lead to the paper and get thicker marks for shading.

The disadvantages of the loose grip are:

I cant think of any! This is a good grip to practice to break the lifelong habit of using the standard grip. It will help you learn to control the movement of your arm rather than just your wrist. Which means if you want to eventually move on to the overhand grip you already have some of the motor skills you need to control your pencil.

So When Should You Use Each Pencil Grip?

Let's recap the advantages and disadvantages of each grip and how best to use it:

STANDARD GRIP

Advantages:

• Very stable, allowing complete control over your pencil and lines

Disadvantages:

• Limited to range of wrist movement

• Difficulty in varying pressure for lighter lines

When To Use The Standard Grip:

• Ideal for small details or precise work

OVERHAND GRIP

Advantages:

• Offers lots of freedom of movement as the hand is not stuck to the page

• Ability to create various types of lines

Disadvantages:

• Takes a long time to develop coordination in a completely new grip

When To Use The Overhand Grip:

• Suitable for working on upright surfaces, large drawings, or quick, free sketches.

LOOSE GRIP

Advantages:

• Offers more movement range than the standard grip.

• Great for shading and accessing different lead angles.

• Helps develop control from the elbow and shoulder.

Disadvantages:

• None significant; it's a beneficial grip for breaking habits and enhancing arm control.

When To Use The Loose Grip:

• For sketching and shading

I hope this has helped you understand the different pencil grips and the best situations to use them in. To give each grip a go, follow along with this video here:

If you want to learn more about pencils and what pencil grades mean, read this next!