​I have been using the Graphic range since the 1990's and have always found them to be good quality, knowing that they are lightfast too, I don't have to worry about fading.  Personally, I only work with the 'soft' range (grades H, F, HB & B - 9B), my artistic style is very detailed and I like to create many layers and achieve plenty of depth, the darker B grades allow me to do this well. Here are a few portraits created over the years, that offer a few pointers as to what the range can offer however I will state that having been happy with these pencils, I have not yet tried other brands such as Faber Castell's 9000 range or the Staedtler 'Mars Lumograph' which I know are favourites of many other artists.​

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For this exercise, I used just 1 pencil to achieve the full spectrum of shading.  I began by applying a soft pressure, gradually layering a little heavier each time whilst  blending and erasing in between to ensure I got the right balance. Who says you need to own a whole range of grades to create graphite drawings? 

Architecture is not an artistic subject I often undertake, but when doing so, the H grades are ideal as you can achieve extremely fine lines and detail whilst the soft grades (B) allows you to control the depth through shading. A very enjoyable subject actually! 

Creating the folds of skin on an elephant portrait can be achieved by applying heavy lines of the darker B grades onto the paper before applying  layers of base tones to create the correct amount of shade. Blend each layer  with a tissue/blending stump before applying the next layer and ensure the creases are darkened as you apply each layer if needed.

If you are looking to create extremely detailed drawings with graphite pencils, the full set of 24 would offer you the widest choice. As already mentioned, the H pencils are perfect for the thinnest of lines and if you are an artist who likes to create photo-realism, a wide range of pencil grades are a must, along side other tools.

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CHARACTERISTICS

Grades: ​ 9H - 9B

Hard or Soft lead:  Various

Lightfast rating: Blue Wool

Costs: RRP £1.69

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Grades and sets available

Grades Available: 24
​Hard, Medium and Soft
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Sets Available:
Open stock (Individually), blister pack 2, 4 & 6, Tins of 6, 12 & 24

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ADVANTAGES
* Lightfast
* Easy to blend
* Made by a well respected company
* Vegan friendly
* Large choice of grades - 9H to 9B  (24 grades)
* Core sizes 2.2mm for hard grades (H) and 3.5mm for the softer grades (3B upwards)

DISADVANTAGES
*  The darkest grade (9B) is not as dark as some other pencil brands such as Staedtler
* Some users complain of a gritty or scratchy feel in some grades
* The softer the grade, the easier the 'lead' can break if dropped 
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Lightfast Chart and Blue Wool scale ratings

Derwent uses the Blue Wool Scale to grade the lightfastness of their pencils in the following way:
Two identical samples are created. One is placed in the dark and the other is placed in the equivalent of sunlight for a three-month period. A standard bluewool fading test card is also placed in the same light conditions as the sample under test. The amount of fading of the sample is then assessed by comparison to the original colour.
A rating between 0 and 8 is used - 0 being the least lightfast and 8 being the most lightfast.

Derwent's official lightfast rating chart for the Graphic pencils

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​All Derwent Graphic pencils are Vegan-friendly