HOW TO HOLD A PENCIL FOR SMOOTHER DRAWING

There are many myths about how an artist should hold a pencil. Trying to force yourself to use an artificial grip is probably one of the worst things you can do for your drawing, creating stress and upsetting the natural flow of your line.
The most common way to hold a pencil is the basic tripod grip. The basic tripod grip is the same as the one you probably use for writing. The thumb and forefinger form a triangle with the middle finger as shown, which is supported by the ring finger and pinkie. This grip allows the pencil to be finely controlled by the fingers, so holding a pencil this way is ideal for drawing fine detail. The upright position of the pencil allows for accurate shading with the tip, rather than side, of the pencil.

When you hold a pencil using the the tripod grip, you use your fingers and thumb to control the pencil, and for fine work, the hand can rest on the page. Use a spare sheet of paper to keep your drawing free from smudges and skin oils. If more movement is required, the wrist or elbow can be rested against the edge of the drawing surface, used as a pivot.

Another useful way to hold a pencil is in the extended tripod grip. This pencil grip uses the same hold as the basic tripod grip, with a triangle formed by the thumb, forefinger and middle finger, but further up the pencil. Because it is similar to the basic grip, this is a comfortable way to hold a pencil for drawing, while allowing more freedom.
When you hold the pencil in the extended tripod grip, small movements of the fingers can produce a much larger movement of the pencil-tip, so it is an economical and efficient grip for sketching. For best results, make sure you keep a relaxed grip on the pencil - a tight, vicelike grip is tiring and restricting.

When you ask how to hold a pencil, the overhand grip is the one most often recommended for sketching, as it makes it easy to use the side of the pencil. To make the overhand grip, the pencil is braced lightly against the fingers with the flat of the thumb. The actual position will vary according the the proportions of your hand: the main thing is to have a secure but relaxed grip on the pencil.

The overhand grip is a popular way to hold the pencil for sketching. The overhand grip allows you to shade with the side of the pencil. It is also a useful pencil hold for vertical drawing surfaces, such as an easel. For best results with the overhand grip, sit or stand so that the arm has a full range of movement, allowing for free, expressive mark-making. The overhand grip is often demonstrated as the 'correct' way to hold a pencil for drawing, but while it is a useful method, it is no more correct than any other pencil grip.

The underhand pencil grip is a very loose and relaxed way of holding a pencil. This example is basically a tipped-over tripod grip, but you can also move the thumb higher or allow the pencil to sit in the 'V' of the thumb and palm, with the index and middle finger lightly controlling the tip. Holding a pencil with the underhand grip is useful for casual, broad sketching, such as with charcoal pencil.