Derwent Graphic Pencils

Coming from a technical background, I've used Staedtler pencils as a matter of course but decided to give these a go. Price wise they're a cheaper than the Lumograph but more expensive than the Tradition, so they fell mid-range.

The quality is good, with no nipping when sharpening as with cheap pencils and the matt finish make them easy to control. However I found them very soft, with a 2B more like a 4B. Given that a previous reviewer considered the 8B too hard, it shows how much is down to personal preference.

What did frustrate me was how easily the leads became fractured, resulting in endless sharpening. Again this is possibly due to being used to Staedtler pencils, which perhaps are more resilient but harder.

Overall, I would recommend this pencil more for artists who have a messier style (for want of a better description). If you're like me, however, you may find them a bit smudgy. It does illustrate how it's worth while trying out different brands, even with something as simple as a pencil.

I recently bought an 8B and a 9B graphic pencils by Derwent. Compared to other makes I found them a bit too hard and so too light.

Better to have ridged than round pencils. They stay where they are put down and don't roll away just when you need them.