A special way to hold your pencil for drawing

The simple act of drawing can be a sensual, passionate experience. To enjoy drawing to the fullest, get your whole body involved! Before you pick up your pencil, let's do some warm ups in a standing position. 

Begin by rolling your shoulders, then make large circular and wave motions in the air with both of your arms. Make sure the motions flow through from your shoulder, elbow to your wrist, and right down to the tips of your fingers. 

Now that you are feeling nice and loose, it's time to pick up your pencil. Here's your first artist's drawing secret. 

Traditionally at school we are taught to write with a tight grip, using the wrist for control. However, drawing is more expressive, so it helps to hold your pencil in a different way. 

I've found that by holding your pencil further up the shaft, using a loosely extended index finger, enables you to keep your pencil as flat to the paper as possible. 

This placement of your finger on the pencil automatically relaxes your entire arm so the motion flows through from your shoulder, elbow and to your wrist.