About
A drawing resource curated by a working artist.
The Pencil Drawing Hub exists to make better pencil artists. It brings together honest product reviews, clear technique guides and free tools for people who draw in coloured pencil and graphite - whether you are picking up your first set or preparing work for exhibition.
Everything here is curated by Michael Brace, a contemporary realist who has drawn since childhood and now works professionally in coloured pencil and graphite.
About Michael
Michael Brace draws in coloured pencil and graphite and has done since childhood. A Fine Art graduate of Coventry University, he has been shortlisted for the Derwent Art Prize (2026) and the British Art Prize (2025), shortlisted for the CCA Galleries Emerging Artist Award, longlisted for the Visual Arts Open (2025) and has exhibited in London.
- Derwent Art Prize 2026 - shortlisted
- British Art Prize 2025 - shortlisted
- CCA Galleries Emerging Artist Award - shortlisted
- Visual Arts Open 2025 - longlisted
What you will find here
- Coloured Pencils - reviews, comparisons and buying guides
- How to Draw - step-by-step lessons for beginners
- Paper & Surfaces - choose the right surface for the drawing
- Drawing Techniques - layering, blending, burnishing and realism
- Colour Theory - choose colours with confidence
- Graphite & Charcoal - tone, shading and monochrome mastery
- Books & Courses - structured ways to improve faster
- The Art World - competitions, galleries and getting seen
- Free tools - grid, value, colour, frame and paper utilities that run in your browser.
How we work
We recommend materials we would use ourselves and we say plainly where a product is not the right choice. Some links on the site are affiliate links, which earn us a small commission at no cost to you - read our editorial policy and affiliate disclosure for the detail.
Part of the Michael Brace Drawing Studio group
The Pencil Drawing Hub is part of the Michael Brace Drawing Studio group, which is home to Michael's original drawings, prints and commissions. Explore the rest of the group: