Blog

Sharpening Graphite Pencils - A Practical Guide...

November 18, 2025

Sharpening graphite pencils seems so simple on the surface, you may even have seen the title and thought to yourself;

“Come on now Cowling & Wilcox, I’ve been sharpening pencils for years, does it really require a whole blog?”

Well, as with all things creative & otherwise; if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.

Whether you’re sketching, drafting or rendering fine details, if you’re working in graphite then understanding the interplay between pencils and sharpeners can play a key step in the creative process. So, throughout this comprehensive artists' guide, we’ll be exploring the safest, most effective (and cleanest) methods of sharpening graphite pencils to help you achieve consistent results.

Oil painting techniques YOU should know