9 x 12 graphite pencil on Bristol Smooth paper.
For the background, I managed to get a nice deep black by using 9B graphite powder which I made myself by sanding down a 9B Faber Castell Graphite stick. I then mixed the graphite with linseed oil to make a paste which I applied to the paper using cotton. For the smoke, I used a kneaded eraser to lift off the graphite making shapes and direction of the smoke. I then use a mono zero eraser to add detail and more highlights in the smoke, because I use a light pressure and build up my tones by layering my graphite, I don’t damage the tooth of the paper and am able to easily lift the graphite.
