They’re at the top of the list for every back-to-school shopper: pencils ... can use a No. 1, you can use any number you want,” confirmed Mary Arnold, the Elementary Art Teacher Leader ...

Even though both darkness and hardness vary among brands, No. 2 and/or HB pencils are widely considered to be the ideal lead grade for writing ... in cursive and print, drawing, doodling, shading ...

While talking to a bunch of artists I admire for a piece about the best drawing pencils ... Standard pencils like your classic Ticonderogas or artist-grade Fabre Castells are made of graphite ...