Graphite PencilsGeneral's

General S Kimberly Drawing Pencils

General's Kimberly Drawing Pencils remain a gold standard for graphite work, offering artists a dependable, high-quality tool with precise tonal control across a wide degree range.

The verdict

General's Kimberly Drawing Pencils remain a gold standard for graphite work, offering artists a dependable, high-quality tool with precise tonal control across a wide degree range. For anyone serious about drawing, rendering, or illustration, they are a worthwhile investment.

Quality93

Value90

Ease of use92

Key features

Full range of graphite degrees from 9H to 6B
California incense cedar wood casing
Smooth, consistent graphite bonding formula
Clean sharpening without splintering
Iconic dark green barrel with gold imprint
Made in the USA

What we liked

Exceptional tonal consistency across grades
Resists breakage during sharpening and use
Smooth application with minimal graphite dust
Holds a fine point well for detail work
Trusted by professional illustrators and drafters
Sold individually or in graded sets

Worth noting

Softer grades wear down faster and need frequent sharpening
Pricier than basic student-grade pencils
Not pre-sharpened out of the box
Limited availability of some individual degrees in stores

Our review

General's Kimberly Drawing Pencils are premium graphite pencils made in the USA, favored by artists, illustrators, and drafters for their smooth, consistent lay-down and rich tonal range. Each pencil features extra-smooth California incense cedar casing and a specially formulated graphite core that resists breakage while delivering crisp, controllable lines from the lightest sketch to the darkest shading pass. The graphite is bonded using General's proprietary process, which keeps particles finely and evenly distributed for consistent tone across the entire degree range. Available in a full spectrum of degrees from hard (like 9H) through soft (like 6B), Kimberly pencils let artists build layered values without switching tools constantly. The hard grades hold a fine point for technical line work and detail, while the softer grades glide with buttery richness for expressive shading, cross-hatching, and blending. The wood casing sharpens cleanly without splintering, and the barrel is finished in the recognizable dark green with gold imprinting that has identified Kimberly pencils for generations. Whether used for fine art drawing, architectural rendering, comic inking underlays, or classroom instruction, Kimberly pencils are prized for their reliability and archival-quality graphite that resists smudging better than typical low-cost pencils. Many professional illustrators keep a full set on hand specifically because the tonal jumps between grades are predictable and repeatable, making them a dependable staple in any serious drawing kit.

Specifications

Degree Range

9H to 6B

Core Material

Graphite

Casing Wood

California incense cedar

Length

7.5 inches

Country of Origin

USA

What reviewers say

MMarissa Coyle2024-02-14★★★★★

My go-to sketching pencil

I've tried countless graphite brands and Kimberly still gives me the smoothest gradients. The degree jumps are predictable, which makes shading portraits so much easier.

DDevon Achebe2023-11-02★★★★★

Great for architectural drafting

The harder grades keep a fine point through long drafting sessions. Lines stay crisp and clean, no smudging issues.

PPriya Nathaniel2024-05-19★★★★★

Excellent quality, minor gripe

Beautiful smooth graphite and the wood sharpens perfectly. Only wish the softer grades lasted a bit longer between sharpenings.

TTomas Reyes2023-09-28★★★★★

Professional-grade results

These pencils elevated my illustration work immediately. The blending and layering control is unmatched compared to cheaper sets.