Artist Drawing Pencils range from 9B - 9H . 9B is the softest lead producing the darkest thickest line. 9H is the hardest lead producing the lightest thinest line. 2H is your old favorite from school HB is my all purpose favorite for general figure drawing. These pencils are brand named artist pencils, culled from our diverse stock of Sanford Turquoise, Sanford Design, CreataColor and others, All high quality, artist pencils.