Cretacolor Monolith Graphite Pencils offer artists the versatility of pure graphite in a woodless pencil design. Made almost entirely of graphite and protected by a thin layer of varnish, Monolith pencils provide exceptional coverage, rich tonal values, and the freedom to create both precise details and broad expressive shading with a single tool.
Unlike traditional wood-cased pencils, Monolith pencils expose far more graphite to the paper, allowing artists to switch effortlessly between fine line work and large tonal passages simply by changing the angle of the pencil. Use the sharpened tip for detailed drawing or the side of the pencil for bold shading, backgrounds, and dramatic value transitions.
The water-soluble Monolith Graphite grades offer additional creative possibilities, allowing artists to activate graphite with water and create smooth washes and atmospheric effects.
Ideal for drawing, sketching, life studies, illustration, mixed media, and expressive graphite techniques.
Features
- Made from nearly pure graphite
- Woodless design for maximum graphite coverage
- Thin protective varnish coating
- Creates both fine lines and broad shading
- Rich tonal range and smooth blending
- Excellent for expressive mark-making
- Available in traditional and water-soluble options
- Suitable for detailed and large-scale work
Available Grades
Ideal For
- Drawing and sketching
- Figure drawing and life studies
- Tonal rendering
- Expressive shading
- Mixed media artwork
- Illustration
- Graphite wash techniques (water-soluble versions)
Why Artists Love Monolith
- More usable graphite than traditional pencils
- Broad side shading and detail work from the same pencil
- Smooth, rich graphite laydown
- Weighty, comfortable feel in hand
- Excellent blending and value control
Popular Techniques
- Broad tonal shading
- Gesture drawing
- Atmospheric backgrounds
- Fine detail rendering
- Graphite wash effects (water-soluble grades)
- Mixed media layering
