Ramos 1

The Pencil

Litzy Ramos

ARTH 205

Professor Maddox

September 02, 2021

As I pick up my number two wooden pencil, a color of mustard yellow reflects into my

eye. This color is not a typical hue of yellow. It resembles a cheesy-like tone. This color gives

me nostalgia. It reminds me of my childhood bus I rode to school. Mustard yellow is my

grandmother’s favorite color. Growing up, she always told me everything needs a pop of yellow.

Many times people tell me that the color yellow symbolizes happiness. Personally I find

this ironic because my primary usage of this pencil is used for school work. However, I believe

that everyone has a different understanding of happiness. My color choice of happiness is green,

which happens to be engraved into the pencil. The lettering on my pencil represents the

description and brand of the pencil. A dash of green is all it takes to draw my attention to this

pencil. The cylindrical shape at the very top of the pencil is just the right shade of pink because it

compliments the green engravement. Carefully looking at the colors, I realize that it is quite a

satisfying combination of colors. The tip of the pencil points downwards, which indicates that it

is sharp without even feeling its touch.

Structurally, this pencil feels durable and well composed. The touch resembles a smooth

wood with the layer of a pearly shiny gloss. This pencil is definitely well polished and it reminds

me of a freshly faux leather polished shoe. As I begin to twist the pencil on my hand, the sides

give me a sense of an octagon on its sides. The green stem towards the top of the pencil, feels

like a solidified aluminum foil. The eraser feels extremely soft. It feels powdery just like the

outside coating on a piece of gum. The pencil banging on the table sounds like a woodpecker

pecking his days away.

Although I certainly did not snap this pencil in half, I know from previous experiences

that it resembles the evident sound of stepping on a crisp twig on an autumn afternoon. The scent

of the splintered wood and metallic graphite is just extremely natural in its own ways. It smells
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like freshly sharpened wood on a rainy day. Its natural components are like a citrusy aura. My

first impression of the pencil was that it created a dark bold color onto my blank sheet of paper.

Not thinking much of the pencil, I continued to use it without much thought or knowledge being

put into it throughout the span of my school years. No one really ever tells us as young kids to

think about things we use in our everyday lives.

The pencil had so much practical use to me throughout the years of life. Without using

my pencil, I would have not learned as much as what I know today. My education would have

practically been limited. A lot of communication came through writing with the pencil. I grew up

learning two languages and much of my communication was learned through letters which

essentially convey all shapes and sizes of lines.

Sooner or later, more forms of the pencil were used, such as the mechanical pencil. This

pencil still had the same, if not more, practical use as the wooden pencil did. The pencil has

stuck with me throughout my life and will continue to for as long as I plan on communicating.

The pencil has endless possibilities of art and communication. Symbolism is one key form of this

process.

I found this pencil to be extremely unique and important. It made me realize and come to

a conclusion that so much and more could be done with one single pencil. I would have never

given a pencil a second thought if it was not for carefully inspecting and analyzing it. Not only

can it create beautiful artwork, but it could also portray many different thoughts, emotions, and

feelings. So much could be portrayed through different types of lines. Whether the lines are

squiggly, straight, curvaceous, linear, vertical, horizontal, zigzag, and many variations of more,

they can still portray further thoughts. Its length is the perfect size for the ways it is used.

Sharpening it renews its ability to write and communicate. It is the most convenient form of
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communication because it is portable. Erasing the graphite also gives you new space and

appreciation of this form of communication. One can express their very own style and

originality. I consider it an artist’s brush. It leaves behind a solidified trail of material that sticks

onto the paper which is also considered the canvas. One can compare the pencil to the pen,

however, they are not the same because the pen dispenses ink. The pen is not erasable in

comparison to the pencil. It creates ranges of values such as light to dark. These techniques were

used all the way back to cave art, which included countering.

Writing in a pencil takes me back to my roots. It makes me feel more down to Earth.

Pencils are made up of more natural materials which brings me back to the simplicity of life. I

will now value pencils more deeply now that I have concluded its meaning and purpose in life.

Check-list Style Grading Rubric

Writing Style

clarity

coherence

stronger unity

correct paragraph spacing

careful proof reading

proper syntax, spelling, punctuation

logic

citation of sources
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citation of sources in the body of the text

works cited page

stipulated minimum number of pages

The number of points or fractions of points deducted depends on the extent of

each problem. For example, two or three misspellings or mechanical errors that

do not distract from the clarity, flow, logic and accuracy of the writing will

usually not incur a deduction of points or fractions of points. Issues of citation

and number of pages are more serious and will be assessed with less

granularity (-1 to -15 pts.).

Content

: (The number of features will vary in accordance with the work being

analyzed. Actual understanding of what these terms mean and how to apply

them is required for full credit. Descriptions of each applicable feature as

manifested in the work will be given full credit if thorough, detailed and

accurate. Cursory, superficial, partial, or shallow description will reduce scores

in accordance with the degree of the shortfall.

the way the composition is organized

establishment of movement

directionality

balance

rhythm

orientation
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unity

focal point

framing

modeling of form

the way textures have been created

light source

the way the interplay of light and dark has been created

anchoring features (triangle, X)

the construction of space

perspective (atmospheric, intuited, linear)

affective features

construction of character through formal features