Blending stumps are an invaluable tool for most artists. These simple stumps of tightly rolled paper will allow you to blend charcoal or graphite. You can blend different values, smudge the material, shade light values, or deepen the dark values in your drawings.

What do you use blending stumps for?

A blending stump or paper stump is a stick of tightly rolled up soft paper with 2 pointed ends. They are used to blend, smear or smudge graphite, charcoal or similar mediums.

Is it cheating to use a blending stump?

Are blending stumps cheating? they are very easy to use, and quite effective. ... Some people use blending stumps as a crutch for their poor pencil control. Blending stumps can only be effective if you have enough pencil control to produce a smooth gradient.