Charles Jensen wrote: When i draw, I tend to smear graphite all over the place..does anyone else have this problem? Any way to prevent it?

Just slide a clean sheet of paper between your hand/forearm and your drawing surface, and you should avoid smearing.  Also, try using a better quality, harder grade of lead.  2H smears less than B, for example.

I like Mars Lumograph leads; they don't smear or break easily.

Charles Jensen wrote:  I have experimented with this method a little bit and I found it kind of a pain because it gets in the way of what you are working on. It seems kind of counter-productive. Maybe a thin clear plastic sheet would be less obtrusive?

You can do that, too.  I've used thin tracing paper before, or custom-shaped friskets to cover my hand while leaving the drawing surface exposed as much as possible.  It's kind of one of those things where whatever works for the situation you are in, is what's best to use.

Sometimes rotating the drawing helps, too.

Photoshop piece I'm working on. The cover to a collection of solo Beatles songs

heres my version of ol cap. sharpied up.