This is similar to the way I work. Also, use erasers to work back into light. Clayboard is good of course, but a gessoed panel will do as well. Try charcoal next - it is not shiny like graphite, and the darks are much darker. Tip about charcoal: the powder does not work as well, it comes off too easy. A soft broad charcoal stick works good to just lay down some dark areas, then spray water and work it with your fingers. Another tip: use surgical gloves.
This is one of the pieces I uploaded: https://steemit.com/artzone/@thermoplastic/untitled-charcoal-1
For the signature: you can always add over top of fixative, then spray it again.
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Great tips, thank you very much! I do have some charcoal sticks waiting to be put to work, so this might be my next experiment. I love your drawing, some parts of it look like those images of microscopic creatures seen through the electron microscope. The dark shapes in the low right corner are my favourite part of it. I can't wait to try it!