The Palomino Prospector is a wooden pencil that costs just $1.95 a dozen ($2.25 for the green ones). It’s made from basswood, comes only as HB and is available in a ‘natural’ or a green finish. The Prospector looks good. There is minimal branding and the green in particular has a simple elegance, reminiscent of […]
When I was little my Grandad and I made a fishing rod from bamboo. We put a lot of work into it, straightening the bamboo, hand winding the loops for the line and putting on layer after layer of varnish. It looked beautiful and holds a special place in my heart, one of the many […]
The Staedtler Noris is a wooden pencil available with an eraser in HB or without an eraser in grades from 2B to 2H. It costs a little under 60p. These pencils can be found absolutely everywhere in the UK. Along with the slightly more expensive Tradition they are available in many high street shops and […]
Staedtler make some of my favourite drawing products. The Mars Technico 780c, the 925 25, the 308 Pigment Liner, Tradition and the Mars Lumograph pencil are all fantastic products and excellent value. Does the Graphite 779, a budget (about £4) mechanical pencil available in a few different colours (red, blue, black) and a couple of […]
A little while ago a reader, Jennifer (who makes rather wonderful art) asked if I’d tried water-soluble graphite pencils. I’d been meaning to but hadn’t got around to it. Then, by a strange coincidence, I picked up a couple of new (to me) Caran d’Ache pencils at a local art supplies shop. One of these […]