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 […]
I’ve written quite a few reviews of pencils where I’ve been convinced I’ve found the perfect pocket pencil. They’ve been almost perfect for my needs but have lacked a certain something. The Kaweco Brass Sketch Up is a wonderful and very beautiful object but, try as I might (and I have tried for quite some […]
The Forest Choice is a wooden pencil available in #2 (HB) grade. It comes with an eraser and is available in boxes of 12 for about $3. The pencil is made from incense cedar and lays claim to being the first FSC-certified pencil. The barrel is lacquered and is simply branded. There’s no barcode but […]
The Staedtler Mars Lumograph is a wooden pencil available in grades from 8B to 6H. They cost about £1 each but at the time of writing Cult Pens are selling a sketching kit with six pencils, a sharpener and an eraser for £4.50, which is half price. (Cult Pens are not sponsoring this post. I […]
The Palomino Golden Bear is a wooden pencil available in HB/#2 with blue or orange barrels. A dozen will cost you about $3. The barrel is a sharpish hexagonal cross section and I find it a little uncomfortable to hold. I realise though that I’m a bit of a wimp whe it comes to holding […]