Sunday, June 26, 2011

In a process.

I got my Blackwing 602 and started to use it trying to make it smaller so it will fit into my pencil case. Didn't finish this drawing yet.

10 comments:

Zoe, ontheroad said...

Is the pencil special feeling? So much written about it and its reintroduction.

Nikira said...

I never had the original Blackwing, so hard to compare, but it feels a bit harder than first Palomino Blackwing. I like how it sits in a hand, I like eraser, I bought bunch of replacement erasers. Palomino is a great maker, when I got my first orange Palomino I was amazed how smoothly pencil glides. All depends on what paper you use it. It does feels special.

Zoe, ontheroad said...

Thanks, Nikira. I love pencils but I think buying them by the dozen is more than I care to do right now. I do want to try one after seeing your work and hope I'll run into one here in rural America.

Nikira said...

I totally agree with you, I love to have one and unique. I gave some pencils as presents to some friends. Let me send you one too and you'll tell me what you think. Email me with the address where to send. nikiraa@gmail.com

Fabiana said...

So nice to see the progress of your artwork!

Never heard about this pencil before. Is it watersoluble or something like that? Never saw this brand here in Brazil, now I'm curious.
How it is compared to the Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer pencils? Something of this kind or different? I have few references since I live in Brazil and I cannot find many brands in the art store... but I cannot complain, they try to get lots of good international brands, for artist's sake. :)

Thank you for sharing it, Ira! :)

Nikira said...

Fabiana, Blackwing is graphite pencil, replicating famous Eberhard Faber Blackwing 602. It feels like HB I think. Albrecht Durer is the best in watersoluble pencils, according to Cathy Johnson (and she is the Master), I have only 2 of them. One day I will get a set. A bit later may be I can send you one Blackwing to try, I like their shape and smooth line.

Kevin said...

I love your work, you "see" as an artist and that is a rare gift. I love the Palomino Blackwing (equates to a 4B)and the Palomino Blackwing 602 (which is about a 2 1/2B). They sharpen beautifully with long curls, the quality of the cedarwood is superb. Don't sharpen them with a KUM Automatic Long Point 2 stage sharpener - the point breaks in the second stage of sharpening, even if you are very gentle.

Nikira said...

Thank you very much Kevin, I really appreciate your kind words. Tell me, please, what would you use to sharpen Blackwing? I used Palomino Kum Long Point, it was pretty gentle. Palomino Blackwing and Palomino Blackwing 602 behaves completely different on different paper, on Hand*book and Brown book it feels much harder, but on Moleskine paper it feels as soft as you said. Interesting.

Kevin said...

Nikira, for the Palomino Blackwing and The PB 602 I would use the Classroom Friendly Desktop Sharpener which produces a lovely long point. It does leave "bite marks" on the pencil though, which I don't like. Outdoors is more problematic, but I have a Derwent three hole sharpener, one hole is for long point and this sharpener produces longer and better points than the KUM Palomino. Unfortunately it appears these sharpeners are only sold in SE Asia and Australia/NZ. I tend to use a Rotring 500 0.35mm and a Pentel P209 0.9mm mechanical pencil for convenience outside. Your FC Perfect Pencil is another outdoor solution although the sharpener on my plastic Perfect Pencils doesn't work quite as well as others have reported. I only wish my work was even half your standard - your economy of line is just adorable.

Nikira said...

Kevin, thank you very much for information. I use to have desktop sharpener, but it is too old now and no good.
I sharpen pencils at home and take with me and not sharpening it on the way. I take few.
I use my antique mechanical pencils: triangle, propelled, advertising or Mordan. It gives me special feeling that 100 years old pencil went through so many hands and keep working, connecting me with this people I never met.
SInce we started conversation I become a happy owner of real Ebernard Faber Blackwing, happened by accident, and now I am trying to get brave to sharpen it and start using. I will post it soon.