Given its compact size and comfortable feel, the
Worther Shorty pencil continues to be one of my favorite field sketching tools. Given its short length it can fit in any pocket comfortably, and you are far less likely to stab yourself with it (which I have done a couple of times while carrying regular size 2 mm Staedtler Mars Technico leadholders in my cargo pants pockets). Its 3.15 mm graphite lead resists breakage and handles well under the pressure of performing multiple speed sketches at cartooning events. While it does not require frequent sharpening so long as I remember to keep rotating it, I always have a
KUM lead pointer in my
sketching kit should I need a razor sharp point to render some fine details. The main drawback with the
Worther Shorty might be that its refills can be a tad difficult to
find, but luckily it can also use
Lamy M43 Scribble refills.
Quick sketches of a daytime talk show lady and some cartoon impressions of patients in the radiology waiting room.
Another random doodle while waiting at the doctor's office.
The
7B lead makes it fairly easy to get rich dark areas quickly.
Click on the picture above for a short video of the
Worther Shorty pencil in action. Not really happy with the poor viewing quality that resulted from having to convert the original mov file to mpeg4 with the
Any Video Converter application just to get
YouTube to upload the file. I can not understand why the Quicktime.mov files taken with my digital camera are no longer compatible with the
YouTube upload formats since the first batch of test videos uploaded without any problems a couple of days ago. Going to have to do a few more tests or switch my SD cards again to the first card that recorded usable clips.
Given its compact size and comfortable feel, the Worther Shorty pencil continues to be one of my favorite field sketching tools. Given its short length it can fit in any pocket comfortably, and you are far less likely to stab yourself with it (which I have done a couple of times while carrying regular size 2 mm Staedtler Mars Technico leadholders in my cargo pants pockets). Its 3.15 mm graphite lead resists breakage and handles well under the pressure of performing multiple speed sketches at cartooning events. While it does not require frequent sharpening so long as I remember to keep rotating it, I always have a KUM lead pointer in my sketching kit should I need a razor sharp point to render some fine details. The main drawback with the Worther Shorty might be that its refills can be a tad difficult to find, but luckily it can also use Lamy M43 Scribble refills.
Quick sketches of a daytime talk show lady and some cartoon impressions of patients in the radiology waiting room.
Another random doodle while waiting at the doctor's office.
The 7B lead makes it fairly easy to get rich dark areas quickly.
Posts
15 comments:
I currently have a Koh-I-Noor Hardmouth Versatil (not spelled "Versatile") same-size lead holder in my inventory. It’s about four and a quarter inches long, and the sharpener is built into the plunger, but I think the sharpener you are using is considerably more efficacious than the one the holder comes with.
I’m a pretty big fan of the Lamy Scribble. I first heard about it a few years ago, and haven’t detected any anomalies. I’m currently waiting for my watercolor pencils to arrive (delayed by storms in the Northeast), as well as two 60ct. tins of Faber Castell Pitt-Pastel Pencils. Also, Alberto, I purchased the Winsor & Newton Artists’ Water Colour Field Box that comes with 12 half pans and a diminutive brush. How do you feel about W & N’s water colors? Have you ever gotten a chance to look at this particular set?
Take care and as always excellent post:0)
Seems like you must have a pretty rare KIN Versatil leadholder, for Google only yielded info on the 2 mm and 5.6 mm versions after a quick search. As much as I like the Scribble feel and design, I tend to rely more on the Worther for field use given its lower replacement cost. I find Winsor & Newton artists watercolors to be quite reliable and fairly easy to replace given their widespread distribution in the US. I count a few of their half pans sets among my collection of watercolor boxes, for I seldom pass on them when I find them on clearance. I have checked out the Field Box set a couple of times while visiting stores, but it always seemed a tad overpriced by comparison. Also after picking up the Winsor & Newton Cotman Field Plus Watercolor Travel Set, I came to the realization that I really do not need a built-in water bottle in any of my kits given my reliance on waterbrushes. Yet I feel that the average user and beginner painter can do no wrong by picking up any of the Winsor & Newton half pan sets.
I agree with you, Alberto, in regards to the W & N Field Box set. It is indeed overpriced. I luckily purchased mine on Jerry's Artarama during a sale they were having this past holidays.
The Versatil I have in my inventory I purchased a year or two ago from Andrey's Pencils on eBay. He is based in Russia and was recommended to me by a very reliable source. Apparently, Andrey has numerous connections here in the US with architects, draftsmen, and other pencil enthusiasts. I have ordered from him on a number of occasions and never have I encounter an incident or an unpleasant moment. But now that you mentioned it, I will verify the diameter lead that landholder uses since I very seldom put it to use.
Take care my friend and it was nice of you to respond!
I got the W&N studio set with 24 Artists WC half pans on sale at Jerry's myself. Good to know that Andrey's Pencils on eBay is a reliable source should I ever feel the need to get a rare European item through him.
I could not help myself about the big chuckle I got about the Cargo Pants and the stabbing pain. I always have to hold Cargo Pants upside down and vigorously shake. Then an examination with hand to get everything out. Not mine-Sons. Jerry's artarama has your leads in stock but not the Worther Shorty pencil at this time. I have Cretacolor leads and holder. I have the W & N water color box. I love mine. How can you go wrong with W & N? There are of course many artist that swear by the 3 colors only and the Altoids mint boxes. After seeing all the trouble, I ran back to my W&N color box. I have a cloth lunch box: $5.00 on sale. It carries the Pencils, Pen and ink and W&N and a small sketchbook. Of course my carry bag wholes a larger sketchbook. I love all my water color brusher from the http://www.blueheronarts.com/ They are just cool brushes. Of course many use the Elmers Watercolor brushes. You can refill them.
Just love your reviews. Glad I found you through PenAddict.
Glad you enjoyed the reviews. Thanks for dropping by.
Hey alberto :) , i picked up a cretacolor 3.15mm lead holder today after reading your review. Pretty cheap too.
Anyway the link to the pointer was very helpful because i'm not sure if my local art supply shop stocks pointers, so it will come in handy if i need to order a pointer or two.
I haven't stress-tested the lead holder yet, but they look promising for laying down bigger areas of shading. Looking forward to it.
Enjoy your new pencil, and you might want to post a picture of it sometime. For I have yet not seen a Cretacolor 3.15 mm leadholder. The Three 3.15 mm kinds I have gathered so far are the Scribble, the Worther, and the e+m Holzprodukte Crayon Graffiti 1983 Pinhead leadholder. I usually include the Caran D'Ache Fixpencil 3 with this bunch, though the Fixpencil's specs make it precisely a 3.0 mm leadholder
Hey i need some help in choosing my lead pointer the problem is lead pointers are hard to come by over here where i am living and buying online is not an option. I just found out a store that can source some items and i told them to get the rotary lead pointer from Staedtler. I just want to make sure that its a good pick and would last long.
Lead pointers are not easy to find in most cities. The rotary lead pointer by Staedtler is a good choice for standard 2 mm leadholders like the Staedtler Mars Technico 780. If you have a 3.15 mm leadholder or a wider body leadholder, the rotary model would not work. Some Office Depot and Michael's stores also carry them in their drafting sections. It is fairly durable and works well. I just don't tend to use mine much, for I use most of my leadholders with a pencil grip for comfort that prevents them from fitting in the rotary model.
Thx ..sorry for not being specific abt the lead size it's for 2 mm...i was intending on buying it for the FC TK9400 a Koh-I-Noor 5219 and the staedtler technico 780c. i have been using sandpaper and the pointers in the cap of the KIN model and another that of a generic company but was quite messy, that's why i needed the change. Any way thx for the heads up.
That been the case, the rotary lead pointer tub would certainly be a cleaner and more efficient alternative. It will certainly work with the FC TK9400 and the 780. I do not have a KIN 5219, but if it's of similar size, it should work with it also. I've had my first German made Staedtler 502 leadpointer for years, and it still functions well. I have noticed that the current offerings are now been manufactured in China, and some of them do not seem to rotate as freely but still perform adequately.
Hello, nice article and video,
what is the name of blue versatile pencil at 4th picture it looks like very comfortable to use and i wish to buy one :)
Hello Saki, thank you for the comment. The blue leadhoder is actually the classic 2 mm Staedtler Mars Technico 780 (easily found at the drafting section of most office supplies stores) with the pocket clip removed and customized with a plastic pencil grip from Target.
Hello, B2-kun thank you for the answer i try to get one :)
have nice day..
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