Ok let's give this another try,... and the winner of the Giveaway is...

Since the first winner did not claim the Sketching Kit/Cartoon Portrait Giveaway prize within the time allowed, we have to draw another name from the pool of 37 entries:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

34 

Timestamp: 2011-09-01 05:01:37 UTC

Which would make the winner: MatthiasCongratulations!

Neko Heavy Industries Custom Sketchbook and Resident Evil Sketchbook Review

Joshua from Neko Heavy Industries just sent me these fine handmade sketchbook samples to review. Quite impressed with his ability to figure out what might suit me best just from a couple e-mail exchanges. Yup, this massive 10" X 7"X 1 3/8" Chemistry sketchbook was custom made to meet my preferences and multimedia sketching needs with four different types of paper stock. It features a strong elastic loop to keep it tightly closed when not in-use and removable sheets. The subject matter on its front hard cover appropriately reflects my scientific background. The back cover interior featuring the periodic table brings back fond memories of all-nighters and lab classes back in college. These recycled old textbook hard covers are secured with three steel loops with ball and socket closure joints.
They are easy enough to open and close to remove a given sketch for scanning or repositioning the provided vinyl sheet that protects the paper below from marker bleed through. Actually to make the protective sheet easier to use like a shitajiki, I cut small wedge sections up to their holes so that the sheet could be quickly moved without taking the whole sketchbook apart. This sketchbook was loaded with 54 sheets of acid free smooth 28 lb paper stock, 30 sheets of 100 lb card stock, and 12 sheets of watercolor paper plus 2 bonus sheets of vintage Strathmore Aquarius paper. So with these four distinct support options, it should be able to accept a fairly wide range of sketching tools and watercolor washes.
To provide a clear visual indicator of the different functional sections of the sketchbook, I used my trusty rotary paper cutter and standard 3-hole puncher to fashion the colored card stock dividers shown above.
Let's take a closer look at the performance of the 28 lb smooth sketching paper with some pencil test doodles. Leadholders loaded with F and 7B graphite leads and a Mitsubishi Uni 4B pencil yielded a nice graduation of values and laid down rich dark marks on this support.
These additional graphite and watersoluble pencil sample doodles proved that the 28 lb paper could handle even some light washes and readily accepted different graphite grades (from the everyday Paper Mate Classic No. 2 HB pencil to the premium Japanese and German art pencils). The erasability test showed that F and 2B graphite test swatches on the smooth paper erased easily and completely.
The ink test doodles were drawn with a Faber Castell TGS-1 0.7 mm technical pen and a Sakura Pigma Sensei 0.6 mm drawing pen. Both pens glided effortlessly on the smooth paper surface which minimizes wear and tear on the pen nibs. Neither bled through the paper, but the inked images remained clearly visible through the back of the sheet. Not a big issue for me since I usually only work on one side of the paper anyway.
The Prismacolor Art Stix color chart showed that the sketching paper could even take some wax-based colored pencil, but the coverage was a bit uneven given its lack of "tooth".
Chartpak AD markers worked quite well on this paper laying down uniform flat colors, but always make sure to protect the sheets below since their xylene-based inks bled right through the page. A selection of 36 Copic Sketch markers and Multiliner SP pens were used to draw the color chart above. The ink from Multiliner pens did not go through the paper, but the alcohol-based inks from the Copic Sketch markers did bleed through.
The one thing I did not like about this sketchbook design was that the interior corners on the light weight 28 lb sketching paper were prone to get caught and get bent when turning the pages. Found that the heavier watercolor paper and card stock sheets were easier to flip without damage than the thinner 28 lb sheets. Thus once I am done filling them, I will probably remove them and replace them with bristol or some other heavier stock. Given their standard 3-hole perforations, the completed sketch pages could easily be filed away in a regular 3-ring binder. Thus you can appreciate the versatility of the Neko Heavy Industries custom sketchbook concept: not only do you get to express your individuality to the world by your choice of salvaged hardbound book covers, but you also get to choose exactly the type and weight of paper stock (Options listed on the cover band: paper 28#, Card Stock available in 60#, 80#, and 100#) you prefer to work with. Each sketchbook is assigned a unique reorder number, so that refill pages can be ordered as needed. I'm thinking that a sketchbook with smooth bristol, vellum bristol, and cold-press Arches/Fabriano/Nujabi watercolor sheets might just make for a pretty efficient multimedia travel sketchbook.
For something lighter and easier to carry around: this compact 8" X 5.5" field sketchbook with rounded corners would make a nice addition to a daily sketching kit. It features an impeccable coil binding job and a cool salvaged movie placeholder card cover. It is loaded with recycled 28# smooth paper, can lie open flat, and can fold on itself without the spiral coil binding coming undone in the edges. Since this initial review has gotten pretty long already, we will save the watercolor and doodle tests on the heavier card stock and field sketchbook for another post. These unique sketchbooks handmade in the USA are certainly worth trying, and thanks again Joshua for allowing me the opportunity to review them. For another thorough sketchbook review go visit the Pencil Revolution.

Sketching Kit/Cartoon Portrait Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everybody that entered this giveaway.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

20 

Timestamp: 2011-08-29 05:30:56 UTC

Thus the winning comment is:

"Ashley said...

I like to use a Pilot 2020 mechanical pencil for random sketching.

August 27, 2011 5:27 AM"

Congratulations Ashley! if you are located in the USA, please e-mail me your shipping address within 72 hours (my e-mail is listed under the Blogger profile) so that I may send you the prize tin. If you are an overseas follower, please e-mail me a couple of reference pictures for your cartoon portrait.

UPDATE: Ok, It has been almost 72 hours and Ashley has yet to claim her prize. If we do not hear from her by midnight, we'll use random.org again to find another winner.

A.W. Faber Castell TK 9500 Loctite 2 mm leadholder spotlight

Latest addition to my A.W. Faber Castell leadholder collection: this dark blue TK 9500 Loctite was probably produced in the 1980s, for I could not find the exact same match featured in the Leadholder Museum. Judging from similar E-bay offerings, this drafting pencil was also available in classic green, yellow, and red. Made in Germany. The pocket clip is removable if you find it obtrusive. Measuring just over 5.25" (134 mm with the lead fully retracted), the TK 9500 Loctite is the most compact from the bunch and easiest to carry in a pocket. Recommended as a fine sketching tool.

Ok I think is time for a Sketching Kit/Cartoon Portrait Giveaway!

Let's see how many of you are reading this blog this week. Since most of you probably visit this blog due to our common interest in stationery or art supplies, I decided to fill one of my vintage Faber Castell pencil tins with some random goodies that you might enjoy adding to your personal sketching kits. Just leave a comment to this post indicating you current favorite sketching tool from now until this coming Sunday August 28th 11:59 Eastern Standard Time (EST). One comment per person please. The winner will be selected with random.org and announced the following Monday morning. The winner will then have 72 hours to send me his or her maling address to receive the prize (my e-mail is listed under my Blogger profile) . Giveaway open to readers within the US only. Sorry international readers, for I have serious reservations that the package might not make it to you safely through customs and different postal services. But I am not leaving you out of the fun completely, if an international reader enters and wins this giveaway I will draw him or her a custom cartoon portrait that could be sent digitally anywhere in the world. Good luck and thanks for visiting my blog!
UPDATE: Wow! it is really fascinating to learn the variety of sketching tools currently preferred by the readers that entered the giveaway thus far. Here is a sneak peek at the prize tin and partial view of its contents. As you can see they are mostly graphite tools of different grades from across time and space with a mystery item from the distant past still hidden under the top layer of pencils.

Another source for Worther Shorty 3.15 mm Clutch pencils and refills

Long time readers might recognize one of my favorite sketching tools in the picture above. This package from the Ipenstore arrived today. The shipment included three different color versions of the Worther Shorty 3.15 mm clutch pencil and some tubes with spare 7B graphite, red leads, and a blue ballpoint refill. It is nice to have the option of turning such a portable sketching leadholder into a ballpoint pen with this new refill. While not as smooth as a gel pen, it works adequately for some light writing duty or jotting down a quick note. With its compact dimensions and smooth reliable performance, the Worther Shorty makes for a great choice as a single field sketching tool. I have added this seller's link to the list of online retailers that have satisfactorily fulfilled an order in a timely manner on the right column of this blog.

A.W. Faber Castell 9000 Vintage Pencil Tins Spotlight

While I have been using several empty vintage Faber Castell pencil tins to store a good deal of my leadholder and wood pencil collection for a while now, I just recently acquired a few A.W. Faber Castell 9000 tins with all of their original paper wrapping inserts and most of their original pencils (8H, 2B, 3B, and 4B). Some were unsharpened, and some were factory-sharpened. In the case of the latter, it was interesting to see the cushioning pillow of multiple layers of thin paper and cardboard divider used to protect the pencil points against breakage and prevent them from rolling within the tin during transport. Clear evidence that these pencils were regarded as a premium item and accorded the proper respect.
The Castell drawing pencil was varnished green from its introduction with some slight variations in its markings and tin packaging throughout the past century. Just for a few years after WWII the graphite lead was imported from Germany, and the pencils were manufactured in the USA. Thus probably most vintage pencils you might come across would have been made in Germany. The Faber Castell 9000 has been the company's flagship drawing pencil for over a century already, for it celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005.
Quick test doodle on a Maruman Croquis sketchbook confirmed that all these vintage pencils were still in perfect working condition. Highly recommend these vintage sets since properly stored pencils will make for excellent sketching tools regardless of their age, and their sleek sturdy storage tins could be used for storing a compact sketching kit or other spare art materials.

C.H. Hanson Sure-Point Finish Pencil Review

Another pencil find at a hardware store, browsing through Lowe's I came across this tube of C.H. Hanson Sure-Point Finish Pencils and 02001 sharpener that caught my eye near the registers. In what is a rarity these days, these clear varnished pencils were manufactured in the USA. The barrel markings proclaimed that this company has been manufacturing tools for generations since 1866. The yellow plastic sharpener hails from China, and it is designed to be used manually or attached to a power drill. Not too sure about using a power tool to sharpen a single pencil, so I decided to sharpen it by hand and found it quite efficient. The blade cut the wood effortlessly yielding a single continuous shaving. The graphite felt quite smooth while leaving nice dark marks on the paper like a B or 2B grade lead, so this pencil would make a fine economy sketching tool in a pinch. Its white eraser worked almost as well as my Sakura block eraser in removing most of the test swatch in the Maruman Croquis sketchbook. Worth trying.

Black Stad One-Push Wooden Pencil Holder Spotlight

Finally found it on-stock and got a black Stad One-Push Wooden Pencil Holder from Jet Pens. For my full video review, you could check out the blog entry for the pink version. The main thing I can glean from the Japanese instructions on the back of its card, is that it can hold pencil stubs as small as 3/4" (15 mm) long. It features a small white eraser under the silver push button suitable for emergency corrections.
If you enjoy premium wooden pencils for sketching or writing, you might want to get one of these pencil extenders so you can get the most mileage out of them. Naturally you could also use the holder as a point protector by turning the pencil and inserting it point first into the holder as shown above. Recommended sketching kit accessory.

Blast from the past 2.0: L&C Hardtmuth Koh-I-Noor 1511 Drawing Lead Holder

Another vintage addition from Ebay for the collection: the L&C Hardtmuth Koh-I-Noor 1511 that would be my first wooden barrel leadholder with a stainless-steel nose and normal twist-lock clutch mechanism. Made in the USA back in the 1940s when they sold for a buck each. This auction lot included a pack of Koh-I-Noor 2200 2B leads that are actually 2.5 mm in diameter and did not fit in the 1511 barrel. Luckily one of the leads was a B lead that measures the conventional 2 mm in width and was a perfect fit.
This lightweight leadholder has the closest look to the conventional yellow wooden pencil #2 with its balance center weighing closer to the tip. Another highlight for the collection that probably will not see much active duty in the field. With its wooden barrel, I would worry about breakage or scratching off its barrel markings. I have often seen missing wood chips near the plastic end cap in similar pencils offered up for auction. Thus I plan to limit its use to the controlled environment of my studio.

Blast from the past: EagleTurquoise 3375 Drawing Lead Holder

Super happy with this recent E-bay find: the EagleTurquoise 3375 Drawing Lead Holder which happens to be the first reverse twist lock clutch type leadholder to be added to my collection. Manufactured in the USA between 1939 and 1954 according to the Leadholder Museum, it features 2 sturdy jaws of chrome plated machined brass that clutch the lead securely with a slight twist of its knurled grip. Another unique feature is the design of its patented degree indicator. Six lead degrees (H through 6H) are actually inscribed in a hexagonal metal ring, and the chosen grade is displayed through a rectangular opening in the metal end cap. Originally a second indicator ring with softer lead grades was included with each leadholder. Its aluminum barrel feels quite strong, and I would not think twice about using this vintage drafting pencil in my regular sketching kit. With its slender profile, the lead can easily be sharpened with a Koh-I-Noor precision lead pointer. This pencil was bundled with a generous supply of drawing leads, and it even came within its original gold-foiled covered box with turquoise lettering and its instructions sheet. Interestingly the white metal end cap with rounded edges of the lead degree indicator assembly actually had its own function: "after erasures, the white cap will burnish the roughened paper to a smooth drawing surface". Perhaps a minute detail that we might not think much about in our digital age, or a sign of the poorer performance of erasing technology in the mid XX century. The included packages of Eagle Turquoise lead in this auction lot were H, 2H, and 3H. While their outer cardboard sleeves might not be in pristine condition, the wooden slat block and drawing leads themselves were in great shape and work just fine. So remember that vintage lead packaging might grow brittle and discolored with the passage of time, but do not hesitate to use the graphite drawing leads themselves since they pretty much last forever. Highly recommended addition to a leadholder collection.

Chartpak AD Markers Test-drive

While I have relied on a couple of Chartpak 25-Slot Empty Marker Caddies to store my spare Prismacolor markers for years, never really got around using the Chartpak AD markers themselves all that much. After trying out a black one that I got as a sample during a products expo long ago, I found its xylene solvent too strong for working in enclosed spaces. It performed well enough as a design marker, but its smell was just too distracting and unpleasant. Thus it was just by chance that I came across these AD markers in the United Arts Council recycling room and got to try them once more.
After making a quick color chart and this sample doodle on 110 lb card stock, found their rectangular juicy chisel nibs to be quite effective for making thin to thick strokes and coloring swatches quickly. The colors blended quite nicely, but the inks bled right through the thick paper. I think I will stick to Copic and Prismacolor markers for working indoors, and will save these Chartpak AD markers for coloring cartoon portraits at caricature events held outdoors or with excellent ventilation. They are a fine product manufactured in the USA, so I would encourage you to try and use them if you can get past the smell or count with effective ventilation or strong exhaust fan in your studio (at the very least crack open a window if weather permits).

Trying out the Palomino Blackwing 602

Just got a box of the new Palomino Blackwing 602 pencils and pack of 10 spare white refill erasers. They are fine stationery products manufactured in Japan for California Republic. I really like the gunmetal varnish on the barrels of the Blackwing 602 pencils. Initially I tried using a KUM long point sharpener, but the 602 harder lead kept breaking inside it. So I had to switch to my Alvin brass bullet and my crank sharpener to finish sharpening it and conduct my review doodle and erasability tests.
With their unique ferrule and generously-sized rectangular erasers, these premium wooden pencils are a great-looking choice for sketching. Their graphite cores were both quite smooth on regular printer paper and on white card stock. Perhaps they contain some wax-like lubricant in their lead formulation that make them so smooth or their graphite and clay components have been ground so finely that the resulting lead offers no resistance and just glides effortlessly on the paper. Their rich dark marks were also fairly smudge resistant, so I would consider them to be in the same league as the Tombow Mono and Mitsubishi Uni graphite pencils. The white and black erasers performed adequately, but neither one removed the darkest marks completely with regular pressure. The original Palomino Blackwing features a softer lead ( like your average B grade) that wears down faster, so it is well suited for making broad dark strokes and quick shading. The Blackwing 602 still makes fairly dark marks, but sports a stronger lead that retains its sharp point longer like your average F grade lead. I would choose the latter for sketches and drawings that rely on a stronger emphasis on their linear quality. Recommended addition to a premium graphite pencil collection. Budding artists are also likely to enjoy the Blackwing 602 as a nice sketching pencil.

E+M Workman 916 Pocket Clutch Lead Holder Spotlight

Thanks George for bringing this neat sketching item from the Jet Pens new arrivals list to my attention. While I had originally meant to wait until we moved to add anything else to my collection of sketching tools, I just did not want to pass up the opportunity to get this red 5.5 mm E+M Workman Pocket Clutch Lead Holder after having passed on it a few years back in a specialty gifts store in downtown Toronto.This pocket leadholder is quite comfortable and easy to spot with its bright red barrel. It also accepts 5.6 mm Cretacolor drawing leads, so it can be loaded with softer 4B and 6B for more expressive sketching or the more smudge-resistant Nero and Sanguine oil leads for cleaner handling. Its short 10 cm barrel makes it easy to carry on any pocket to sketch anywhere. Since it lacks a built-in lead pointer make sure you to pick one of the available 5.5 mm lead sharpeners to go with it to restore its sharp point. Great addition to any leadholder collection. Its compact shape also make it easy to handle for kid artists.