It’s not clear when the first colored pencils came about, according to Staedtler founder Johann Sebastian Staedtler invented a colored oil pastel pencil in 1834. The early 20th century saw companies like Faber Castell, Caran D’ache & Berol producing more & more. Today they are being used by artisans everywhere to create their works of art with several different types available suitable for children & adults on whatever level. If you would like to know more about different types of colored pencils then check out our Ultimate Pencil Brands Guide.
Pencil Guides
3 Popular Pencil Sharpeners to Help Make Your Point
Despite living in a world full of gadgets, people still need pencil sharpeners. The good old pencil sharpener has been …
In Case You Need To Know How To Sharpen Pencils
Here’s a funny little item that popped up recently in the New Yorker: A book by David Rees on, and we’re not making this up, how to sharpen pencils.
It’s more humor book than actual instructions, but it does have a couple of interesting tips, including how to use a pocket knife to sharpen your pencil and the pros and cons of using sandpaper. Also, oddly, a brief bit on wines that taste like pencils.
As described in the New Yorker piece, Rees actually shot a tongue-in-cheek commercial for his book spoofing late night infomericals and gimmicky Ginsu knife-style commercials. It stars New Yorker copy editor Mary Norris, who frequently writes about pencils, and is playing on VH1, E!, and Comedy Central, among others.
What to do With Small Pencils
Anyone who has ever used a wooden pencil will know that over time as you use the pencil it becomes smaller and smaller. You then have to decide what to do with this small stubby pencil?
For many years I have been a fan of standard No. 2 (or HB in the UK) pencil as they always felt comfortable to hold and when you need a few moments of contemplation, spend some time with a sharpener. I have love of quality pencils like Faber-Castell and Rhodia but I am equally at home with the office version from Staples.