When write makes might - What's New? - Faber-Castell USA Portfolio Bags - Product/Service Evaluation

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), March, 2004

Since we once seriously entertained artistic aspirations before the writing and editing bug overwhelmed us, imagine our excitement when Faber-Castell USA, Cleveland, Ohio, came out with a new series of Portfolio Bags, containing "materials for a variety of art experiences."

The Drawing & Sketching Set contains six graphite pencils (made of finely ground clay and graphite with six degrees of lead hardness); six monochrome watercolor pencils (can be used dry or wet for wash effects); two India ink artist pencils (finepoint and brush, they are acid-free, archival, and smudge- and water-proof); three sticks of pure compressed charcoal (soot and charcoal allow for deep black strokes); finepoint artist brush; stainless steel pencil sharpener; and dust-tree eraser.

The Art Portfolio Set, meanwhile, has six lightfast drawing pencils in varying degrees of hardness and darkness for all drawing techniques; six watercolor pencils that can be used wet for watercolor effects or dry for colored pencil drawings; 12 soft pastels in rich, opaque colors that are smooth and easy to smudge and blend; and an 8" x 10" pad of acid-free art paper.

The Watercolor Pencil Set, besides six graphite drawing utensils, has 24 artist watercolor pencils in a dizzying array of hues.

Each set retails for $34.99 and comes with a handled portfolio bag complete with tips and techniques on cross-hatching; stippling; pastel applications; charcoal smudges and rubs; ink pen wash; pencil shading; etc.

Moreover, the company's popular Pitt Artist Pens now are available in 24 colors (in addition to the current black, sepia, and sanguine), making layouts, plans, drawings, lettering, sketches (actually, illustrations of all kinds) that much more fun to execute. The highly pigmented India ink, which is a great medium to work in, is quick-drying and waterproof. Each six-pen set--Basic, Terra, Landscape, and (our favorite) Shades of Grey--is $12.95. Or get a set of all 24 for $59.95

Faber-Castell products can be found wherever fine writing instruments, professional art supplies, creative activity kits, and coloring and drawing products are sold.