March 2016

 

How many miles of pencil have you ground away over the years, trying to create a sharp point? All the way from Germany, the KUM Automatic Long Point Sharpener (pronounced “KOOM”) is here to fix that problem! Use the first sharpener to trim away the wood as needed, then use the second to hone the graphite to a fine point. Make your pencils last longer while still creating the sharp points that you need for detail work. 

Tombow Irojiten Colored Pencil

The Tombow Irojiten Colored Pencil features a firm point that gives you exceptional control. These professional- grade colored pencils are also great for layering. “Irojiten” is a Japanese expression that means “color dictionary”; full sets of these pencils are available from Tombow in elegant volumes. 

KOH-i-Noor Woodless Colored Pencil

Pick up your new KOH-i-Noor Woodless Colored Pencil and feel the weight in your hand. You’re holding a stick of pure color! Try experimenting with this one, coloring from the point or laying the edge against the page for a softer, wider application. 

Posca Paint Marker

Give the Posca Paint Marker a shake, press gently against the paper to start paint flow, and start laying down water-based paint with precision. We love the bold colors in this line and the level of control that the extra fine point provides. This marker can color over other paints, once they are dry. 

Liquitex Professional Paint Marker

It's time for an alternative kind of painting experience. The Liquitex Professional Paint Marker has a brilliant water-based color that dries permanently. This chubby marker is great for covering large-scale artwork, out- lining murals, and other mix media purposes. 

RENDR® Paper

Don’t hold back with that paint marker when trying out your RENDR® paper.It’s specially designed to handle wet media without bleeding through. But it’s also the perfect surface for your dry media – it loves your colored pencils as much as your markers! Now that you can draw and paint on both sides of the page, it’s like doubling the life of your sketchbook! 

February 2016

 

New marker alert! The Winsor & Newton ProMarker is a newly released, double- ended marker with the ability to write on ink-resistant surfaces such as glass, plastic, and wood. The high-quality pigments create streak-free dimension in any of your illustrations and come in 148 different colors. What color did you get? 

Sakura Gelly Roll Classic White Gel Pen

This month, we’ve fallen in love with the science behind the Sakura Gelly Roll Classic White Gel Pen. Invented around the 1980’s in a labratory in Osaka, Japan, the gel pen is known for its even ink flow. Gel ink has a unique property called thixotropic action (pronounced thicks-o-tro-pick). Thixotropic means that when gel is distributed, it becomes thinner and easier to use. Where a ballpoint pens’ ink moves around in the barrel of a pen, gel ink stays put until used on a surface. Thixotropic action takes place when the gel pen starts moving across the surface, making the gel pens ink flow consistent for the life of the pen. Try out this pen on your Kraft Stonehenge Paper by Legion Paper. 

Kraft Stonehenge Paper by Legion Paper

Get ready for a super cool and unique paper: Kraft Stonehenge Paper by Legion Paper. Stonehendge paper is made of 100% cotton, right here in the United States. It gets the ‘kraft’ title from its high tear resistence and the smooth yellow-tan finish on each sheet. The best part about this paper? You can use it for everything from letterpress printing to pastel drawing. 

ZIG Posterman Medium Bullet Tip Marker

Step outside of your coloring comfort zone with the Zig Posterman Medium Bullet Tip Marker. Whether you’re creating Valentine’s Day cards or quick doodles in your sketchbook, this marker has the look and feel of chalk but without the mess of chalk dust. The bullet tip is perfect for creating details on a variety of surfaces. Shake the pen, and press down to get the ink flowing. 

January 2016

via xatrioxic

via xatrioxic

 

Kick off the new year with the perfect mechanical pencil! The Faber-Castell Poly Matic Mechanical Pencil guarantees a comfortable drawing, sketching, and note-taking experience. Its body holds 0.7mm lead and a twist-out eraser at the top of the pencil. You can’t miss the Poly Matic’s colorful textured body when searching for the right pencil–this one is a winner. 

Wink of Luna by ZIG

The Wink of Luna by ZIG has left us in awe at how innovative brush pens can be. Uniquely designed to resemble a cosmetic product, the Wink of Luna will make your artwork pop on any paper. You’ll fall in love with the metallic finish and soft nylon brush tip. To get the ink flowing properly, remove the safety ring from the middle of the pen, then recap. Shake the pen to loosen up the ink, then lightly squeeze the white part of the body. Ink will gradually flow through the flexible brush tip.  Please note: The Wink of Luna is NOT a cosmetic product and should not be applied to skin. (It looks so much better on paper anyways.) 

Le Pen Permanent by Marvy

Illustrators, designers, and doodlers UNITE! We’ve got an awesome new pen for your imaginative drawings! The Le Pen Permanent by Marvy is made for everything: from fine line work on finished drawings to writing on tough surfaces (think plastic and metal objects). This pen will work perfectly alongside the lines created by the Wink of Luna or the KRINK K-60. 

KRINK K-60 

Developed by an alternative street artist in San Francisco, the KRINK K-60 holds pure paint pigments and a whole lot of attitude. Known as the world’s quickest growing art supply line, KRINK has become a global brand for emphasizing your style, no matter what kind of artist you are. The K-60 is KRINK’s best-selling marker, due to the iconic drip effect it creates when dragged across a vertical surface. This paint marker is capable of writing on multiple types of materials, rough or smooth, while still providing a thick paint flow. 

December 2015

via echo.ism

via echo.ism

This month, you can easily bring your art supplies wherever you go with the ArtBin Sketch Pouch. You’ll find a swivel clip attached to one end of the pouch for latching on to portfolios, totes or backpacks. We were able to fit 21 pens comfortably into its durable poly canvas body, so pack your supplies accordingly! 

Pigma® Brush by Sakura

We love a sleek, reliable brush pen. The Pigma Brush by Sakura creates fine lines and broad strokes in every direction you take it. This brush is filled with high-quality archival ink, doesn’t smear when dry, and doesn’t leak through your sketchbook. We’ll be keeping this one in our ArtBin Sketch Pouch for good. 

General’s® Color-Tex® Colored Pencil

General’s® Color-Tex® Colored Pencils has a thin core packed with bold color pigment. It has a classic hexagonal body and a retro metal cap for a throwback feel. We’re excited about the beautiful legacy that this pencil holds, since the General Pencil Company is the oldest pencil manufacturer in the United States. 

Winsor & Newton Water Colour Sticks

Revolutionize your watercolor paintings with the Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour Sticks. This innovative stick of pure pigments offers exceptional color performace, no matter which watercolor technique you use. Color your page with the dry stick, then use a little bit of water to transform your marks into the iconic watercolor texture. Voilà! 

Connoisseur Protégé Gold Nylon Brush

Here’s a professional-grade brush for your holiday paintings this month. Connoisseur Protégé Gold Nylon Brush is flexible enough to withstand acrylic, tempera, and watercolor paints. Its synthetic bristles are durable, stand up to solvents, and are easy to clean. Wet the end of your brush and gently push around the pigments from your Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour Sticks. Tis’ the season for getting creative! 

November 2015

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via awwdehh

 

With the same velvety drawing texture as their traditional Blackwing Pencils, Palomino has created the Blackwing Vol. 725: a limited edition pencil that serves as a tribute to music. What makes this pencil different from the rest of the Blackwing family is the more balanced lead, helping to deliver a soft, dark line. The body of the pencil reflects the sunburst colors of on a Fender Stratocaster guitar, the first electric guitar used on stage at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival–and whose debut on July 25th gives the pencil its name. 

Kuretake Fudegokochi Brush Pen

The Kuretake Fudegokochi Brush Pen (pronounced foo-deh-goh-koh-chee) will be sure to inspire your next creation. If you’re not used to a firm felt-tipped brush pen, this is a great pen to practice with. It has a small nib for better control and less mess when you start sketching. Move the pen slowly across your page for the best ink flow. What makes this Kuretake brush pen limited edition is the colorful body style, which, up until now, has only been available in Japan. 

Prima-Flo® Acrylics from Weber®

We’ve discovered a beautiful acrylic paint with incredible fluidity. The Prima-Flo® Acrylics from Weber® are highly pigmented and will not dilute when added to other paint mediums. From detail work on mixed-media pieces to a fresh coat of color on your canvases, Prima-Flo Acrylics stand up to the most challenging projects. 

Liquitex Freestyle Paddle Brush

Whether you’re painting a mural or covering a canvas with gesso, the Liquitex Freestyle Paddle Brush will push your paint around with ease. Designed for medium to large scale projects, this brush has a comfortable handle and thick synthetic bristles. The Liquitex Freestyle Paddle Brush comes in a variety of sizes so you can cover all of your surfaces efficiently. 

October 2015

via 117design

via 117design

This is not a trick, but it’s definitely a treat! Higgins Black Magic Ink writes clean without fading for the best ink experience with dip pens, regular brushes, or air brushes. The high-quality black ink is intensely opaque, and dries fast to a matte finish. Its signature bottle shape will stay grounded so you won’t have any “magical messes.” If you happen to get some on your hands, just use soap and water to wash it off. 

Caran d’Ache Black Wood Pencil

Caran d’Ache Black Wood Pencil gets its black-colored body by being infused with black ink during the manufactur- ing process. It’s finished with a matte coat so your hands stay clean with a good strong grip. This pencil is filled with HB graphite that creates a mark that’s thicker mark than the average #2 pencil. 

Cretacolor Artist Studio Line Colored Pencils

The pop of color in this month’s box is the Cretacolor Artist Studio Line Colored Pencils. Made in Austria, these colored pencils have soft, richly pigmented leads with a buttery feel to produce bold, vibrant color tones. Use these colored pencils to draw on top of other dark-ink art supplies. 

Pigma Professional Brush Pen by Sakura

Never used a brush pen before? The Pigma Professional Brush Pen by Sakura is about to change that. These pens are filled with top-rated waterproof, bleedproof, archival inks. For beginner and advanced levels, this brush pen will deliver a beautiful and expressive line every time. The Pigma Professional Brush Pen only comes in three sizes: fine brush (FB), medium brush (MB), and bold brush (BB). Which size did you get? 

Connoisseur Bamboo Watercolor Brush

Here’s a unique brush that will add some fun to your #ArtSnacksChallenge. The Connoisseur Round Bamboo Watercolor Brush has a naturally round bamboo handle that is light and easy to hold while practicing the ink-wash technique. Pair your Higgins Black Magic Ink with this brush to create a dark and edgy line.  

September 2015

Introducing a truly remarkable new product: the Winsor & Newton Pigment Marker and White Blender. You’re one of the first to get this product – it’s not even available in stores yet. Known for their top-of-the-line paint materials, these Pigment Markers have the consistency and quality of paint, but in a marker pen body. The ink flows easily through both the chisel and fine tips, and dries much slower, for maximum ink movement.

Along with the colored marker pen, Winsor & Newton has created the world’s first White Blender. Just like painting, you can push around and mix the ink with the White Blender, diffusing and expanding the color range. The white ink of the blender also creates a beautiful stroke on black paper. Test your Pigment Markers on the marker paper included in your box. 

Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood 348 Pencil

Since 1915, Caran d’Ache has been creating innovative writing and drawing tools with elegance and Swiss-made optimal quality. The Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood 348 Pencil is filled with HB graphite and perfectly finished with a soft, matte body, – clearly displaying the natural brown color of the wood. Give this pencil a sniff, and you’ll smell the earthy-chocolatey aroma from the beech wood trees in the Swiss Jura Forest. 

MOO Eraser by Weber Co. 

The MOO Eraser by Weber Co. is here to tackle your most complex drawings and sketches. Developed in Korea, the MOO eraser can be cleaned after use by rubbing off the shaded areas on it’s body. This way, you won’t need to switch between several other clean erasers while you’re drawing. Use your super versatile MOO eraser with dry medias such as charcoal and graphite, including the Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood 348 Pencil. 

August 2015

Denik is a cool new notebook company that connects with artists from around the world to to put their artwork on sketchbooks and journals. A portion of every product sold goes to building schools: the origin for learning, creating, and inspiring. This month, we collaborated with Denik’s team and Boston-based artist, Monique Amiee, to create a custom Denik Mini Sketchbook. 

ZIG Cartoonist Brush Pen No.22

Imported from Japan, the ZIG Cartoonist Brush Pen No.22 has a medium nylon brush tip that lays down thick and thin lines. Move the pen slowly across the page for solid strokes, or move the tip swiftly across the page for a more diffused line. This brush pen is great for mastering cartoon illustrations or practicing bold hand-lettering. Run out of ink? The pen-body cartridges are refillable for years to come. 

Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Ink

Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Ink is a special acrylic-based ink that’s highly pigmented for creating multiple color layers on top of your art. Dilute the ink with water to get a high-intensity watercolor effect, or use a dry brush to create a textured stroke. The ink has a high degree of lightfastness, which is great for paintings that will be permanently on display. 

Simply Simmons Paintbrush 

With an acrylic ink, you’ll need another reliable tool: the Simply Simmons Paintbrush. This brush is short in size, but has a super soft-haired tuft for controlled strokes. Their bristles come in a variety of shapes that will withstand a tangle-free cleaning after a painting session. This beautiful brush is ideal for the artist who is breaking into the world of painting. 

July 2015

Originating from Australia, Ironlak is a street-style art supply brand with premium acrylic paints and aerosols for the graffiti- inspired artist. The Ironlak Pump Action Marker is one of our favorites. To start the flow of paint, gently press down on the nib of the marker a few times, and watch the paint flow. The paint is quick drying, yet water soluble, so you can push the paint further with a wet brush. 

Aristo DK2 Mechanical Pencil

Aristo is an Austrian brand specializing in high-quality drafting supplies. United States-based ArtSnacks subscribers get to enjoy this imported pencil for the first time in America! The Aristo DK2 Mechanical Pencil is pre-filled with 0.5 mm lead and capped with a sturdy white removable eraser. Disguised as a simple mechanical pencil, this tool brings ease to drawing, sketching, and quick note-taking. 

Touch Twin Brush Marker

The Touch Twin Brush Marker features a flexible brush nib on one end and a medium-wide chisel nib on the other, allowing you to explore a wider range of drawing techniques. The well-designed rectangular body resists rolling on your work space and has a safety cap that stacks elegantly, while preventing damage to the colored nibs. 

Marino Watercolor Pencil by Cretacolor

Introducing the Marino Watercolor Pencil by Cretacolor. Whether you’re mixing playful line-work with water and a paint brush or practicing layered cross-hatching in your sketchbook, you’ll get brilliant color with every stroke. There are 36 colors in the Marino family–so what color did you get? 

June 2015

Known for their high-quality and rich heritage, we did not think twice when selecting the Faber-Castell PITT Artist Big Brush Pen. This pen is about three times the size of the regular Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen, but has a more versatile brush tip for fine, medium, and broad strokes. Its brilliant lightfast grade gives the pigments a vibrant color forever. The pen is suited for drawing, lettering, fashion sketching, and illustrating. 

Lightfast [adjective] - Resistant to all forms of light, especially natural sunlight. Some brands of paint or pigment have a rating system to describe how fade resistant it is when exposed to light. The higher the rating, the longer your color will last under light. 

K-12 by KRINK

Developed by an alternative street artist in San Francisco, the K-12 Paint Marker by KRINK is a refined pen-style tool from the KRINK family. This marker has a metal tip and is ideal for making fine lines and details. Give it a shake to loosen up the ink (you’ll hear a mixing bead inside the body), then press the tip to paper. To control the ink flow, gently squeeze the pen while making your mark. 

Caran d’Ache Grafik Pencils 

We’ve added a super unique HB pencil to this months box. The Caran d’Ache Grafik Pencils (pronounced karen-dash) are imported directly from Switzerland. Since 1915, this Swiss company has been creating elegant and innovative writing and drawing tools with Swiss-made optimal quality. The Grafik Pencil has a pop-art geometric pattern – adding some attitude to your next doodling session. Refresh the point of your pencil in the KUM 4 in 1 Sharpener. 

KUM 4 in 1 Sharpener

The German designers at KUM (pronounced KOOM) have made your life so much easier with the KUM 4 in 1 Sharpener. This pencil sharpener accommodates 7, 8, 10 and 11mm pencils, and has a catch-all barrel in the middle of its body for the shavings. Both ends of the container have plastic covers to keep the shavings inside. This is the perfect little sharpener to keep in your bag or art bin. 

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