Pencil Review: Caran d’Ache Fixpencil 884 and M+R Lead Pointer

Review by Tina Koyama First, I must begin by admitting that I am not a huge user of mechanical pencils. Though I use clutches with certain art materials, I’ve always preferred woodcased pencils to write with. Call me fussy, but many mechanicals I’ve tried are either too heavy, too light, too cold, or just too…

Brush Review: Pentel Design Fude Menso Brush – Small

Brush Review: Pentel Design Fude Menso Brush – Small

Review by Tina Koyama The Pentel’s Design Fude Menso Brush in the small size ($3.25; also available in medium and large sizes at varying prices) is a product I previewed during Inktober. Despite the range of sizes, all three have extra-fine tips for “drawing intricate detail work like facial features.” The very tip isn’t much…

Colored Pencil Review: Camel 36-Color Mini Pencil Set with Elastic Case

Colored Pencil Review: Camel 36-Color Mini Pencil Set with Elastic Case

The Camel 36-Color Mini Pencil Set with Elastic Case ($40) is a tiny package full of cute, colorful sticks of fun. By fun, I mean colored pencils. These colored pencils are rounded square shaped and arrive in a paperboard box that closes with an elastic strap. The box, when closed, is about the same size…

Ask The Desk: Digital Drawing Tablets,  Typing Paper, & Astrobrights

Ask The Desk: Digital Drawing Tablets, Typing Paper, & Astrobrights

Joe asks: I need your advice on the purchase of a drawing table for my 10 year old granddaughter. She really is very good and I wish I could attach one of her drawings for you to see. She draws constantly and learns from books that I and her parents have bought her. She also…

Pen Review: Zig Clean Color Dot Double Sided Markers

I was absolutely tickled to find the Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot Double Sided Markers recently. There are 12 different colors available (available in a set for $35 or individually for $3.30 each). I decided to just try a few colors to start. Usually, I’m inclined to get the whole set, every color, but this…