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Inside the Blackwing 24 Subscription – An Unreleased Portrait of John Steinbeck
By now, many of our subscribers have received their shipments containing the Blackwing 24, our tribute to John Steinbeck. In addition to pencils, past subscriptions have included extra goodies,...
View ArticleJohn Steinbeck’s Typewriter
John Steinbeck was known for writing his novels out by hand. Later in his career, however, he was forced to introduce a typewriter into his daily routine. John’s son Thom shared what brought about this...
View ArticleThe Steinbeck Pencil Length
John Steinbeck was very particular about his pencils. In addition to his 24 pencil ritual, John was also conscious of the length of his pencils. Once his pencils reached a certain length, commonly...
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Record Store Day 2016 – How A Record is Made
This Saturday 04/16/2016 is Record Store Day, and we’re stoked. Like pencils, records are part of the analog world where every action has an tangible, visible or audible reaction. I’ve collected...
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Our Favorite John Muir Sketches
Last year, we released the Blackwing 211, our tribute to John Muir and his impact on the field of naturalism. Muir was a noted explorer, but he was also an avid sketcher. Our hometown of Stockton, CA...
View ArticleMary Norris on Impact, the Blackwing 24 and Pencil Hardness
Our favorite New Yorker Ok’r Mary Norris stopped by Manhattan’s CW Pencils to film the most recent episode of her Comma Queen video series. In the episode, Mary discusses her dislike of the use of...
View ArticleIndependent Bookstore Day
Independent Bookstore Day Saturday 04/30 is Independent Bookstore Day. Much like Records Store Day, IBD encourages you to go out in your community and support your local, independent bookseller. Below...
View ArticleGuy Clark, Master Songwriter and Artist, Passes Away
Guy Clark said that the key to crafting a good song was to “write with a pencil and a big eraser.” His methodical songwriting process included pencil and graph paper. He liked to see every letter of...
View ArticleAnnouncing Blackwing Colors, Coming in July
We’re excited to announce Blackwing Colors, the first set of coloring pencils in the Blackwing line. We spent months selecting the perfect core formulation, curating the selection of colors and...
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Volumes by Blackwing – Vol. 56
The Blackwing 56 – A Salute to Joe DiMaggio JUL. 2016 Joe DiMaggio’s legacy is cemented by numbers. In a historic 13 year career, his teams won 10 American League pennants and 9 World Series...
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Some Serious Coinage
Subscribers who have been with us since the beginning will find a little something extra in their shipment. Inspired by the challenge coins used by military members, philanthropic organizations and...
View ArticleThe Insane Facts Behind DiMaggio’s Hit Streak
The release of the Blackwing 56 was very much a labor of love for a team full of baseball enthusiasts. Along the way, we discovered some pretty astounding things about Joe DiMaggio’s famous streak....
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How to Score a Baseball Game
Baseball is etched into our national consciousness in graphite. The “Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” Gibson’s walk off against Eckersley, and every game of Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak have been...
View ArticleBlackwing 56 Stockist List
The Blackwing 56, the DiMaggio pencil, sold out in 8 days, but there are still some available on our sister site Pencils.com and in our retail stores around the world. Here’s a list of stores that...
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Dream Deep on National Coloring Book Day
Last month, we launched Blackwing Colors, our colored pencils designed specifically for coloring. Well, today is National Coloring Book day, and what better way to celebrate than by throwing some...
View ArticleMy Favorite Steinbeck
Our hearts are mending slowly since the passing of Thom Steinbeck last week. He was an inspiration to many, including those members of our team who were fortunate enough to get to know him in the past...
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Greg Simkins
GREG “CRAOLA” SIMKINS Name: Greg “Craola” Simkins Pencil hand: Right Craft: Painter/Street Artist Brand: N/A Location: Los Angeles, CA @craola ImScared.com “Whenever I am experiencing a block, I go to...
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Mike Hawthorne
MIKE HAWTHORNE Name: Mike Hawthorne Pencil hand: Right Craft: Comic Penciler Brand: Marvel (currently) Location: Central PA @mikehawthorne MikeHawthorneArt.com “No AC in the summer, no comfy chairs,...
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New Imprint and Eraser Coming to Blackwing Pencils
When the Blackwing 344 hits your doorstep, you may notice a few changes. Blackwing Volumes subscribers are getting a first look at some of the design updates that are coming to all Blackwing pencils in...
View ArticleBehind the Scenes: From Idea to Pencil
This is the first in what we hope will become a series of articles that provide a behind the scenes look into the inner workings of Blackwing. On the verge of a new release, today we are diving into...
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