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What Makes Blackwing Pencils Special?
See what sets our pencils apart.
HIGH-QUALITY TOOLS TO HELP YOU SLOW DOWN
HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS & CRAFTSMANSHIP
Only Blackwing pencils combine the graphite in the world, the best wood in the world, and generations of craftsmanship to create an exceptional pencil.
SUSTAINABILITY & RENEWABILITY
Blackwing pencils are made with high-quality Incense-cedar that only grows in the forests of northern California and southern Oregon. It is strictly regulated and sustainability harvested, unlike the rainforest and other unsustainable woods used in other pencils.
EVERY PURCHASE GIVES BACK
A portion of the sales from all Blackwing products benefits the Blackwing Foundation, which funds and develops life-changing arts and music education programs at the K-12 level.
PENCILS WITH A STORY
Blackwing 602 pencils were first introduced in the 1930s. Their superior quality and distinct look made them the pencil of choice for Pulitzer, Grammy, and Academy award-winning creators from Chuck Jones to John Steinbeck and Stephen Sondheim throughout the 20th century. The Blackwing went from a pencil to an icon. Then suddenly in the 1990s, after corporate jostling, they completely vanished.
In 2010, we tapped into over 100 years of family-run pencil-making experience to reintroduce Blackwing pencils to a new generation of writers, artists, and makers. We scoured the planet to find the best raw materials, designers, and craftspeople to create the best possible pencil. Since its return, Blackwing has transformed from a single pencil into a movement.
We create thoughtfully designed products to spark inspiration, get back in touch with your senses, and find balance in your day-to-day. Your time is precious and we want to help you create beautiful moments that will last because we know that life is just that much sweeter when we slow down. Our mission is to empower everyone with the tools and education to express their creativity even at an early age. A portion of every Blackwing purchase goes towards funding life-changing arts and music programs in public schools.
Diane
Reviewed in Australia on February 8, 2025
I purchased these pencils after watching Karen Campbell on you tube using them, and they are brilliant, very happy with my purchase.
Edward Knebel
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2025
I never thought spending a lot on pencils would be worth it but these are amazing. They flow like butter, super smooth. Rich and dark. Even the eraser is well thought out and they’re replaceable if you use it up before the lead is gone from use. Worth the money if you’re serious about your craft.
KIMBER_KCL
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2025
I received my BLACKWING MATTE PENCILS today, which were delivered quickly. Of course, I am doing a cute, happy dance!There is not much I can say except that these are the best pencils in the WORLD, especially for artists. I started a course that suggested these pencils, so I bought them and am glad I did. I might place another order, too.Lastly, they came in a super cute pencil case/pencil holder. What can I say? It was a fantastic purchase!These are a must-buy! -Kimberly
João Antônio Chicon de Lima
Reviewed in Brazil on July 23, 2024
Um dos melhores lápis que já usei para desenhar.
RJC
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2024
I bought these with a little bit of skepticism, just received them today, got one sharpened, and it is such a pleasure to write with, you just want to sit down and draw and write with it. Highly recommend these pencils.
Mary Alice
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2024
Do you like to really see what you wrote, not have some grayish ghost of pencil lines? These are great. Fun to use. Fit in a standard pencil sharpener. The wider eraser at the end provides great coverage for quicker erasing. Be careful not to grind them away in your electric pencil sharpener. The wood and core grind smoothly. Better yet, use a manual sharpener - you’ll enjoy doing it and your pencils won’t disappear in the sharpener. Gorgeous and solid box. Wish I could figure out some useful purpose for it rather than condemning it to the recycled cardboard bin.
Cynthia Greer
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2024
Any artist can appreciate the value of this creative instrument. I love to draw. Delivery was much sooner than expected. Colleagues rave about a great pencil, now I know why and this seller has my support.
Farnfield
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2024
These are the best you can get for an easy to use pencil that produces clear dark lines and is pleasant to use. They tick all the boxes literally and metaphorically.Cost a lot but worth it. Great gift for those who like crosswords etc
Mr. Clark Gillies
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2023
First thing, yes these pencils are very pricey, but the quality is just amazing.Plenty in a box and I carry one around with me all the time now as they are elegant and really high quality.Would recommend if you can find at a good price.
Cliente
Reviewed in Spain on November 23, 2022
Los mejores lápices que he usado nunca
Ivy Reisner
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2017
I blend a lot when I draw. It's more like laying some graphite then painting with the tortillon. These produce the best finish. They're dark -- I think about a 4B -- and they lay a clean line when used point down and smooth layer when used point sideways.What I like:The eraser is long -- 7/8 inch -- and you can extend it and even replace it at need.It lays a fantastic line and holds a point very well.It has a good barrel and feels comfortable in the hand.It has a faceted barrel and won't roll off the table (I am tired of chasing after runaway pastel pencils).It blends very easily and leaves a lovely finish.It's a good-looking pencil.What I don't like:You can't use it in a pencil extender because of the odd shape at the eraser end.You can't put a cap eraser on it.This is, for most folk, a drawing pencil not a writing pencil. If you use it to write, it will likely smear. It's supposed to (or rather it's supposed to blend easily, but to the pencil they're the same thing). The Blackwing Pearl or Blackwing 602 is a better writing pencil, and of the two I'd suggest the 602.
BotMan
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2015
I've never been a pencil aficionado, finding that over time, graphite eventually streaks and smears all over the paper it's used on. These do the same, it's the nature of graphite.That being said, I heard about the Faber Blackwing, it's discontinuation, and how obsessed people were with it (selling for *stupid amounts of money* on eBay). Then I saw these Palomino Blackwing pencils, and heard they were supposed to be fairly close to the original. I figured I'd try them out, and see what all the fuss was about.While there's no rubberized coating to assist handling or comfort in grip, the graphite is one of the best I've ever used. It's super soft, so it wears faster than "normal" pencils, and makes a dark mark. The eraser is one of the vinyl type which won't damage your paper, unlike the (usually pink) rubber ones found on most pencils.The only criticism I can find with the pencils is with the eraser holder, or ferrule, in that while the eraser can be replaced completely, I believe they're intended also to be advanced in the holder to make more use of the piece before being replaced. The little metal strap that clips into the unique ferrule is smooth against the eraser, so if you advance the eraser it will just slide back in to the original position. I fixed this by driving a tiny sharp awl into the clip, creating a sharp hook on the inside, digging into the eraser. Now it holds no matter how I fix the eraser into the clip.Keeping a point on one of these will require constant maintenance. The graphite is extremely soft -- apparently the softest in the Blackwing family of pencils. There are other graphite hardness levels available. I have some Blackwing 602s arriving soon that are made of harder graphite that I'm looking forward to trying. I've also just found out about the Blackwing Pearl which is supposed to fall in between these two.I suppose artists will find these more useful than I do, but I do enjoy writing with them, and actually enjoy writing my usual task lists and project notes.
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