I have shown the antique pencil box I’ve been using since this spring a few times here and there and I’m almost always asked about it as well as the contents, so I thought I would write a post sharing about it. I mean…any excuse to write about art supplies…
It really is a special antique pencil box and, when I spotted it, I knew it was perfect for me. I purchased it from The Arqivist, a specialist dealer in antique art supplies.
I like that this antique pencil box is a box instead of a pouch. I love a good pencil pouch, but the pencils and such roll around in the bag and I end up with a lot of broken tips. The box keeps things in place and safe from being jostled around.
I’ve collected the contents that fill the antique pencil box for a few years. Some I’ve ordered online and some I’ve picked up on my travels. I try to carefully select each piece to make sure I love using it.
The first is a lead cutch I bought from an art supply shop in Paris. I found one that is almost identical HERE. I prefer lead clutches because I can store the lead inside, keeping things neater and protecting the point of the lead. I also like working with a 5.6 lead that allows me to cover a larger area more quickly than a thin pencil and it keeps me from getting too fiddly with the details. The lead I’m using in that clutch is an oil sanguine lead. Yes, it’s reddish, which isn’t a typical color for me, but I love the old master’s sort of feel, especially on portrait sketches.
The above is a Whistler study and below is a Millet study…
Of course, I need to have my favorite fountain pen in the case. It’s a Platinum 3776 celluloid pen and has the most delicious gold nib. I like drawing in ink because I have to embrace mistakes. If a sketch of a feminine statue in Musee d’Orsay ends up having a Flintstone foot, which happened in this sketchbook, well, I just have to go with it. Sometimes the mistakes make me cringe and other times they are happy accidents.
If you’d like to start with a more affordable fountain pen, HERE is a blog post all about great fountain pens on a budget. I don’t carry ink well with me when out and about, but I do have a couple of dip pens to use with ink in the antique pencil box for when I’m at home. I have a silver dip pen (a travel one that closes) and a bone-handled ruling pen for drawing straight lines. Both were purchased from Ponder & Purchase.
I also have a few brass Kaweco clutches. One is a 5.6 Sketch-up, one is a 2.0 mechanical pencil, and the other is the Corrector, which has a refillable eraser. Since all of these clutches are refillable, I will be able to use them for years.
I include a vintage small metal ruler in case I need to draw a straight line. I don’t use it very often, but it is nice to have and, since it’s light and thin, it doesn’t take up much space in the antique pencil box.
I also have an HB pencil for fine lines and drawing and a travel watercolor brush if I want to do any washes or watercolors. While I can’t fit a small watercolor palette in the antique pencil box, I can carry easily carry one along.
I recently added one more clutch that holds a white chalk lead, but I might replace that with charcoal. The white lead is nice when working on toned paper. I bought the lead clutch from a little art shop in Florence. I like picking up art supplies like this when I travel, so they are meaningful, useful souveniers.
And, lastly, I have a sanding board for sanding pencils to a fine point, a kneaded eraser, and a long-point sharpener.
Of course, what’s in the box might change as I play with other mediums and papers, but this is a well-equipped little antique pencil box that has been working well for me.
In the evening, I’ll take the pencil box, my sketchbook, and an art book into the living room and do a bit of sketching while we’re hanging out or watching TV. I’ve come to enjoy it greatly. It means I’ve neglected knitting the last bit of a mitten, but there is always a trade-off when it comes to time!
I hope sharing my antique pencil box gives you some ideas for equipping a box of yummy writing and drawing tools for yourself. It’s a way of preparing for creative work, so you are ready to go with the tools you need to practice, play, learn, discover, and create.
I know not everyone who reads this blog is an artist, but I’m sure that most of you have some creative endeavor. Maybe you do needlework and could set up an embroidery box with heirloom scissors, your favorite needles, colors you frequently use, etc. Maybe you knit and can have a roll to hold your needles, scissors, gauge, etc. It’s not about the specific tools of the trade, but about giving yourself the gift of beautiful tools that make you excited to use them. The very process of opening the box, bag, pouch, or roll becomes a fulfilling part of the creative work.
Just a question as I’m planning 2023. What is the interest from my blog readers for art classes? What would you want to learn? Or perhaps a Patreon group where we paint and draw together each month? I’d love to hear your thoughts…
Architectural sketching would be interesting – perhaps recreating one or two of Kitchin drawings. Not everyone can afford Patreon, so even something like a printable list of steps to follow when you want to draw a building would be helpful.
Yes, please to architectural sketching in pencil and pen/ink.
This is a great reminder that beautiful, good quality tools thoughtfully stored in an aesthetically pleasing way are likely to be used more often! It’s a push for me to go through my jumble of supplies.
I would be interested in a paid painting class. I’m not sure what a patreon entails so can’t say for sure, but I would definitely consider it. I love your tutorials, especially your encouraging manner and careful explanations :))
Last year I spent a lot on paid art courses.
This year I am not able to. I am enjoying your Facebook Live painting series immensely!
It’s rare that I am free when you have them, so viewing them when I have time is very nice!
Great article, as always! I really enjoyed the video sessions you did when COVID was a new thing. The nature scenes of fields, roads and cows (smile) are my favorite themes!
I agree, I loved the landscape one especially from the covid lockdown time period (I have watched and painted along to it several times, but each one of mine look quite different). Would love to see more of those, as well as architectural sketching and painting!
I would love any kind of art lessons. I just started with water colors and totally love them. So sign me up if you ever have more!!
Love the architectural sketching idea. I’d also love anything around landscape &/or composition!
I love your antique supplies! Thank you for sharing.
I love antique shops but had never thought of looking for art supplies, I certainly will be looking now.
Very informative. I love all the mediums you use.
Do you ever use a graphite stick? And, how long can you use a kneaded eraser? I find mine are dirty very quickly.. Is there a way to clean them?
A kneaded eraser will last a long time if you knead them by pulling and rolling between your palms and fingers. They basically clean themselves if you do this enough. It’s also meditative if you do it while thinking about the direction and composition of what you want to draw.
thank you.
Not sure about the “graphite stick.” I have a few chunks of graphite I use sometimes, but I tend to use either a pencil or a lead in a clutch when using graphite.
Hi Marian,
I would love if you could teach how to paint the sea. I love your classes and am taking your second class.
Thank you so much for all your lessons, interesting blogs and the inspiration and excitement in art that you give us.
I would love either sketching or watercolor tutorials for beginners!
You’re right Marian, I’m not an artist but I enjoy keeping my writing pens and pencils in a certain area of my craft closet. I love collecting and using them but I need a special box to put them in. Hopefully I will find just the right box like you did.
Not an artist but I really enjoy reading about your art supplies! And now I’ve learned a new word – clutch! Many thanks!
You do have some beautiful supplies. I sew and have accumulated endless buttons and scissors. Can’t help it when they are so pretty, but I do use them. I even have a few nice pencils and pens as well. I would love to see some sketching classes from you whether paid classes or tutorials. Not sure about a patreon group. I know a lot of influencers are going to those as a means to share paid content separately, but I haven’t tried any.
Thank you for posting about the pencil box….I had asked about and sadly there isn’t one out there right now but I shall keep looking. i enjoyed your post on your pencil box contents!
I’d love a basic sketch class for beginners. The idea of sketching in a journal always seemed very romantic to me but I can’t draw to save my life. Maybe a class would make me brave.
I love reading about your art supplies and also your art book collection. You’ve encouraged me to draw and paint more often. I also bought a few a pencil lead clutches when I was in Florence, but I must admit I’ve never used them because I don’t want to use up the lead. Ridiculous, I know! I plan to start using them this weekend.
Yes, the great thing about clutches is the leads are replaceable and you can get all different sizes and materials. Use it up!
Am totally not an artist (obvious from my question) Why is the lead so far out in the cutch. It seems so vulnerable to breaking being unsupported by the instrument.
Good question! I was going to mention it, but I figured it might be better to show in a video. When I draw, I don’t hold a pencil or clutch the same way I do when I write. I hold it at a greater angle to the paper with a loose hand. This keeps the drawing more fluid and prevents me from getting too tight. Putting the lead out further and sharpening a pencil to a finer point helps facilitate that grip.
I’m curious about the “bone handled ruling pen for drawing straight lines.” What is it, and how do you use it?
I think a great class will be how to create a Cyanometer, plus I love everything about the antiques art supplies.
Oh, now I must have a stocked pencil box!!! I love this.
I would love to see how you deal with your fountain pens. How you use them, clean them and then store them.
I’ve struggled with the nibs drying out and ruining them.
I would love to see your everyday practice when using them.
Also, what are your favorite oil paints to work with. I know you have probably shared that, but I am finally at a place of upgrading and would love to know where to find your favorites.
Thank you for always inspiring!!