Viarco Vintage 1951

My pencils of the week. These are all on the firm side, except for the Raven, which is as dark as a Blackwing but smoother and yet has better point retention. The Turquoise proves you can be smooth and firm at the same time. And the Rhodia has a strange sandy eraser, which does a good job. #potw

Read “A Short Stay in Hell” today. Great story, covers a lot of humanity in a short space. I’ve spent more time thinking about it now than I did reading it. Didn’t feel as bleak as many people say, but it does grind you down a little. The idea erodes you. Which is perfect.

This week’s writing tools and a new notebook. ✏️ 📓 The paper in these gets some hate, it certainly isn’t good for liquid ink. But it feels good with pencil, and it’s nostalgic — the kind of paper I used in high school. Dixon and Venus pencils this week.

You’ve been through a lot, have a pencil picture.

I think the recent Blackwing designs have been pretty boring. The last one I was really excited about was the Vol 20; the texture on it is very cool. Guess I should just stick to vintage pencils. Look at the beautiful designs on these.

Dirty screen, clean pencil. Venus Art-Guild 1400 (F). That’s a beautiful red paint job. I’ve also seen these made by Linton as well, who was purchased by Venus in the 1960s. I don’t know if this one was made in Lewisburg or elsewhere.

I got so excited about what a nice point my newish sharpener put on my pencil that I forgot what I was going to write down. General’s Softa mini jumbo sharpened with an Afmat upright electric sharpener. I am generally unimpressed with electric sharpeners but this one kinda rules.

Rocking some round green pencils for January. Trying to be more consistent about journaling this year. What tools are you writing with at the start of 2025?

Today’s work companion, Richard Best Royal Scot (F). The firmer graphite works well on this toothy Doane paper, but the grid on the front side is a bit dark.