CRETACOLOR - Monolith Graphite Stick Pocket Set
6 Graphite Sticks, Eraser & Pencil Tin
Sticks sharpen like an ordinary pencil
Great for thick shading and fine detail
Won't mark fingers during use
For artists of all ages
Perfect for creating either thick shading or fine detail, each Cretacolor Monolith Graphite Stick is pure graphite, which can be sharpened with a standard pencil sharpener. Coated with a thin layer of lacquer, these graphite sticks will not mark fingers during use. Also containing a Cretacolor Monolith eraser, this pocket sketching tin is ideal for use both indoors and outdoors.
What is Graphite?
A non-toxic form of carbon, graphite is not in fact lead; the misnomer arose when it was first discovered, and mistaken for lead. Equally suitable for drawing or writing, Graphite produces durable markings, resistant to moisture, ultraviolet radiation, and natural aging, which can be easily removed with an Eraser.
What do the grade letters mean?
Cretacolor Monolith Graphite Sticks are graded according to the HB scale, where "H" indicates the hardness of the lead, and "B" represents the blackness of the mark it will make. Graphite is also designated a number, to show the level of these grades. For example, a 4B graphite lead produces a darker mark than a 2B one, and the lead of 3H graphite is harder than that of an H grade.
There is no industry standard for implementing the HB scale, meaning that a 2B lead from one brand will not necessarily leave the same mark as a 2B lead from another brand.
Why use Cretacolor Monolith Graphite Set & Eraser?
Containing 6 Cretacolor Monolith Graphite Sticks in grades: HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B and 9B, plus an eraser, this tin is perfect for artists sketching on location or in the studio. In addition to sharpening like an ordinary pencil for detailed work, these graphite pencils may be broken up, and used flat for larger shaded areas. Monolith graphite sticks are suitable for use with a variety of supports, including our Sketchbooks and Paper and Pads.
Who are Cretacolor?
Part of the Austrian group Brevillier Urban & Sachs, Cretacolor dates back to 1790, the year in which architect and entrepreneur, Joseph Hardtmuth invented the first graphite pencil, in Vienna. The company continued to manufacture pencils in Vienna until the 1970s, when it relocated to Hirm.
Following the acquisition of Cretacolor in 1996, by Hans Wolfgang Hromatka, an Austrian entrepreneur, art lover and avid collector of pencils, the company was transformed from near bankruptcy to the thriving manufacturer of artists' materials it remains today.
Under Hromatka's leadership, new products such as the Monolith woodless pencil were created, combining Hirm's long tradition of pencil manufacturing with the innovation of Brevillier, to produce some of the finest art supplies available.
