My review from the paperworld fair

As some of you know, almost every year I visit Paperworld  / Creativeworld fair in Frankfurt. Sometimes I work there, sometimes I visit. This year I was working at the Caran d'Ache booth. On the last day I took some time to visit other booths and here is a review of some new products I found interesting this year.

Caran d'Ache:

 As I mentioned before I worked three days at the Caran d'Ache booth. The quality of their products is outstanding. I spent most of the time drawings with the Museum watercolor pencils and Luminance 6901 permanent color pencils. The Luminance 6901 has the strongest lightfast resistance in the market. 

However my happy discover was the blender: a wax stick that blends colors together, blur edges and increase the intensity of colors and mixes. I made a test to explain it. You can use over permanent or watercolor pencils, but since it is a wax, it would mask watercolor pencils against water after applying it.

Carandache.com

PS: you can find many of my drawings with Caran d'Ache color pencils in Instagram omar_paint

ShinHan Art:

It is good to keep an eye on this korean company. Every year they have new products, with good quality, competitive prices and great packaging.

If you are an architect or designer probably know their alcohol based Touch Twin markers. I use  their watercolors so I was very happy to see this new watercolor palette, very robust, nice design, transparent acrylic interior, an extra small removable palette also comes inside, but was not available for the photo.

Shinhanart.com

Stillman & Birn:

Stillman & Birn keeps pointing towards paper and binding quality.

I finally could see their new range of softcover sketchbooks. I am happy to see the Gama, Beta and Zeta series also available in my favorite landscape format.

stillmanandbirn.com

Pentel:

If you are an Urban Sketcher you know Pentel. The black Manga Brush pen is a must and their waterbrushes...well you can't have enough of them. Besides the small, medium and large brushes, I discover this year that they also offer a flat brush. (left bottom)

pentel.com

Nevskaya Palitra (White Nigths):

Did I mentioned that I learnt to paint with White Nights watercolors? They offer  professional quality for a reasonable price.  They have now a small portable case practical for sketchers and what is great: Kolinsky sable brushes, very very affordable!! amazing !!!

You would find them under the name of the company Neskaya Palitra

http://www.nevskayapalitra.ru/eng

Super5:

Super5 is also in the fast track of innovation. They have now also their mix media sketchbooks in hardcover and what they call universal sketchbooks: you can use alcohol based markers as well as light washes of watercolors* (the paper bends a little with water, but it is still very robust to keep working on it) They are also launching new calligraphic pens with new nibs: 07 mm, 1 mm, 1.5 mm and ink rollers. 

Super5 

Leuchtturm1917

Leuchtturm1917 have many practical planners and notebooks in many colors, However this is my personal favorite: a business card holder. Isn't it cute?

Leuchtturm1917

The best Pencil sharpener in the World!

My small material report from the Creative-world fair in Frankfurt

Two weeks ago I visited the Creative-world fair. I had a lot of time to look around and find some new products that I didn't know before. I though I should share that information with you.

While talking to some color pencils manufactures, the conversation turned to pencil sharpeners. I have to confess I never gave much though about sharpeners before. I got a lecture about quality and how important they are, and that sometimes when the mine break is not because of the pencil quality but because of a bad sharpener. They mention that the best sharpeners are made by a German company called Kum,  I never heard that name before so I have to take a look at their booth. I got one from them to try. It is good, but is it the best? I don't know the name of any other company that does pencil sharpeners. I will trust the opinion of the pencil manufactures in this case. The pencil sharpener cage has holes for two different pencils sizes and even come with two extra blades inside.

I discovered other interesting products from them but I will tell you about in another post.

PS: There is a little secret about the sketchbook this drawing was made, but I will also tell you about it later,