Greetings! We hope everyone had a great holiday break, or a great week either way. Resting was good, but it’s even better to be back in the pencil world.
Long overdue, is a post featuring Dutch artist George Langenberg, who was kind enough to send us a special message about his work and his pencils:
“Dear Pencil Revolution Readers,
I find it very hard to commit myself to a certain style or theme. I feel inspired by colours and texture of the drawing material and the paper. I often use watercolour paper as it has a nice feel which adds to the characteristics when a drawing is finished.
I build the surface hatching in different directions and I almost always use more then one colour. So that during the day when the light changes the colours in the drawing change with it. Colours made with pencil are very sensitive to the surrounding light. Day light is best of course.
I know you’re comparing many brands and qualities of colour pencils at Pencil Revolution. Here in Holland there aren’t that many good pencils available. Most known are probably British Derwent. But I like to use the U.S. made Karisma pencils. These are very soft and sometimes a bit sticky. I use a small breakable knife to sharpen, as the pencils are so soft they tend to break very easily. After the knife comes the sharpener to make it really sharp.
In time Karisma Black no 935 tends to oxidize if you put it very thick, thus giving it a whitish film. I regret the fact that Lemon Yellow isn’t available any more. It is a primary colour in Ittens colour circle so I found it ridiculous to get it out of production in the first place. Now the brightest yellow is Canary Yellow no 916. Apart from it’s silly name it’s a hard colour and not so fresh and subtle as Lemon Yellow no 915 was. I hereby plea to get Lemon Yellow no 915 back in the Karisma colour spectrum again. Any other Karisma lovers joining the petition?
My favourite colour must be Hot Pink no 993 but that is a very personal choice. I think because it makes such fresh contrasts opposed to other colours. And it’s such a vivid colour to blend with. For the future I try to make my art more and more contrast full, more and more Hot Pink.
I hope you enjoy the drawings in my portfolio.”
Many many thanks to George, and you can check out some of his great work at his website, here. Click “gallery” at the bottom, and click the stripes.
[Image, G.L., used with kind permission.]
George -
I enjoyed seeing your drawings and admire all colored pencil artists for their skill. I myself have not made a real leap beyond graphite and have limited skills working with color pencils.
Karisma, originally a Berol UK brand, is the Sanford U.K. brand name for the Prismacolor range produced by Sanford here in the US market. Originally Berol produced the Karisma in UK, but production was eventually consolidated into the US either by Berol or later by Sanford after their acquisition of Berol. I expect this is likely why certain colors were eliminated from the Karisma selection in order to conform to the Prismacolor selection here in the US where there is higher sales volume.
The Karisma pencils use the same cedar casing and color cores as Prismacolor. Though they are left with a natural woodgrain finish and an interesting angled end cut which is a unique feature.
Have you experience using Bruynzeel colored pencils? Bruynzeel, now owned by Sakura of Japan is of course a local Dutch producer in the lovely town of Bergen-Op-Zoom. Are you a fan of this local brand.
Hi Woodchuck I didn’t know that Karisma was owned by Berol.
And I’m sorry Bruynzeel pencils are not for me, these pencils are too hard for me and their colour range is not quite on the spot as I like’m funky.
Bruynzeel has a reputation similar like a hobby brand and does not appear to be catering for professional artists.
Prismacolor still seems to have the Lemon Yellow available: http://www.jerrysartarama.com/art-supply-stores/online/4469
Woodchuck mentioned “consolidation”. The simple fact is that Karisma is no longer produced in the UK at all so any stocks you can find of Karisma pencils are the last you will ever see – they simply aren’t being made any more. The pencil numbers correspond with the Sanford Prismacolor range but some of the names are different.
More importantly, none of the places I visit which used to stock Karisma have replaced them with Prismacolor. That would involved importing them from the USA – and is considered too expensive a proposition especially as the reason that the Karisma range was discontinued was apparently due to sales which didn’t meet volume targets.
Which is sad as that means, I think, that the only artist coloured pencils available in Europe are all oil based whereas Prismacolor/Karisma are/were wax based. And despite the problems sometimes experienced with breakages they provided some great colours not easily replicated elsewhere.
You can of course order Prismacolor from USA based on-line suppliers.
Are Faber-Castell and Staedtler colored pencils unavailable in Europe? The former’s Polychromos line is wax based, if I’m not mistaken. The line they sell in the US has the same number of colors as Prismacolor (120), with the added bonus that the entire range is available in watercolor format also. And they’re prettier. :)
Nevermind, the Polychromos are oil-based. I forgot that it says on the back of the tin.
I use Karisma colors for my botanical drawings and love them for their blendability. You can find them at U.K. stores on the net. I will however, try the Prismacolor pencils when I go to the States.
I adore Karisma pencils (!) and have used them professionally for a few years. Living in Southern England I fear the day when I can no longer ‘scavenge’ for them on the Internet (my last resource). Worst still – I don’t want to change my style of which I have grown confident. I find the ‘blendability’ that Kate Evans mentioned was exactly what I’ll miss. Please someone, anyone, bring them back! Anyway – glad it’s not just me who misses the perfect pencil!! Prismacolor here I come I guess :o(
The Prismacolor pencil 316 is included in the “Scholar” boxes of 24, 36, 48 and 60 pencils. PC916 (the same colour but a smoother, softer core) is included in all boxes of “Priemier Color” pencils.
Just FYI
Prismacolor are available in the UK, internet based though I’ve not really seen them in shops. UK sellers on that dreaded auction site are very good and one shop on there sells open stock of the whole range of colours and the odd Karisma
I have an issue. I have lost my teaching job, which is a mixed blessing. I am finding that my own artwork has taken front and center stage. I need to renew my pencils, but its been ages since I had to buy any. My art box is full, but I need specifics. I used Bruynzeels black and white since they were soft and had good coverage, but that is no longer possible. I can’t stand prismacolor because the wax builds up so fast you can get the subtle layers that I prefer(unless they have improved)and you get wax blooms. I am concerned about light fastness so was in the process of replacing the fugitive Derwents with Polychromos. Neither of which are being carrie in local art stores. There are new things out that I am unfamiliar with. Any suggestions or comments? Michelle
George- terrific site, i just discovered it! In response to Woodchuck- I found a gorgeous set of Karisma pencils in the UK in the late 80′s and I had to have them….they were made so beautifully- I did not find out until later that they were the same on the inside as Prismacolors. Which made me really annoyed that Prismacolors were made so relatively ugly for the US market, but so beautiful for the European market!
I believe that NOW, Bruynzeel pencils are being made for children, with their new ownership. But in the 80′s, they were actually a really nice pencil that were wonderful for artists. I used to find them in the Netherlands. If you only looked at the Prisma children’s pencils, or the new Faber-Castel children’s pencils, I bet you would not be terribly impressed with them either….
Hi there, I know that some people STILL to this day harp on about Karisma but I have to say they were an utter joy! I also know that now, in 2011, it would be very hard and very expensive to purchase a box but I must ask… If someone knows of anyone who still sells them, could you email me with details? Last time I held a Karisma was at school and I havent drawn since. :(
Thanks.