Twice the charm

MANILA, Philippines - Most iconic paintings in world-famous museums aren’t completed overnight. The idea pops into the artist’s head and he/she spends time figuring out how to execute it. There are different art styles to explore, but at the end of the day it all boils down to the materials you choose to execute your ideas.

Some prefer the ease of using digital brushes, while others like the feel and flow of a physical brush or pencil. Caran d’Ache has been making high-quality color pencils and other art materials for more than 100 years. The range and flexibility of their products is quite astounding.

National Book Store and Caran d’Ache brought Caran d’Ache resident artist Peter Egli to Manila for a demo of the products. It’s not every day that you get to see a live version of Art Attack (our childhood TV fave), so when Egli started playing with the pencils, it was really like watching magic. The Museum Aquarelle color pencils are water-soluble and extra pigmented so he used these to create his watercolor palette: all he did was rub the color pencils into the palette and run his brush through it. The Supracolor Soft Aquarelle (soft lead) and Primalo Aquarelle (thin, strong lead) are also alternatives to the Museum Aquarelle.               

Caron d’Ache also has a good range of paints, graphite pencils and pastels. The Neocolor 1 is particularly interesting and useful for this rainy season; the water-resistant pastels are perfect for any traveler who likes sketching at the beach or atop a summit. Any artist would appreciate the versatility of Caran d’Ache: it’s honestly an art dreamer’s dream come true.

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Caron d’Ache is available at National Book Store Glorietta.