I am a weird pencil fanatic and there aren't much channel's out their with good reviews for me to watch except for this one which is why I subscribed so keep up the good work my friend! :)
The Sanford(now Prismacolor) Ebony 14420 is probably the general, all around, single-best drawing graphite pencil on the damn planet. Period. The 14420 is even very good under colored pencils to add a little bit of glazed-over depth.
For the longest time, Ebony is the only pencil I used. I've been drawing off and on for 20 years and up until the last couple months, I didn't even know how to use art pencils with all the ranges. I didn't even know what they meant. Weird, I know, but I love the Ebony's! Such a great pencil! When I wanted super light shading, I'd just lay down a super dark layer on some scrap paper and use my blending stumps for the the light shades. If I could only have one pencil....it would be my Ebony...hands down!
@ RixCanDoit...I fell in love with Ebony pencils... I found Ebony pencils in 1998 at my local office supply store and have been using them ever since. Back in my college daze it started using mechanical pencils and would buy the usual assortment of graded leads for them... H, HB, 2B, 4B etc. etc. along with a Staedtler lead pointer and a sanding block. I have 5 or 6 of them and still use them occasionally... old friends are hard to part with. A package of a dozen leads for these lead holders were getting harder and harder to find and the prices are out of control, my art supplier was out of stock of 6B and 4B lead and didn't know if he was ever going to have them back in stock again. So my hunt began as I set out to find a good dark grade lead. I've long been hip to knowing that office supply stores carry some of the same products as an art supply store but way cheaper because they are not sold as "art supplies". The Ebony pencils I have are sold in boxes of 12... on the box it says... Design Ebony Pencils... Large diameter lead for sketching Smooth, jet black lines. Sanford Well Sanford is the name of the office supply chain where I bought them, and the only difference is Sanford is printed on each pencil rather than Prismacolor, but Prismacolor has adds on the back of the box listing 13 of their other products and it shows the same address that's on the Prismacolor box you're showing in this video so I'm sure they are the exact same product. These pencils have basically replaced all my other pencils, with a little playing around you will see that this one pencil can give you everything that all your other pencils combined can. For detailed portrait work I prefer to use an ebony pencil on plate finish Bristol Board, you can knock any "shine" down with a coat of Krylon Spray in matte finish when you're all done and it also protects your finished work for years and years. PS - thumbs up, enjoyed your video especially the added sound effects. From the very nice drawing you did as an example I see we work in a very similar fashion, tight detail and contrast for added pop. Take care and happy journeys.
Thanks for your comments. It's great you love the Ebony pencils. Personally, I find them not dark enough and thus will go to my 8B Staedtler Mars Lumo or General's 9xxb when staying in the graphite. Naturally carbon and charcoal for that really pitch dark look.
I believe that Prismacolor purchased the Ebony from Sanford. They were always Sanford when I bought them from 1989 onward. Only recently have I noticed that they are Prismacolor. The Sanfords were made in USA and Rix said the Prismacolor were made in Mexico, which is where their colored pencils are made now, I think.
Between the Palomino Blackwing 602 and the Ebony, these two are my absolute favs. I remember years ago in my first year of college, my drawing teacher held up a Ebony Design pencil and exclaimed how this is the best damn drawing pencil. After using many different brands....he's right😂
Nice review thanks! Regarding how dark it is, i found it is roughly equal to the graphite staedtler 9B. The staedtler itself is lighter than the corresponding grade Mitsu-bishi hi uni. It would be nice if you could MB grade it in some future review.
I'd watch my sharpener videos to find those what showed good use on charcoal pencils. And for all sharpeners, even a good sharpener will break lead if it gets dull.
hey i love your videso im in alot of the comments haha, but i have a few questions for you. that sharpener u have can u get it in stores or just online? if not is there a variant similar in a store? also wanted to know if you could do a video on combing charcoal an graphite pencils into one drawing? i can show u my Instagram to see my work as a reference to what im talking about. i wanna make my drawing pop more using charcoal for the darks however i have a hard time getting it to combine or even go over my base layer of graphite.
I've purchased all my sharpeners online. All we have around here are Walmart's. Now I don't know what sharpener you are asking about specifically as you didn't state it in your question. The drawing you see as the thumbnail of this video was done with Charcoal and Graphite. Her hair, the dark of her eyes, the darkness behind the wall, and her gloves have charcoal. You do NOT actually combine the two. You use them separately, but within the same drawing. Charcoal does NOT like to be applied over graphite, although you can apply graphite over charcoal though it will likely look funky as the graphite lines will 'shine' above the charcoal. Use the charcoal for your super dark areas to make your drawing 'pop', and use the graphite everywhere else.
I was referring to the helix sharpener I often see u use, I saw your review in the camera shaped one. I recently got the helix and a Kirkland brand that's made lime a camera as well to sharpener my 9xxb, the handle on it is much shorter then the one u had so it's alot easier on the knuckles haha. But they are amazing sharpener I never had my soft pencils be to a point ever till now. And thank you I'll work on practicing my charcoal techniques, you seem to be able to get a broad a month of shades with yours.
Nice review Rix ! (why not M.B scale comparison, especially for the 'ebony'). There is also: SOHO Ebony pencil (only from jerry's artarama). Another quest. Again, thank you for this review.
+Alexandros Makris Thank you. I didn't do the MB because it clearly is very dark and I've been using the MB grading for 'writing' pencils, not drawing pencils. I will take a look at the SOHO.
I school I used to sharpen both ends of the pencil the night before This was just to get the satisfaction of writing with a sharp pencil first thing in the school (and I was to lazy to resharpen the same end of the pencil in school ) 😄😁😆😅🤣😂
the crack in the wood was more than likely just a result of your sharpener, not the quality of the pencil... this is one of the reasons why some people sharpen using a razor and sand paper.
Sorry, but I disagree. And sorry you didn't like it. Pressing an Ebony pencil onto paper to make it darker is a very BAD practice. So the point of the video is how dark is it by layering only, the right practice for allowing easier adjustment with eraser AND to avoid graphite sheen.
I am looking for a graphite pencil that gives jet black like a charcoal and doesn't shine. The example of portrait you showed had charcoal used. It would have been more helpful to see a swatch of a flat jet black with layering not pressing the pencil. And I know you can do it. Cheers.
@@ashok1160 This is a review of a specific GRAPHITE pencil. This is clearly shown in the title and in the video. The drawing I showed was simply my latest drawing that I was sharing with my viewers/subscribers. And it shows what you can do if you go dark enough. No where did I say you can do this with this pencil. "Prismacolor Ebony Drawing Pencils - How Smooth and Dark Is It?" Just because a pencil does not do what you want it to do doesn't make it a bad review. That's what a review is for! I'm showing you what the pencil CAN DO and CANNOT DO. You are NOT going to find a graphite pencil anywhere in the world that produces "jet black like a charcoal and doesn't shine." It's not my fault you don't realize this. Use Charcoal or Carbon if you want jet black.
I am a weird pencil fanatic and there aren't much channel's out their with good reviews for me to watch except for this one which is why I subscribed so keep up the good work my friend! :)
+Ethan Vaughan Thanks for subscribing!
The Sanford(now Prismacolor) Ebony 14420 is probably the general, all around, single-best drawing graphite pencil on the damn planet. Period. The 14420 is even very good under colored pencils to add a little bit of glazed-over depth.
For the longest time, Ebony is the only pencil I used. I've been drawing off and on for 20 years and up until the last couple months, I didn't even know how to use art pencils with all the ranges. I didn't even know what they meant. Weird, I know, but I love the Ebony's! Such a great pencil! When I wanted super light shading, I'd just lay down a super dark layer on some scrap paper and use my blending stumps for the the light shades. If I could only have one pencil....it would be my Ebony...hands down!
Ebony pencils are my ALL TIME favorite they are all my art teacher use to make us use
@ RixCanDoit...I fell in love with Ebony pencils...
I found Ebony pencils in 1998 at my local office supply store and have been using them ever since.
Back in my college daze it started using mechanical pencils and would buy the usual assortment of graded leads for them... H, HB, 2B, 4B etc. etc. along with a Staedtler lead pointer and a sanding block. I have 5 or 6 of them and still use them occasionally... old friends are hard to part with.
A package of a dozen leads for these lead holders were getting harder and harder to find and the prices are out of control, my art supplier was out of stock of 6B and 4B lead and didn't know if he was ever going to have them back in stock again. So my hunt began as I set out to find a good dark grade lead.
I've long been hip to knowing that office supply stores carry some of the same products as an art supply store but way cheaper because they are not sold as "art supplies".
The Ebony pencils I have are sold in boxes of 12... on the box it says... Design Ebony Pencils... Large diameter lead for sketching Smooth, jet black lines. Sanford
Well Sanford is the name of the office supply chain where I bought them, and the only difference is Sanford is printed on each pencil rather than Prismacolor, but Prismacolor has adds on the back of the box listing 13 of their other products and it shows the same address that's on the Prismacolor box you're showing in this video so I'm sure they are the exact same product.
These pencils have basically replaced all my other pencils, with a little playing around you will see that this one pencil can give you everything that all your other pencils combined can.
For detailed portrait work I prefer to use an ebony pencil on plate finish Bristol Board, you can knock any "shine" down with a coat of Krylon Spray in matte finish when you're all done and it also protects your finished work for years and years.
PS - thumbs up, enjoyed your video especially the added sound effects. From the very nice drawing you did as an example I see we work in a very similar fashion, tight detail and contrast for added pop.
Take care and happy journeys.
Thanks for your comments. It's great you love the Ebony pencils. Personally, I find them not dark enough and thus will go to my 8B Staedtler Mars Lumo or General's 9xxb when staying in the graphite. Naturally carbon and charcoal for that really pitch dark look.
I believe that Prismacolor purchased the Ebony from Sanford. They were always Sanford when I bought them from 1989 onward. Only recently have I noticed that they are Prismacolor. The Sanfords were made in USA and Rix said the Prismacolor were made in Mexico, which is where their colored pencils are made now, I think.
Not trying to be sarcastic but your humors good and your drawing are amazing!👍Dont criticize the emoji
Thanks!
I subscribed because I want to know which are good pencils to have to buy and that are good quality to draw with
Thanks for subscribing!
Between the Palomino Blackwing 602 and the Ebony, these two are my absolute favs. I remember years ago in my first year of college, my drawing teacher held up a Ebony Design pencil and exclaimed how this is the best damn drawing pencil. After using many different brands....he's right😂
Great review, I’ve just bought myself a box of these pencils. I love trying new pencils.
Have fun!
Nice review thanks! Regarding how dark it is, i found it is roughly equal to the graphite staedtler 9B. The staedtler itself is lighter than the corresponding grade Mitsu-bishi hi uni. It would be nice if you could MB grade it in some future review.
Is it sad that it blew my mind when you sharpened both ends so you don't have to sharpen it as often?
Why didn't I think of that.
Nah, it's not sad. It's recognizing innovation! LOL! Thanks for watching and commenting.
hahaha. true.
Ebony is my favorite
Kind of armer in Skyrim
Elaina Barnett can I use it for the really really super black areas?
How does this compare to the original Eberhard Faber Ebony 6325? Thank you for any comments.
Wish I could tell you. Don't have the original.
🤗 I like this review. I will not sharpen both ends. Glad you tried it and made the recommendation not to.
btw, by sharpening both ends, it will the lead to slide and move around inside. Great review though, not much out there so thnx! :)
The sound effects are really the icing on the cake lmao
My electric sharpener keeps breaking the ebony soft lead. Any suggestions for a sharpener?
I'd watch my sharpener videos to find those what showed good use on charcoal pencils. And for all sharpeners, even a good sharpener will break lead if it gets dull.
@@RixCanDoit Thank you :)
hey i love your videso im in alot of the comments haha, but i have a few questions for you. that sharpener u have can u get it in stores or just online? if not is there a variant similar in a store? also wanted to know if you could do a video on combing charcoal an graphite pencils into one drawing? i can show u my Instagram to see my work as a reference to what im talking about. i wanna make my drawing pop more using charcoal for the darks however i have a hard time getting it to combine or even go over my base layer of graphite.
I've purchased all my sharpeners online. All we have around here are Walmart's. Now I don't know what sharpener you are asking about specifically as you didn't state it in your question. The drawing you see as the thumbnail of this video was done with Charcoal and Graphite. Her hair, the dark of her eyes, the darkness behind the wall, and her gloves have charcoal. You do NOT actually combine the two. You use them separately, but within the same drawing. Charcoal does NOT like to be applied over graphite, although you can apply graphite over charcoal though it will likely look funky as the graphite lines will 'shine' above the charcoal. Use the charcoal for your super dark areas to make your drawing 'pop', and use the graphite everywhere else.
I was referring to the helix sharpener I often see u use, I saw your review in the camera shaped one. I recently got the helix and a Kirkland brand that's made lime a camera as well to sharpener my 9xxb, the handle on it is much shorter then the one u had so it's alot easier on the knuckles haha. But they are amazing sharpener I never had my soft pencils be to a point ever till now. And thank you I'll work on practicing my charcoal techniques, you seem to be able to get a broad a month of shades with yours.
How does it compare to the General's Kimberly 9xxB?
9xxb is darker. It contains carbon.
It has become my pencil of choice is I wade through my self-made swamp of learning to draw...from light to dark and without the shine...
Thanks Rix.
Nice review Rix ! (why not M.B scale comparison, especially for the 'ebony').
There is also: SOHO Ebony pencil (only from jerry's artarama). Another quest.
Again, thank you for this review.
+Alexandros Makris Thank you. I didn't do the MB because it clearly is very dark and I've been using the MB grading for 'writing' pencils, not drawing pencils. I will take a look at the SOHO.
I school I used to sharpen both ends of the pencil the night before
This was just to get the satisfaction of writing with a sharp pencil first thing in the school (and I was to lazy to resharpen the same end of the pencil in school ) 😄😁😆😅🤣😂
Bro how much cost and how to get this....
What, the pencils? You need to search the internet because it is different depending on where you are.
Thank you sir....
Does it shine?
There is no shine.
There is shine in my example of this pencil.
The other language was French (Canadian). Just FYI.
KaBluey59 Yes its French Canadian. Everything sold in Canada has to have both English and French on it, as we are a bilingual country 😊
the crack in the wood was more than likely just a result of your sharpener, not the quality of the pencil... this is one of the reasons why some people sharpen using a razor and sand paper.
This would be true if it did this to my other pencils. That wasn't the case.
The lead looks like it was not properly centered in the wood
That is Prismacolor for you, they don't have the best quality control.
Drawing test begins at the 4 minute mark.
Amazing sharpener and sounds like your loading a gun!!!
here that pencil is very expensive =(
Review should have been about how dark the pencil could be. Poor reveiw.
Sorry, but I disagree. And sorry you didn't like it. Pressing an Ebony pencil onto paper to make it darker is a very BAD practice. So the point of the video is how dark is it by layering only, the right practice for allowing easier adjustment with eraser AND to avoid graphite sheen.
I am looking for a graphite pencil that gives jet black like a charcoal and doesn't shine. The example of portrait you showed had charcoal used. It would have been more helpful to see a swatch of a flat jet black with layering not pressing the pencil. And I know you can do it. Cheers.
@@ashok1160 This is a review of a specific GRAPHITE pencil. This is clearly shown in the title and in the video. The drawing I showed was simply my latest drawing that I was sharing with my viewers/subscribers. And it shows what you can do if you go dark enough. No where did I say you can do this with this pencil.
"Prismacolor Ebony Drawing Pencils - How Smooth and Dark Is It?"
Just because a pencil does not do what you want it to do doesn't make it a bad review. That's what a review is for! I'm showing you what the pencil CAN DO and CANNOT DO. You are NOT going to find a graphite pencil anywhere in the world that produces "jet black like a charcoal and doesn't shine." It's not my fault you don't realize this. Use Charcoal or Carbon if you want jet black.
Did you know that ebony is my favorite type of Adult videos?