Barbara retires today after 27 years of working with us! We will miss her so much! Here are some of Barbara's favourite

memories of working at Derwent:

I have been employed by The Cumberland Pencil Company for 27 years, and have worked with some brilliant people. 

I have several special memories one of which is taking part and helping to organise the floats we entered into the Carnival in Keswick which used to be held every other year.  One float we had was a 40 foot flat bed trailer which we decorated in the theme of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with the music of “Hi Ho Hi Ho It’s Off To Work We Go” playing on a loop for several hours!  We all did this in our own time and it was a great experience. We all worked together and had fun as well.  We used to throw pencils from the trailer to children which we would never be allowed to do today because of health and safety!

One other memory, but maybe not that special, happened before we moved to our new factory and the old building at Keswick was getting rather dilapidated. I was opening my office window on the first floor in the factory office block and the hinges of the metal frame gave way. I was left holding the window in my hand and I had no option but to drop it but unfortunately there was a car (parked on double yellow lines) under my window. Part of my job is Health and Safety and I am still getting teased about this now.

Things have certainly changed on the “employment front” over the years - we had one man who reportedly just turned up one day, started sweeping the floor, and worked for us for over 30 years until he retired.

Thanks so much to Barbara for sharing these memories; we wish you all the best in your retirement!

This month, I’m giving you a sneaky peek into my illustration process. Most of my work is digital (although I hand draw everything first) but once a year my work goes off to be shown at the Bologna book fair and for that I like to show the full range of things that I can do, so there will be some digital, some collage / mixed media work and some hand drawn and painted work – you never know what people will be looking for! Here is the process of one of my Bologna illustrations using Derwent Coloursoft pencils (my faves!)

First I start with an idea. I love pictures with houses and ‘Home’ themed projects, so this year I thought I would do a whimsical house. I start to sketch some ideas in pencil; everything is a bit messy at this stage as I fight to get all of my ideas on paper before they drift off again! No-one usually ever sees this part so I feel free to be messy and make notes onto my picture, cross things out, draw over things – as long as I know what I mean, it’s OK!

Once I’m happy with a composition and ironed out any problems.Sometimes I discover I can’t draw what I want in my picture particularly well, so I’ll do a few studies of it from reference material until I’ve perfected it or I might need to practice the perspective and proportions of things until I’m happy.

I then draw it out very lightly onto my paper – I keep the strokes very light so they blend more easily, especially around light areas.

At this point I’ll start adding areas of colour, keeping everything very soft so I can still work over it and adding shading and highlights or even erase something if I think it doesn’t work. This is the hardest stage for me; the colours look quite flat and it can be disheartening because it doesn’t look like the picture in my head yet – at this point I want to abandon it and start over! But instead I usually put it away for an hour and come back to it with fresh eyes (and newly sharpened pencils!)

Once I’m happy with the colour balance I start adding shading. I love to blend lots of colours together; I still work lightly or the surface of the colouring can become shiny too quickly and it can be difficult to add more colour.

Finally, I use a pen to add details over the top. I occasionally use a black fine liner but mostly I use a grey or brown brush pen as you can get finer detail and the finish isn’t so harsh. It really depends on the piece – here I’ve used a grey brush pen to pick out the details such as blades of grass, birds' feet and eyes, leaves on the trees and other little bits and pieces – just make sure not to smudge the ink before it has time to dry!

Thanks so much for popping by to take a sneak peek into my illustration process and share my sketchbook secrets – I hope you’ll come and share yours over on the Derwent Facebook page; we’d love to take a look.

I’ll be back soon!
Sarah x

www.sarahhurley.com

Our next featured artist is Alexis Marcou. Alexis graduated from the University of Plymouth & since then has illustrated for large brands such as Nike. We asked him to answer a few questions about his work and life as an illustrator:

What inspires you and your work?

One of the greatest sources of inspiration for me are photographers portfolios.

I am also inspired by creative blogs, movies and other artists work.

What are your goals as an artist?

To improve my techniques and create illustrations that hopefully will inspire others.

Which artists inspire you?

Many artists inspire me such as Richard Estes, Carine Grasset, Masamune Shirow and David Downton.

Do you have any top tips for drawing?

To be patient is of the greatest importance and to use the best instruments/materials for you. Also it is always good to practice a lot.

How and when did you start drawing?

I was very young when I started to drawing. I started out of curiousity.

How has your style changed over the years?

It evolved gradually into a more cubic and expressive style.

What have you learned about yourself and your work over the years?

I think the most important thing I learned over the years is to appreciate other people's artwork more and to be my hardest critic.

What are the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of being an artist?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist I think is the positive feedback. The most enjoyable aspects are being able to work with a variety of people and work on new techniques which most of the time result in suprises.

You can find out more about Alexis on his website: www.alexismarcou.com

As part of our 180 year celebrations, we're inviting staff and friends of Derwent to provide memories of years gone by. Here, Sapna Philip from Australia writes about her first experience of Derwent pencils:

Dear Rebecca
‎
6 years ago my mother was diagnosed with epilepsy. Being so far away from me she was unfortunately misdiagnosed and treated with the wrong medication. She went through a life and death struggle. At this time my daughter aged 2 couldn't understand the tears that I kept wiping away to get through the struggle. To cheer her up I bought her Derwent Graphics just to spoil her. As a child my elder brother was considered the artist so in a way I wanted to give my daughter something I never had. One evening as she sat on the table drawing her little child pictures of circles or squiggles she said to me ... "Mumma these pencils are so much fun. Let's share them." So she handed me my very first Derwent and I drew. I never realised how much I could drift away. From then on I found an escape. Thank you Derwent. We love your pencils and the peace they bring. On a final note..... My mum is doing much better. :-)
 
Warm Wishes
Sapna

My name is Leah Lister and I have been with Cumberland Pencil Company for 14 years. I am now The Marketing Manager, but when I first started I was employed as Marketing Co-ordinator. The role involved bringing the factory closer to the people at head office based in Aylesbury. Back then there weren't any emails and so I spent many an hour on the M6 and M40 going backwards and forwards to Aylesbury.

It seems strange now but we could devote a whole year to bringing just one product to launch, my first was the Derwent Sketching Collection tins. We used our designers based in Aylesbury and I spent quite a while trying to find an artist, we now have a database, we really didn't then. Proofs would be sent through the post, I would mark up the mistakes and send them back. Now we introduce over 15 new products every year, have our own in house designers and of course everything is done on the computer, I can receive up to 100 emails a day sometimes even more!

The passion for pencils is in my blood, I love my job, and it has evolved dramatically over the years. But the great thing about it, is that even though many of the processes have changed becoming faster and better, we still produce the same high quality artists pencils that we can all be proud of. During my time here, we have brought many new and exciting products to market, including Aquatone, Graphitint, Tinted Charcoal, Inktense, Coloursoft, Metallic, Onyx and of course the imaginative new Artbar this year. I have also overseen three brand re-vamps for Derwent, the introduction of accessories and substrates, the launch of the Academy Range and all the new social media including our highly thought of website, blog. Facebook and Twitter pages.  I have also seen a change in distribution where by in the UK we now sell directly to our retailers, there was a time when we used a distributor, so because of that we need to provide lots of support to make sure people know about Derwent. We organise and attend several exhibitions every year, ensure we have informative literature and great hints and tips amongst many other things.

After so long in my job, you might think things could become stale, but they don't. It is so exciting and there is always something new, there is never a dull day and I just love pencils and the creative work that artists do with them.  Of course none of this would be possible without the help of my excellent team and I am so proud of them all.

One of my favourite crafts is Scrapbooking; not only is it a chance to be creative but it’s a great way to preserve your family history, memories and photos – as well as reliving all the great times as you work on your pages!

Scrapbooking is most commonly done on 12”x12” acid free papers, although some people scrap on 8”11.5”, 8”x8” and 6”x6” as well as mini books – so there is lots of variety for anyone wanting to start out with this craft – if you are already a card maker or paper crafter you probably have most of the materials you need already!

Today I’m showing you how you can incorporate colouring pencils into your scrapbooking. Quite recently crafters have started experimenting more with different mediums on their pages and I wanted to show that your colouring pencils are not limited to just colouring in stamped images to use on your page, there are lots of other uses too. So here is my step-by step scrapbook page…

Supply List – Derwent Coloursoft Pencils, White 12”x12” cardstock, Kraft Cardstock, die cutting machine or punches, adhesive, piercing tool, embroidery thread and needle, black journaling pen, embellishments and a photograph.

First, I cut a piece of Kraft paper to 11” x 5.5”, then using my Cricut Expression (die cutting machine) I  cut some bunting, butterflies and flowers. I’m actually going to be colouring the negative shapes but I kept hold of the die cut butterflies to add to the layout (you could also use punches if you don’t have a die cutting machine.)

Using a piercing tool and ruler I made holes 0.5cm apart all around the Kraft paper and stitched round with 2 strands of coral embroidery thread.

I then rounded the corners using a corner rounder punch and adhered about an inch from the bottom of my white 12x12” sheet of cardstock, I also rounded two of the corners of my photo and adhered next to the die cut area.

Using my Coloursoft pencils I blended the colour carefully through the die cut areas (use a blending stump to get into the small areas) I kept the colours quite fresh, using only one or two colours in each area and blending as I went.

I then coloured in the die cut Kraft paper butterflies, also with Coloursoft pencils and stuck to my layout with glossy accents (by curling the wings up slightly first and sticking just the middle down it gives a great 3D effect to your layout which will also flatten down when you want to pop the layout in your album.)

Using a black journaling pen I doodled over the top of my colouring to add lots of details.  I also added some white gel pen and glitter to small areas to add highlights. One of the great things about Coloursoft pencils is you can draw back over the top of them with a black pen to add details etc…!)

A few finishing touches, embellishments and a journaling card to tell the story behind the picture and my layout was complete!

You could also try…

• Doodling onto your page
• Journaling in rainbow colours
• Stamping and colouring a repeat background to create your own patterned paper

Thanks so much for looking, I hope this inspires you to try colouring pencils in your scrapbooking projects – please do share you links here or on the Derwent Facebook page, we’d love to see them!

I’ll be back soon with more crafty projects!

Sarah x

www.sarahhurley.com

As part of our 180 year celebrations, we're inviting staff and friends of Derwent to provide memories of years gone by. Here, Jay DePalma reminisces about his first experience of Derwent pencils...

"As a child artist in the 1960s and growing up in a home with a single parent - my mother, she knew the value of a dollar, but I was blessed for my mom also understood the unconditional importance of quality art materials. She made sure that my pencils received to up-most usage and even when it was too small to hold, she would help me take the led out of the wood case and grind it into powder so I can use it as a shading aid. What a clever idea from a woman without no artistic background whatever. I always keep myself in check and remember the young and lean years when my hopes of a bright future as an artist seemed almost like an impossible dream. My dearest mother, her undying love and support of my talent and of course, Derwent pencils the best pencils in the world. Thanks you both! Jay DePalma"

Thanks so much to Jay for sharing this memory with us.

Our next Featured Artist is Tiffany Budd, an artist from Surrey. Tiffany has worked with Derwent for many years and recently featured on our packaging for Pastel Blocks. We asked Tiffany a few questions about her work:

What inspires you and your work?

There are many things really, but as artists go, the often forgotten Russian Constructivists inspire me. The way they created new exciting work using shapes, perspective and light is brilliant. They were primarily inspired themselves by the Cubist movement (Picasso and Braque), another one of my favourites. For use of colour, Patrick Heron and Howard Hodgkin are masters in my eyes.  

My Fractured style of painting came from visiting a Russian Constructivist exhibition at the Tate Gallery about 4 years ago. It was like a light bulb moment! I got home, sat down with a glass of wine and sketched the said glass and bottle in a way I hadn’t done before, extending out lines and shading in the blocked up areas. I’ve not looked back since!

When I think of a painting idea, light, reflections and movement get me going. Unusual building shapes are great too. I am about to do a large scale drawing of the Millennium Wheel in my Fractured style, I am very excited about that! I love photographing water and waves too, then translating it onto my canvas as a later date. This is why I always carry a small digital camera with me. You never know what might grab your attention for the next drawing.

What are your goals as an artist?

To create something unique, that no other artist has done before. And for the viewer to look at it, appreciate it and enjoy it, and you never know, purchase it!

Which artist inspires you?

Do I have to choose one?! Aleksandr Rodchenko (Russian Constructivist), Picasso for his diversity and incredible talent, and then Carravaggio for pure drama. Oh then there’s Matisse, Patrick Heron, Howard Hodgkin like I mentioned before….see? Impossible to choose just one!

Do you have any top tips for drawing?

If you think something is not quite right, but can’t figure out quite what, try looking at it in a mirror. For some bizarre reason, the ‘mistake’ jumps out! Don’t ask me why, but it does!  Also, take your sketchbook and camera everywhere like I mentioned before. You never know when something might inspire you and get your fingers itching! When using coloured pencils and want to remove the pencil marks to create a smooth image, a blender pencil is invaluable. It doesn’t affect the colour but blends it all nicely together.  And finally, buy the best quality pencils you can. Cheap ones tend to break and that can incredibly frustrating.

How and when did you start drawing?

I’ve always drawn, as long as I can remember. It was something I was good at school (unlike Maths!). I was at a school which had a fantastic art department. They really encouraged me to develop my talent, and in the process, recommended I give up trying to do A level Biology. Which I did willingly! At Christmas and birthdays growing up, I always asked for art materials. (I still do) I can’t imagine not drawing or painting.

How has your style changed over the years?

Quite dramatically. I wanted to learn how to draw first and foremost, so would copy, sketch figure studies, still life.  Once I could do that, I tried other things, abstracts, collage and I developed a range of floral work using the collage. I still do those, but I’ve moved onto my Fractured work more now. Every now and then, I still do the basics, almost like a refresher course. I love drawing so just want to keep on improving and developing my skills. I believe you need to know the basics of drawing, perspective and copying before you can develop your own personal style.  But that’s just me! Some people have a distinctive style from the outset, but I didn’t.

What have you learned about yourself and your work over the years?

Be yourself and be patient! I used to be incredibly impatient and would rush things and inevitably ruin them. It took years for me to slow down and concentrate more on my work. I do things slowly and carefully now. Although saying that, I have begun to do demonstrations for art societies and you have to complete a painting in 2 hours and talk at the same time! That does tend to speed you up a bit! I also used to try and do styles which just weren’t suited to me. I admire people who do loose, free work. So I tried it, and it didn’t feel right, or look right. Stick to what you’re best at! I also like chatting to and being with people, which is why I began to do art demonstrations. Being an artist can be quite a solitary experience, so this works perfectly for me.

Which country would be your dream drawing destination?

Easter Island! I have had a lifelong fascination with tribal sculpture and beliefs. The fact that this island is as far away from anything you can get, and yet these mysterious, beautiful giant heads gaze inland, not out to sea is incredible. I would love to sit there all day and draw, and think about what they mean! I imagine the light on this island is crystal clear and bright.

What are the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects of being an artist?

Creating something which people enjoy, and that I enjoyed doing myself. Getting paid for it is also a bonus!!! I love being an artist, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.  

You can find out more about Tiffany on her website: www.tiffanybudd.co.uk

We love crafting here at Derwent, so who better to show us some great techniques and projects than super-crafter Sarah Hurley? Sarah will be bringing us lots of fun and colourful ways to craft using Derwent products so keep your eyes peeled... take it away Sarah!

Today I’m sharing with you a Valentine’s card using Inktense pencils and blocks. They are so versatile and have such bright vibrant colours; I just love using them in my crafting!

I’ll be showing you how to stamp and colour with Inktense…

Supply List – Inktense Blocks, Inktense Pencils, Watercolour Paper, Waterbrush – Derwent, Jar Stamps – Little Musings, Cloud Stamp – Hero Arts, Valentine Stamps – Pink Paislee, Once Upon a Princess Cartridge (Cricut Expression) – Provocraft, Staz-on Ink Pad, Kraft Card, Water Spray Bottle 

Firstly I stamped two jars (in case of a mistake or smudge!) using a Staz-on ink pad (this is a solvent based waterproof ink so won’t run and spoil my image once I start to add colour) onto watercolour paper. Using the Inktense pencils, I added some Bright Blue to the edges and bottom of the jar and some Teal Green to the inside of the jar (very lightly) then, using a water brush I blended the colour out using lots of water as I wanted the colour to be very feint to give the effect of glass.

Once this was dry I added some Black to the edges of the lid and some White in the centre and blended with a water brush. While the lid was still wet I added more White to highlight and blended (the colours are more intense when used on wet paper.)

While the jars were drying I cut a piece of watercolour paper to 13 x 9.5cms, using the Inktense blocks dry I coloured the cloud stamp with two shades of blue (you can add colour to a dry stamp but it won’t stamp until you wet the stamp or stamp onto wet paper) I then misted lightly with water using a spray bottle and stamped onto the watercolour paper – set aside to dry.

I then cut a piece of Kraft card to 14 x 10cms and using my Cricut Expression I cut a heart shape in the middle. I then rounded the corners and used a red pen to doodle stitching round the heart and the edge of the paper.

When the cloud image was dry I mounted it onto a card blank using double sided tape, then using 3D foam I added the Kraft card over the top, allowing the stamped clouds to peek through the heart.

Once the jar was dry I stamped the hearts inside the jar using the same technique with the Inktense blocks – using them dry onto the stamp and then misting with water. If you miss any parts out (i.e. if too much water goes on one area and dilutes / washes away the colour) you can just touch up the area with your Inktense pencils or a corner of the Inktense block.

I then added the jar to the front of the card with 3D foam, and a stamped greeting to the top left corner.

Some of my Top Tips! 

• Using the Inktense blocks directly onto your stamp is a great technique to achieve a watercolour effect for backgrounds etc
• For more precision you can use Inktense pencils onto specific areas of the stamp
• The more water you add, the more blurred and painterly your image will be when you stamp
• Bear in mind as you flip the stamp over some water will run, mixing the colours; if you want to avoid this look then wet the paper instead of the stamp, this will also make your colours brighter.
• For a more intense colour, wet your stamp with the mister first and then add colour to the stamp.

I love discovering new things with these pencils & blocks. They are so versatile, I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of my experiments popping up here soon!

www.sarahhurley.com

Derwent and Paleta Art in Poland launched an exciting art competition in art schools in November 2011. The theme was 'Polish Architecture' and the response was fantastic with many students eager to enter. I think you'll agree the winners and runners up work is of a wonderfully high standard.1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd prizes will all receive a selection of Derwent products as well as the opportunity for their entry to be displayed in the Pencil Museum, for 1 month following the competition and to be featured on our social media sites.

Furthermore, the 1^st place winner will also have the opportunity to work to a brief, with our design team, to create a step by step workshop programme using brand new, yet to be launched, Derwent product. The final step by step will be featured on our website and has the potential to feature in further marketing used by Derwent. Finished pieces of work will be returned to schools for re-distribution to individual students.

The winner was a piece named 'Gdansk' Adrian Rogala from Domin school in Poland.  

Second prize was awarded to Agata Skoneczna from Domin school, with her drawing of the Lichen Sanctuary.

Third prize went to Magda Rusek from Labirynt, for her piece named 'Wooden Chapel'.

The Highly Commended prize was awarded to Edyta Fularz, Labirynt for the piece 'Country House'.

We'd like to thank all the students for their entries and to Paleta Art for their hard work in organising and helping to choose the winners!