Blackwings

Every day, birds move through our lives unnoticed. They live alongside us in parks, forests, waterways, and neighborhoods, hidden in the rhythm of everyday life.

Birding, or bird watching, is the observation, study, and cataloging of birds in their natural habitats. Even more than that, it’s an exercise in slowing down.

In a world constantly vying for our attention, birding asks us to simply be present. It reminds us there is beauty all around us, waiting to be discovered.

Volume 458 is our tribute to birding. Each balanced graphite pencil features a gradient finish inspired by one of four North American birds: the Clark’s Grebe, Mallard, Green Jay, and Black Rail. The model number 458, the estimated number of migratory bird species that regularly travel through the United States and Canada, is stamped on each pencil in black foil.

Carried freely through the air, broadcast television invited participation without qualification. The same signal that arrived at a downtown apartment also reached a home on the edge of a country road. Broadcast television created a quiet cultural leveling, allowing audiences to form connections not just with stories, but with one another.

The Blackwing 343 is our tribute to broadcast television. Each pencil features a color bar finish inspired by the NTSC test pattern, and our extra-firm graphite. The model number 343, a reference to the 343 scanlines on early CRT televisions, is imprinted with a “TV snow” silver holographic foil.

Limited edition Sakura-themed Blackwing pencils.

Blackwing 21 is our tribute to the craft of woodworking. Each pencil is made with special finger jointed slats and features our first-ever square barrel

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Today, woodworking is an exercise in precision, intuition, and mindfulness. The adage “measure twice, cut once” encourages woodworkers to slow down, be present, and make purposeful choices. A good rule for woodworking, and a good rule for life.

The Blackwing 21 is our tribute to the craft of woodworking. Each pencil is made with special finger jointed slats created by combining two short slats together. It also features our first-ever square barrel with an extra wide face so you can see the finger joints on each pencil. The number 21 represents the wisdom of “measure twice, cut once.” The pencil’s firm graphite is perfect for measuring and marking cut lines, and then measuring them again.

Volume 292 is our tribute to Keith Haring. Each pencil features Haring’s dancing figures and our balanced graphite.

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Keith Haring was one of the most renowned of the young artists, filmmakers, and performers whose work was in conversation with urban street culture of the 1980s…

…When he opened his Pop Shop at 292 Lafayette Street, he thought of it as a physical extension of his work, a place where everyone was welcome to experience his art.

Volume 292 is our tribute to Keith Haring.

Limited edition Sakura-themed Blackwing pencils.

The Blackwing 140 is our tribute to the culinary arts.

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There’s a moment in every kitchen when time and temperature do something magical. At approximately 140 degrees, a series of complex new compounds are created that transform food into an art form.

The Maillard Reaction is the name science gives to this moment when food begins to brown and flavor takes shape, but cooks know it by heart. It’s a feeling. A sound. A smell. The signal that something real is happening.

It’s the warm scent of freshly baked bread, the nutty flavor of roasted vegetables, and the crackling crust on a seared steak.

The Blackwing 140 is a tribute to this incredible transformation and the culinary arts it fuels.

Lab 05.13.25 experiments with gold and silver metallic cores designed to be used with our small-batch black paper notebooks.

Featuring Peanuts quotes and graphics.

The Blackwing 11 is our tribute to Bill Russell and his undeniable legacy on and off the basketball court. The number 11 foil stamped on each pencil represents the number of championships he won, more than any player in NBA history.

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Bill Russell won eleven championships in thirteen seasons as the heart of the greatest dynasty in basketball history. He was a dynamic champion on the court whose impact forever changed the game. Off the court, his presence was even more impactful as he endeavored to fight for equality and social justice…

…A fearless advocate for equality, he was a vocal leader off the court, standing with civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Muhammad Ali.

The Blackwing 11 is our tribute to Bill Russell and his undeniable legacy. The number 11 foil stamped on each pencil represents the number of championships he won, more than any player in NBA history.

LAB 11.29.24 is the tenth installment in our Labs series. With this Lab, we’re experimenting with a triangular shape that is easy to grip and won’t roll off a desk.

“Half the Pressure, Twice the Speed.”

Tribute to Frank Lloyd Wright and his architectural ambition. Each pencil features silhouette of one of Wright’s iconic perforated boards

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Few of the structures built by Frank Lloyd Wright during his historic career exemplify his never-ending pursuit of beauty better than his Usonian homes. Wright created the Usonian design philosophy to show that a practical and affordable home can still be a beautiful home. He brought best-in-class architecture to the middle-class when he built his first Usonian home at the age of 71.

The Blackwing 574 is our tribute to Native American art and the 574 nations that use it to assert agency and identity.

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For centuries, the Indigenous people of North America have preserved their histories through art. As more and more Native Americans were displaced by westward-expanding colonialism, art became a vessel for preserving their culture as well as their history. Their daily lives were recorded through paintings, songs, stories, and dances.

Native American art is both functional and beautiful, acting as a bridge to Indigenous cultures and offering a unique perspective on their history. These works enrich the lives of all Americans, providing a window into the world through Indigenous eyes…

…We worked with Kaw, Osage, Lakota artist Chris Pappan to design a pencil that evokes geometric patterns found throughout many Native American expressions of culture.