hazliya | Haz's toys!

So, I finally found C.C. Lowell on Park. It's an art supply store that looks teeny on the outside, but is actually quite well-sized, including a small gallery. And when I go in there, it's like sending a 5-year-old into a candy shop.

Anyway, they had a table full of half-off items, things like sketchbooks and idea books and mannequins and lots of othergoodies - including individual prismacolor pencils (SCORE! though I haven't bought any yet) - and underneath said table was something that made my day.

Super-fine flexible nib calligraphy pens.
Cartoonist grade.

These things are like CRACK for me. They're gorgeous, well-made, and make amazing quality lines. Thick to thin and back again with smooth gradation and *gasp* NO BLOTS. The reservoir is so smooth. AND it comes with an inkwell. An inkwell of really nice ink, to boot.

And the best bit is?

(drum roll)

They're ~$2.50.

So I grabbed four of them and a set of 2 pens+12 nibs for $6.

That, and a classic rust conte pencil. I felt like a hick when I saw them and went "Holy crap! They come in something other than crayon form!" Needless to say, much neater and soooo pretty.

I missed conte.

That, and I got a kneaded eraser, something I haven't touched in about 2 years. God, I missed that smell. I remember countless high school art classes spent making Stonehenge with the erasers, and mine's starting to turn red from the conte already. xD

I didn't realize how much I had missed art. Playing with the conte reminds me of classes with Kim and Akiko and crazy art teachers and god knows what else.

But I love my cartoonist's pen. And the others will make nice gifts, I'm sure. =)

Off to go make sex on paper.

-Haz

P.S. I have a rewards card that gives me coupons for $5 off any $10 purchase, if anyone wants me to take a trip with them... >}