Contents
INTRODUCTION 6
Part One
THE PENCIL
- Introduction 9
- Materials and Examples of Marks 10
- Ways of Holding the Pencil 22
- Pencil Projects 30
Part Two
CHARCOAL
- Introduction 80
- Materials and Examples of Marks 84
- Ways of Holding the Charcoal 98
- Other Forms of Charcoal 100
- Charcoal Projects 104
- Compressed Charcoal Projects 120
- Willow Charcoal Projects 140
Part Three
PENS, INKS, BRUSHES and PAPER
- Introduction 155
- Materials 156
- Examples of Marks and Projects 165
CONCLUSION 207
200 Years Of
Know-How
N
icolas-Jacques Conté was born at Sées
(Normandy) in 1755. He rapidly became
enthusiastic about painting and at 20 years of
age went to study in Paris, where he would
paint portraits of the French royal family
among other works. He was very close to the
major scientists of his day and met the
Montgolfier brothers, inventors of the hot-
air balloon in 1783, when he carried out
experiments on the hot-air balloons, since he
was still divided between painting and the
sciences.
The French Revolution forced him to
change his profession in 1789. He thus
became a talented inventor in many fields.
He conducted varied research activities,
some of which concerned crayons and black
lead. Indeed, genuine crayons became
scarce. Being a painter lacking the vital pro-
fessional tools, Conté found this situation
unacceptable.
In 1794, Conté invented the lead pencil,
also known as the graphite pencil. The Conté
company profited from this invention and
was able to develop an exceptional industrial
know-how in the field of drawing, writing
and pastel.
In January 1795 he submitted the patent
no.32 and set up a pencil factory. A self edu-
cated painter, chemist, physician, hot-air
balloon pilot and inventor, Nicolas-Jacques
Conté passed away in Paris in 1805.
Today, the pioneering spirit of Nicolas-
Jacques remains within the Conté À Paris
company. Their products for sketching and
drawing are renowned for quality by artists
around the world.