The Palomino Blackwing Volume 93 Limited Edition Corita Kent set of 12 pencils is a tribute to the educator, artist, and social justice advocate Corita Kent, who believed that art could be a tool for dialogue, reflection, and change.

While chair of the Art Department at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, Corita asked her students to engage in “slow looking” exercises. Using a paper viewfinder tool that simulated the experience of using a camera, her students were able to select, isolate, and examine the details of the world around them. This resulted in piles of drawings that taught the students how to slow down and see the world with a fresh perspective.

These premium pencils are made in America with extra firm, smooth Japanese graphite, and the design features one of the six colourful brushstrokes that make up Corita’s iconic rainbow swash. The rounded hexagonal barrel is made of genuine incense cedar and is capped with a white-coloured ferrule which holds a square-ended eraser. This eraser is replaceable. The set of 12 pencils includes two of each colour design.

Blackwing pencils were favoured by award-winning creators throughout the 20th century. They were discontinued in the 1990s, despite a cult following. In 2010 Palomino brought Blackwing pencils back for a new generation.