Blackwing Vol.651 Palomino Pencils (SET OF 12)
Despite his image as an international movie star and acclaimed martial artist, Bruce Lee was a philosopher at his core. His pocketbooks contained everything from dance routines, to uplifting self-affirmations and deep life-shaping wisdoms. While his oeuvre is filled with classic films, his crowning achievement may have been his art known as Jeet Kune Do.
In a note to his students, Bruce Lee wrote “the art of Jeet Kune Do is simply to simplify.” He believed in honesty in all actions and championed a freedom of expression that had never been seen in the world of martial arts. Jeet Kune Do was designed for combat, but its tenets can be applied to the challenges of everyday life; “using no way as way; having no limitation as limitation.”
The Blackwing 651 is a tribute to the legendary Bruce Lee. Both simple and direct, each pencil features a black and yellow striped design that takes its cues from the philosophies of Jeet Kune Do. The number 651 is derived from 651 S. Weller Street in Seattle, where Bruce Lee opened his first formal school. The extra-firm graphite is ideal for writing notes, including those to your future self, whenever inspiration strikes.
Blackwing Pencils
Legendary Grammy, Emmy, Pulitzer and Academy Award winners have created with the Blackwing 602 pencil. The list of known users includes John Steinbeck, Looney Tunes creator Chuck Jones, and Disney animator Shamus Culhane who, according to animation historian Charles Soloman, asked to be buried with his Blackwing 602.
Blackwings roots go back to the 1930s when the 602 model was first introduced by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company. Over the years, the pencil with the unique rectangular eraser became synonymous with quality. Then, in 1998, after several corporate acquisitions, it was discontinued, but not forgotten. In fact, fans began paying as much as $40 on eBay for a single Blackwing pencil.
In 2007, Blackwing introduced their Palomino range of pencils using Genuine Incense-cedar and premium Japanese graphite. Artists and writers started comparing them to their beloved Blackwing 602s, and folks began asking Blackwing to consider reviving the Blackwing brand. Blackwing tapped into over 100 years of family-run pencil industry experience to re-introduce Blackwing pencils in 2010.
In the 10 years since its revival, Blackwing has grown from a single pencil into a culture. Its a culture that's all about living mindfully and finding balance in our fast paced lives.