Before the age of easily accessible video tutorials on the internet, the world of drawing and art seemed like an exclusive, secret club where only those with natural gifts for sketching and painting were allowed to join.

 

Despite numerous books that say anyone can learn to draw, more often than not, most aspiring artists end up as spectators and envious admirers— never the ones to wield the paintbrush, pencil, or whichever medium.

 

Caran d’Ache’s resident artist, Peter Egli, begs to differ. “Anyone can learn how to draw, it’s very easy,” he says.

 

Egli was recently in Manila to introduce Filipino art enthusiasts to the Swiss brand of art materials and fine writing instruments. The brand has been in existence for a century and prides itself in developing and creating a varied selection of pastels, pencils, fountain pens, paper and paints to make any artist swoon with delight.

 

Egli’s deft hands make Caran d’Ache’s materials come alive like magic. Using Neocolour, the brand’s highly pigmented wax pastels, Egli picks only the primary colors to swipe on paper and a credit card as a blending tool to create a masterpiece, in less than five minutes.

 

Want something simpler? Egli picks up a green water-soluble pencil from the Supracolour line, draws a thick rectangle in green onto his sketchbook, dips a fat, squirrel-haired brush into a glass of water, and pats it gently against the rectangle he drew in an upward motion.

 

In just a few short strokes, Egli has created a line of watercolor trees that impresses the crowd.

 

The Supracolour pencils, along with a water brush, are one of Egli’s favorites that he takes along to create quickie projects while on a train.

 

Hidden Picasso

 

There is something for everyone in Caran d’Ache’s massive line of art materials to unleash your hidden Picasso or BenCab.

 

The brand has found its home in the Philippines at National Book Store.

 

“We’ve always been known for having the widest selection of books, school and office supplies. In our efforts to constantly innovate our product offerings, we’ve been bringing in various brands from different parts of the world. We are honored to launch Caran d’Ache from Switzerland,” says Xandra Ramos-Padilla, National Book Store managing director.

 

“With its carefully curated fine arts and drawing materials, we are hoping that our customers’ passions will be ignited and open them up to bigger creative possibilities,” she adds.

 

Carole Hubscher, Caran d’Ache president, is eager to see what talented Filipinos can create with the brand’s materials. “We’re a Swiss-made brand that aims to reach more artists, young professionals and creatives all over the world,” she says. “We are very excited to collaborate with National Book Store to bring our extensive collection to Filipinos because we believe that Caran d’Ache will be a great partner of Filipinos in fostering their creative minds and imaginative spirits. We look forward to seeing Caran d’Ache in Filipino homes and workspaces.”

 

Caran d’Ache products are available in National Book Store Glorietta 1 and Shangri-La  Plaza Mall. The fine arts and school line are available in select National Book Store and Powerbooks branches.

 

Shop online at nationalbookstore.com; Call 8888-NBS (627). Follow National Book Store on Twitter and Instagram: @nbsalert. Share your Caran d’Ache creations using the #CaranDAcheatNBS.

 

OJO: Sidebar: Your Caran d’Ache cheat sheet

 

OVERWHELMED by all the colorful goodness? Here are Peter Egli’s top picks to get you started:

 

For the beginner:

 

I love the graphite line because if you have a sketchbook and you’re outdoors, you can use it to create light and shadow.

 

Another product line I love is Museum because it’s water-soluble and highly pigmented; Supracolour, too, for those who love to sketch.

 

Neocolour 2 for fast results. Always have a sketchbook with you or use your phone camera to capture something special and work on something using that photo.

 

For the on-the-go artist:

 

I have mostly a graphite pencil (Technalo), you can smudge it, erase it and work with water. I have a plastic water brush and a good sketchbook, that’s it.

 

For the coloring book addict:

 

For me the best product would be Prismalo because the lead is harder, so it’s better for details and it’s still water-soluble.

 

For the artist on a budget:

 

It depends on what your preferred medium is. I love the Neocolours because you can do a lot with it and use different techniques.