Faber-Castell Artist Materials

More Than 260 Years of Creative Tradition

For more than two centuries Faber-Castell has combined traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation to produce some of the world's most trusted pencils pens and artist materials. Join us as we explore the history, ideas and collections that continue to inspire generations of artists.

A Brief History

Founded in Stein, Germany in 1761 by cabinet maker Kaspar Faber, Faber-Castell began as a small pencil workshop long before the invention of photography, electricity, or modern art schools. Through nine generations of family ownership, the company has grown into one of the world's most respected manufacturers of artist materials while remaining committed to quality innovation and responsible forestry. Today, Faber-Castell products are still manufactured to exceptionally high standards and are used by everyone from students discovering drawing for the first time to professional artists, illustrators, architects, and designers.

A pencil provides a pathway for ideas to take shape.

Everything begins with a Pencil

It seems only fitting that the first chapter of the Faber-Castell story was written with a pencil. As the company grew from a small workshop in Stein Germany its reputation was built on producing drawing pencils of exceptional quality. That legacy reached a milestone in 1905 when Alexander Graf von Faber-Castell introduced what would become one of the world's most celebrated graphite pencils—the Castell 9000.

Available in 16 carefully graded hardnesses, it has become a trusted companion for artists, designers, architects, and anyone who values precision on paper. Its fully bonded lead resists breakage while delivering the smooth, consistent performance that has defined the Castell 9000 for more than a century.

More recently Faber-Castell reimagined graphite with the innovative Pitt Graphite Matt range. Its revolutionary ultra-matte lead produces exceptionally deep blacks with dramatically reduced glare making finished drawings easier to photograph, reproduce and scan without unwanted reflections.

Browse Castell 9000 Pencils

Browse Pitt Matt Graphite Pencils

If graphite is where ideas begin, colour is where they find their voice.

Just three years after introducing the Castell 9000 Faber-Castell set out to solve a different challenge. Artists needed coloured pencils that were not only brilliant but permanent. Creating colours that resisted fading proved far more difficult than simply making them brighter. After years of experimentation the company introduced Polychromos in 1908—a name borrowed from the Greek words for many colours.

More than a century later Polychromos remains one of the world's most respected coloured pencil ranges. With richly pigmented oil-based leads exceptional lightfastness and 120 carefully curated colours these pencils have become the benchmark for artists who want their work to endure as beautifully tomorrow as it does today.f art designed to brighten your day.

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Colour has one more surprise.

A coloured pencil is wonderfully predictable until you introduce a little water. Suddenly careful pencil strokes soften into luminous washes and drawing becomes painting. That simple transformation is what inspired Faber-Castell's Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils.

The pencils were introduced in 1980 as Faber-Castell's professional watercolour pencil line. They combine highly pigmented colour with full water solubility. Used dry, they behave like premium coloured pencils. Add water, and the pigment dissolves into luminous watercolour washes while retaining exceptional lightfastness.

Named after the great German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer, whose remarkable watercolours continue to inspire artists more than 500 years later, these professional pencils honour a tradition of precision, observation and craftsmanship while inviting artists to explore colour in an entirely new way.

Browse Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils

The Pitt Collection

Beginning in 1907 Faber-Castell introduced a new family of professional drawing materials under the name Pitt. Derived from the Italian word pittore meaning artist the Pitt name has become synonymous with many of Faber-Castell's finest drawing tools. From monochrome pencils and pastels to pastel pencils and India ink pens each Pitt product is designed to help artists explore tone texture and expressive mark making.

For generations artists have loved the rich velvety colour of soft pastels, but they aren't always easy to control. Pitt Pastel Pencils bring the beauty of traditional pastel into the familiar form of a pencil, making it easier to add fine details, crisp edges and expressive marks while blending seamlessly with pastel artwork. With their high pigment concentration and exceptional lightfastness they have become a favourite for artists who appreciate both precision and the timeless character of pastel.

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Pitt Artist Dual Tip Markers

For more than a century the Pitt name has represented some of Faber-Castell's finest drawing materials. The Pitt Artist Pen continued that tradition by bringing the permanence and expressive character of India ink into a modern pen. Today the Pitt Artist Dual Tip Brush Marker builds on that legacy with a flexible brush nib for sweeping expressive strokes and a precision fibre tip for crisp details and line work. Filled with highly pigmented lightfast India ink these versatile markers invite illustrators designers and sketch artists to move effortlessly between bold gestures and intricate detail while carrying forward a drawing tradition that has inspired artists for generations.

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Pitt Artist Pens

For centuries artists relied on traditional India ink for its permanence, rich blacks and expressive character. Faber-Castell brought that timeless medium into the modern studio with the Pitt Artist Pen, combining highly pigmented India ink with the convenience of a precision drawing pen. Today Pitt Artist Pen sets are trusted by illustrators, designers, urban sketchers and mixed media artists for their exceptional lightfastness, waterproof ink and wide variety of nibs, making them an inspiring choice for everything from quick sketches to finished works of art.

Browse Pitt Artist Pen Sets

Why Artists Choose Faber-Castell at Hues

For more than 260 years Faber-Castell has earned the trust of artists through exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful innovation and materials designed to stand the test of time. From the precision of Castell 9000 graphite pencils to the vibrant colour of Polychromos, the expressive possibilities of Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils and the Pitt range of drawing materials, every collection reflects a commitment to quality that has inspired generations of creative people.

At Hues Art Supply, we're proud to offer one of Saskatchewan's most comprehensive selections of Faber-Castell artist materials. Alongside these celebrated collections you'll also find graphite and charcoal drawing tools, artist-quality erasers, precision sharpeners and studio essentials chosen to support every stage of the creative process. Whether you're picking up your first pencil or refining a lifetime of artistic practice, we're here to help you find the right materials and enjoy the journey of making art.

A Commitment Beyond the Pencil