"All you can write is what you see"
On February 23, 1940, Woody Guthrie scribbled these words at the end of a letter. Above them was a song he had just written about the inequality he witnessed in his travels across the United States. This Land Is Your Land would become one of the most poignant and iconic popular songs in history
Woody is often depicted in sepia tones reminiscent of the Dust Bowl, but his artistic palette extended much further. He filled composition notebooks and diaries with sketches, poems and paintings on his countless travels. His art was playful and vibrant, despite its often rough content. He described his fusion of old compositions and new ideas as a mixture of "what is" and "what could be." Woody believed we could be better and used his creations to inspire people to believe the same.
Blackwing Palomino 223 is a tribute to Woody Guthrie and his unchanging optimism. Each pencil features a design inspired by the "highway ribbon," the "endless skyway" and the "golden valley" of This Land. The matte black ferrule and earth-toned eraser are a nod to the many miles Woody traveled. We use our balanced graphite formula that works well for both writing and drawing, so you too can fill your pages with what you see.