I still remember when I first stumbled upon Malovich - it wasn't love at first sight. I picked up one of their products, but it didn't exactly blow me away.
Fast forward six months, and my desk is now groaning under the weight of their stuff. I've gone a bit crazy for Malovich's products!
Where else can you find quality art supplies for hobbyists at prices like these? Only at Malovich. Their products are surprisingly close to pro-grade, and they're priced like your run-of-the-mill art supplies.
Graf Art 0.5mm 2B Graphite PencilsWhen I first started using Malovich's graphite pencils, I was a bit skeptical. I mostly use Acmeliae, but I figured it was time to give them a try. Having multiple brands in your arsenal is always a good idea, just in case one's out of stock.
The price point for Malovich's pencils is comparable to Acmeliae, which I consider some of the best budget options out there. Malovich charges around 100-150 rubles for 6 packs of 30 pencils, while Acmeliae charges the same for 5 packs of 24 pencils. Malovich is actually a bit cheaper.
All 6 packs come in a branded box, which is a nice touch.
The pencil cases are convenient, if a bit large. You could fit all five cases into one, which means they could've reduced the amount of plastic used.
One thing that caught me off guard was how easy it is to pull out the lead from the small circular hole - it's like a standard packaging with toothpicks.
The cap is screwless, and I haven't had any issues with it.
I bought the leads with a hardness of 2B, which are the softest at 0.5mm thickness I've seen from this brand. But I wouldn't say no to 4B.
In the reviews on Ozon, people often complained that:
in packs of 2B, there are HB leads because there was some kind of error on the production line
I don't know how true these comments are, but I got normal leads that match the stated hardness.
I think it's possible that such a situation could happen. I have a Malovich paper with a typographical error on the number of sheets, and colored pencils can have two identical colors in a set (in such cases, the manufacturer would send the missing shade to the customer). So, the production isn't perfect, and errors can occur.
I use these leads for my Erich Krause Megapolis mechanical pencil, and the sole purpose is drawing.
At first glance, I loved the pencils. I only noticed the difference with Acmeliae while drawing. This difference isn't good or bad – it's just a different feel.The pencils are indeed soft, matching the 2B hardness level they claim. I'm not sure how to put it, but they feel a bit silky. This doesn't affect the drawings, but it's a strange and unique sensation while drawing.
A silky feel is usually a good sign, and many Japanese pencils have this pleasant quality. However, this one feels slightly different. Maybe it's just not enough for a 2B pencil.
My favorite pencils – Malovich and AcmeliaeAlthough drawing with them was quite enjoyable. It's like the pencil glides better over the paper. Although, of course, the paper plays a big role in this. If it's from Malovich, then the drawing turns out great . Not just the Graf Art series or the matte Bristol paper, but any paper made from 100% cellulose will do. You just have to choose the texture to your liking.
I couldn't say it's better or worse than drawing with Acmeliae pencils. It's just a bit different for my hand, that's all. I draw with both, choosing my mood.
In other respects, Malovich pencils are almost indistinguishable from similar Acmeliae ones. They're vibrant, color fully black, allow easy control over pigment saturation, and blend beautifully. As always, I carefully outline all details.
Malovich and Acmeliae – no difference in brightnessThey run out quickly, but that's normal for soft pencils.
I wanted to show you an example of a portrait I completed using only graphite pencils from Malovich. I used the Malovich Waterfall 300 g/m² paper in A4 format, and I have to say, the reverse side of the paper is less grainy.
First, I started with the hair, and I was blown away by the depth of color.
Celldweller (Clayton Albert)
To be honest, I didn't encounter any issues with details, and this pencil allows me to draw anything I want. The thin graphite tip is especially great for eyes, pupils, eyelashes, and small hairs.
So far, I haven't encountered any hard particles, but I've only used one pack out of six, so it's possible that I might run into some issues in the future. However, a rare defect doesn't bother me too much.
I find that blending, gradients, and transitions are easier to achieve with my finger, and it results in a more controlled and accurate process. But this pencil also blends well with any blending stump.
When it comes to filling in large areas, I use the Malovich or Koh-I-Noor 8B pencil, and the thin graphite tip is perfect for the details. My hands don't get tired, and the process is a lot more enjoyable.
When I compare these two pencils from Malevich and Acmeliae, I don't notice a huge difference in the drawings. The real difference is in the feel. The Acmeliae pencils are a bit more prone to dust and seem brighter, while the Malevich pencils are slightly more oily and feel super soft. But neither of them breaks easily – they're both really durable.
I'm more used to working with Acmeliae because I've been using them for years. But with Malevich, I still need to get used to them. Sometimes I sit down to draw and realize I only want to use the Malevich pencils that day.
The Malevich pencils definitely deserve 5 stars. It's hard to find pencils in this price range that are as soft as they claim to be. Most of the time, they're hard, even if they're labeled as 4B. But Malevich has done a great job – kudos to them!