ldakersThis ballpoint pen has come a long way since its creation, it now offers a wide range of colours to help creative people in writing, drawing and colouring.
The friend of schoolchildren, artists, writers or businessmen, the bic cristal ballpoint fits in every pocket and makes every expression easier.
Are you interested in the evolution of this ballpoint pen, its history, its values, and above all its commitment to artists? I’ll talk about it in the detailed article below.
BALLPOINT PEN
The Bic ballpoint pen is one of those ordinary objects that have made it possible to re-imagine everyday life. The invention of this pen revolutionised writing, sparing users the disadvantages of the fountain pen and graphite pencil.
A simple, practical, reliable, accessible and inexpensive object, the Bic ballpoint allows you to write and draw smoothly, express yourself with passion, and communicate in all languages of the world.
Unlike its cousin the fountain pen, the ballpoint pen (called Biros for English or Bic for French) allows you to write quickly and without making any marks because its viscous ink dries almost immediately on contact with the paper thanks to the small ball at the end of its tip. Ingenious when you think about it!
This emblematic pen ushered in the era of the consumer society, of the disposable* (I know, not very ecofriendly, but that was before) but above all made by the French brand Bic one of the best known brands in the world. Cock-a-doodle-doo!
- MEMORIES! I remember a time when we used to scratch the Bic ballpoint pen under our shoes to re-prime the ink that was sometimes a bit stuck in the tube.
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ONCE UPON A TIME
The ancestor of the pen, the stylus, was created in antiquity. A concept that will be perfected over time thanks to brains of many people.
The idea of the first Bic ballpoint dates back to 1865, with the invention of a new tool, a pen designed by an American tanner, John Loud, which was used to mark raw leather.
The inventor of the modern ballpoint pen was the Hungarian journalist José Ladislav Biró (1899 – 1985). With the help of his brother György, a chemist, they came up with the idea of improving the pens of the time by using thick, non-flowing, quick-drying ink used for newspaper printing.
In 1938, the story goes that Biró had the idea of giving pens a marble, watching children playing marbles in a puddle. One thing stands out in his mind. When a marble passes through a puddle, it leaves a trail of water on the ground. This observation brought the answer to the journalist who was looking for a way to regulate the flow of ink from the pen.
In 1950, Marcel Bich, “French baron and businessman” bought the patent from the Biró brothers and modified the ink cartridge.
Bich improved the pen by adding it with a 1 mm diameter stainless steel ball which, by turning, allows easy writing and a 2 km autonomy of use. At the same time, he also decides to produce in large quantities to offer the ballpoint pen at 50 cents.
In 1952, he launched the famous “Cristal” model which allows to check the ink level thanks to its transparent and hexagonal plastic tube, which does not roll on a flat surface. This model, whose cap announces the colour of the ink, is sold in more than 100 billion copies worldwide. It is a worldwide success that has been the subject of much ink.
- DID YOU KNOW THAT? The Bic© ballpoint pen was authorised for use in schools by the French National Education system at the start of the 1965 school year. Very quickly, schoolchildren turned the pen’s tube into a blowpipe.
Today, BIC creates simple, creative and sustainable products. The disposable era is over, and so much the better for the environment!
Ballpoint pens now come in all shapes and colours. It is used by many artists who find different advantages and comfort in this tool.
BIC ART
Initially in 1990, Bic Art was a collection of arts inspired by BIC® products. In 2020, the Collection will bring together nearly 250 works by recognised or emerging international artists.
BIC is multiplying actions in France and elsewhere to promote artistic learning through the use of its writing, drawing and colouring products.
More than a collection, competition or prize for contemporary art, BIC Art has grown to become an artistic expression that brings together many creative people. The creations range from hyper-realism to abstract, from drawing to sculpture, you can do it all with these pens. Pinterest and Google images are full of examples of superb artworks.
Picture bicworld.com
PICTURES FROM MY STUDIO
To illustrate this article, I have selected an artistic style that combines BIC ballpoint pens on pages of old, altered and used books. Creativity has no limits and can give a second life to an object through recycling.
Newspapers, magazines, old books, become a new support that allows one’s imagination to run free.
These products are currently available at GreatArt Online or in the art supply shop in London Shoreditch..
Content provided by Amylee Paris
The passion of Amylee Paris, painter, consultant and author is to share her paintings between galleries, art collectors and her community. Beyond her pictorial skills and her several eBooks available online, Amylee is also recognized as one of the most influential francophone artist-entrepreneurs. She helps beginners or professional artists to optimize their artistic activity.
You can visit her colourful portfolio,follow her on Facebook and Instagram, or find all Amylee’s posts published in GreatArt online Magazineby clicking here!
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