Unto Wax Crayon Color Gem Collection #1

The Color Gem Collection #1 from Studio Unto brings together three wax crayon cubes: Gold, Jade and Ruby. Each cube is crafted from natural materials such as fired chalk, apple, stone and granite – woven with multiple colours, so that every stroke brings a different colour combination onto the paper. The cubic form is no accident: it invites you to slowly reshape the cubes as you draw – a process that resembles geological erosion. All Color Gems are machine-pressed in the Studio Unto atelier in Taipei and hand-finished; subtle colour and form variations between pieces are intentional.

Features

• Multi-coloured cross-section: Each cube contains multiple colour zones made from paraffin wax, talc powder and colour cream. Depending on pressure angle and edge application, soft transitions or opaque lines emerge in alternating colour combinations.
• Cubic form – six usable surfaces and edges: The flat surfaces allow you to apply broad, painterly areas; the edges are ideal for precise lines and hatching. The form changes with every use – blunted corners and impressions are part of the tool.
• Natural materials: Fired chalk, apple components, stone and granite give the pigments a mineral character; the surface of the cubes feels slightly rough and earthy, similar to a polished stone.
• Three gemstone colours: Gold (warm ochre-yellow-bronze layers), Jade (cool green with dark inclusions), Ruby (deep red to carmine red) – each crayon carries the colour palette of its namesake mineral.
• Hand-finished, each piece is unique: All Color Gems are individually hand-completed in Taipei. Subtle colour and form variations between pieces of the same colour reflect the handcrafted nature of production.
• Dezeen Awards 2020 Longlist: The Color Gem series was nominated in 2020 in the product design category of the Dezeen Awards.

Use & Tips

• Paper selection: On lightly textured paper (e.g. watercolour paper, sketch paper 120–160 g/m²) the wax pigments adhere particularly evenly. Very smooth paper produces more opaque, more saturated lines; on rough paper broken, grainy textures emerge.
• Colour mixing through layering: Since each cube itself is multi-coloured, additional blended tones can be created through varying pressure angles and overlays – without needing a second crayon.
• Edge technique for line work: Freshly pressed edges leave sharp, two-colour lines. If you deliberately pull the edge at an angle, you can apply two colours simultaneously in a single stroke.
• Surface work with wax resist: Wax on paper acts as a resist for water-based colours. A surface drawn with the Color Gems can subsequently be painted over with watercolour or diluted ink – the wax remains visible and creates mineralised-looking textures.
• Document form changes: Photographing the cubes before and after each drawing session creates a visual record of your own drawing habits – which edge is used dominantly, how pressure and direction are reflected in the form.
• Combining all three pieces: Gold, Jade and Ruby complement each other as complementary and analogous palettes; used together on one sheet, they create mineral, earthy colour harmonies.

For Design Material Enthusiasts

The Color Gems are created using a machine pressing process but individually hand-finished – a combination that unites industrial reproducibility with artisanal variation. The base material of paraffin wax, talc powder and colour cream is deliberately softer than conventional children's wax crayons: the cube releases pigment even with light pressure and responds sensitively to different pressure levels. The multi-coloured effect results from the layered build-up of colour zones during the pressing process – similar to sediment layers in natural rock. Each cut, each new worn surface reveals different colour layers, so that the colour appearance of the tool changes as it is used more.

Technical Specifications