Pencils and markers. They often serve as a catalyst for creation, and Purl Samoheyl, a woodshop artist based at Urbanite in Southeast Portland, takes them to the next level, opting to create his own writing utensils. Though standard pencil length typically ranges from seven to eight inches, Samoheyl’s pencils are three to four feet in length. His pencils and markers are made from all different kinds of wood, and some are fully functional writing utensils. Samoheyl also makes a variety of things such as chairs, unique picture frames, oversized scissors, and more. He can be found online through his website or Instagram account @total_nonseuitur. His pencils are around $300, while his sharpie-style markers are around $500-600.
Samoheyl has been making several different kinds of wood creations for 17 years, with the creation of his giant pencil being a happy accident. He offers lessons on woodwork at Urbanite and was giving a lesson on how to use the lathe — a machine used to shape materials — to a student of his. The student was unsuccessful in creating the required rolling pin, so Samoheyl “suggested we make a pencil.” The student then gave the pencil to his wife, who promoted it on her Instagram, and brought further attention to Samoheyl’s work. Shortly afterwards someone contacted Samoheyl and requested a giant pencil for their showroom, which encouraged him to increase production.
There’s a lot of passion that comes from making pencils and markers. “When I see a kid’s face light up, it means a lot to me,” Samoheyl says. “I want to see that light from everyone, to some extent.” Samoheyl plans to go forward with the creation of pieces with the intention for them to be “genuine, original, well made, and thoughtful.” Samoheyl feels resistance towards making too many of one creation as it will “sort of [lose] its soul,” Samoheyl claims. “If I make 100 pencils and make them one color, I’m like a factory, and it doesn’t feel like there’s genuine passion to it.”
Samoheyl was inspired by 1960s pop artist Claes Oldenburg, who made “a lot of the jumbo creations.” He was also influenced by a store in Manhattan called “Think Big” which opened in 1979, and sold “big pencils, big toothbrushes, records and egg beaters,” according to Samoheyl.
Creating oversized writing utensils has a very particular process. All of Samoheyl’s creations begin as bare lumber, “as most things do,” he explains. This process begins by using a lathe to shape the lumber into its desired shape. From there, it is painted and smaller details are implemented, and it takes a day to dry. Markers are two pieces of wood, a cap and the marker itself, which has a usable marker on the inside. Pencils typically are made of only wood, specifically softer wood as it is lighter, with no lead. It is done this way to ensure that when the pencil is propped up, the lead point doesn’t make a mess on the floor. However, if a person requests that they want their pencil to have lead, it can be done but requires a knife to be sharpened.
While Samoheyl often works on his projects alone, in some cases he’ll ask for help from one of his co-workers, or get help from Tarem Halvorson, a junior at Franklin. Halvorson first started helping out Samoheyl to gain woodshop experience and “help him crank out more work,” Halvorson says. Samoheyl makes very unique art beyond giant pencils and markers, which interested Halvorson further, saying, “it’s hard to find anything like his work.” Halvorson adds that “it’s fun to see his brain going.”
Samoheyl wants to expand his projects, hoping to make his oversized pencils, markers, and paintbrushes even larger and one day hopes they “can be displayed at [his] own gallery.” Samoheyl’s wish is to “plant a seed of influence or an idea in someone, so they can execute that idea or that creative endeavor.” Samoheyl adds, “you can really do anything you imagine, and ultimately, it’s just problem solving, and imagine your ideas in a different way, or even change its size and shape.”
