Conte a Paris was founded by Nicolas Jacques Conte who created the pencil as we know it by mixing graphite with clay and introducing the possibility of different degrees of hardness. Over the decades, the quality and depth of the Conte a Paris range has grown to offer a wide variety of techniques and effects that can be used for drawing, sketching and pastel work. Graphite Lead sketching pencils from Conte a Paris. A hybrid tool, this is a solid graphite lead in the form of a pencil. Available in HB, 2B, 4B and 6B.