Sketch By John Thatch / September 12, 2017 Share Tweet Pin There are no clear cut absolute best colored pencils.Because most experienced artists tend to mix, match and develop a distinct style they like.An artist will have a set of colored pencils they prefer, that they'll compile according to their personal experience. Each colored pencil has their own composition, features and flaws.But...A rule of thumb to follow is that, if you opt for leading brands such as Faber-Castell or Caran D'Ache, you will get what you paid for. If you had to pick the best, then most artists would agree it's Faber-Castell. In this article, I'll cover why Faber-Castell is the artist's favorite choice and what we think of alternatives.7 Great Colored Pencils1. Prismacolor Premier For an artist grade wax colored pencil we recommend the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils. These are great for beginners.It layers incredibly soft and smooth. The colors weave together with ease creating a rich combination of value and tone. These pencils feel great to hold having none of the dryness you might experience with a lesser brand.Beautiful pigmentation which blends in with ease. Not to forget the amazing variety of colors and hues to choose from. I recommend these for adults who are interested in coloring books or if you want to make beautiful Mandalas. Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils... (28759) Last update on 2023-02-12 What's wax-bloom?Wax bloom is the result of the lead having more binding agent than actual color pigments. As you draw you will notice more white space than color.Another concern with the lead :The core is a little soft and might break under a heavy load. Since they switched companies I think the quality suffered a little bit? This might be only a small sample bias. Reliable quality Named color system Pre-sharpened thumbs-up Large variety up to 120 Wax-based lead Wax-bloom Lead may break thumbs-down Tin lacks individual holders for pencils2. Faber-CastellFaber Castells are a bit expensive but you did look for the best didn't you? Are they worth it? Short answer, yes, long answer, no.Let me explain...As a beginner I would rather go with a Prismacolor choice than spend a small fortune on a premium choice like Faber-Castell. It's not the tools that make the artist. Yet, you cannot deny Polychromos pencils are simply amazing. The pencils keep a strong point while still remaining tender when required. The layering is nice and mixed with ease. The core is solid, so rest assured it does not break lightly. Faber-Castell 120148... (2558) Last update on 2023-02-12 You can buy the same pencils and expect the same quality over and over again. The pencils are also color coded to avoid confusion Again, these pencils are expensive, but worth it if you want the absolute best. Great for blending and layering to achieve perfect skin tones. Reliable quality Named color system Pre-sharpened thumbs-up Oil based lead thumbs-up Enviroment friendly Smaller variety Less vibrant than Prismacolor3. PrangWho is it for?Good for beginners and kids if you don't want to spend much.What are they like?With Prang Colored Pencils you'll have multiple colors to choose form and a core that's not too soft and not too hard. They are also not toxic which means they are safe for kids.They aren't as easy to layer nor blend but they offer good value for a price that's practically a steal. Sale Prang Thick Core Colored Pencils,... (4055) Last update on 2023-02-12 Non-toxic Up to 288 pencils Pre-sharpened thumbs-up Vibrant Wax-based lead Lead may break thumbs-down Wax-bloom4. Derwent InktenseWho is it for?For true fine art fans who want something for finer, detailed work we recommend the Derwent Inktense Pencils. Due to the dye based lead you can expect vibrant sharp colors.What are they like?These beauties offer a precise, harder lead that is perfect for fine art. These are often preferred by people who like a more robust feeling and dislike the softness of other premium pencils. Inktense Pencils 72 Wooden Box (272) Last update on 2023-02-12 Beautiful wooden case Up to 72 pencils Pre-sharpened Best for watercolor projects5. Caran D'Ache LuminanceWhat are they like?These Caran D'ache Luminance have a waxy formulation that tends to feel a bit crumbly and scratchy on the paper, but allows them to be layered almost like an oil pastel.Many artists use these in combination with another brand of colored pencil, using the less waxy pencil for the under-layers of drawing then using the Caran d'Ache for the final layers when the tooth is getting filled and reluctant to hold pigment.As with many brands, the light fastness of these varies according to pigment, so check the color charts if this is important to your work. Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 Clr... (1379) Last update on 2023-02-12 Beautiful wooden case Up to 76 pencils High lightfastness thumbs-up Individual pencil holders Expensive6. Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor 62 Reviews Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Colored... Beautifully Pigmented - The premium colored pencils in this set boast a vibrant, 4mm oil-based lead that provides smooth, effortless strokes of color, an encased in lacquered cedar for style and longevitySurface Versatility - T his colored pencils set is perfectly suited for use on a variety of surfaces including paper, cardboard, wood and other synthetic materials, offering durability and trouble-free performance in every projectExceptionally Lightfast - Lyra's Polycolor artist colored pencils set is highly lightfast, meaning you can enjoy your works of art for years to come without fading or discoloring over timeExceptional Color Range - With an array of 68 vibrant colored pencils, 10 grey toned pencils, 22 sketching pencils and accessories, you can easily create specific shades, tones, gradients, designs, illustrations, portraits and moreMade in Germany - Since 1806, Lyra has been a product of talent, vision, creativity and performance, requiring the best tools for artists and professionals to enjoy for years to come Last update on 2023-02-12 Expensive, oil based average lightfastness, moderately hard lead. Blends and layers nicely but as said before you could get similar quality from FC or Caran. But a beautiful box! High quality pencils Up to 105 colors Professional kit thumbs-up Individual pencil holders Expensive7. Staedler Ergosoft Sale 2,874 Reviews Staedtler Ergosoft Colored Pencils,... Ergonomic triangular shapeRichly colored soft leadIncludes a stand up box to keep pencils organizedWood comes from certified sustainably managed forests Last update on 2023-02-12 Equally vibrant colors to Faber Castel and Prismacolor although at a more reasonable price. Great colored pencils for beginners. Soft lead, good for coloring. Wax based so will decay a bit faster than oil based paints. Up to 72 colors Coloring book included thumbs-up Environmental friendly wood Not the highest lightfastness thumbs-down Wax-based leadFrequent Questions and AnswersTechnical Colored Pencil Information"Colored pencils vary greatly in terms of quality and usability; concentration of pigments in the core, lightfastness of the pigments, the durability of the colored pencil, and softness of the lead are some indicators of a brand’s quality and, consequently, its market price." - Wikipedia ManufacturingThe manufacturing process of a colored pencil is important. It's crucial because you want your replacement set of colored pencil to have the same color and durability of the set you owned before. This is why some manufacturers have a reputation for being reliable and others don't.CostThe first factor to consider is your budget. Generally with colored pencils, you get what you pay for. You don't need the absolute best but generally it helps with the workflow and the quality of your work to have the best tools available.BinderThe second factor to consider is the binder. It's the material that holds the pigment together in the lead. The binder influences the strokes and the way that the pencils interact with the medium. Affected is also the tip of the pencil and how soft it feels when you apply pressure. Most pencils have wax-based binders. The "wax" allows them to be layered and burnished as when you add layers. However, wax-based binders cause an effect named as wax bloom. Wax is what happens when a drawing loses color and white spots appear. Fortunatley it can be easily removed or avoided by using fixative.Oil-basedThere are also oil-based binders. As the name suggests the differentiate from their wax counterparts by having oil as the binding agent. The experience differs quite a bit from wax-bonded pencils if you are used to wax based pencil leads. Oil-based pencils layer just as well and are rich in color. Wax bloom is not a real issue with these anymore.What are colored pencils made of?A colored pencil or pencil crayon is an art medium constructed of a narrow, pigmented core encased in a wooden cylindrical case. Unlike graphite and charcoal pencils, colored pencils' cores are wax-based (or oil) and contain varying proportions of pigments, additives, and binding agents.What's lightfastness?"Lightfastness is a property of a pigment or paint that describes how resistant to fading it is when exposed to light. Light striking a painted surface can alter or break the chemical bonds of the pigment, causing the colors to bleach or change, in a process known as photodegradation."What is the difference between Prismacolor pencils and regular colored pencils?Professional/Artist grade colored pencils contain more pigment and less binding agent. This means that with higher quality pencils you'll be able to draw in a way that might fool someone into thinking that you painted a picture. The color will simply be that vibrant and intense.Trustworthy Brands:Prismacolor Colored Pencils Derwent Coloursoft PencilsCaran D'Ache LuminanceBlick Studio Artists' Colored PencilsScholastic Colored PencilsFaber-Castell Polychromos Irojiten Color PencilsKoh-I-Noor Woodless Colored Pencil Sets (Good for the environment)Staedtler Ergosoft Colored Pencil SetsWhere can I get custom made color charts? Linda makes her own colored pencil charts @ coloredpencilinfo.com. These are better than your regular color charts from brand companies because they meticulously organised by someone who understands what's useful for an artist.What kind of pencil sharpener should I get?With modern electric pencil sharpeners being notoriously unreliable we suggest that you try to get one from Phillips due to their history with being the best in the market.What are some good colored pencils for adult coloring books?The best coloring pencils for coloring books are a mix of hard and soft pencils such as Faber-Castell and Derwent Ink. Ideally you'd want beautiful soft coloring for larger areas from a brand like Faber and mix it with hard pencils like the Derwent Ink for trickier details where you just want to nail the minute detail.Wrapping it upOil based leads are better than wax generallyHigh lightastness means your art will decay slower if exposed to sunlightHardness is better for detailed work and soft leads are better for coloringA quality colored pencil isRich in color/pigmentation which means it's also highly lightfastEasily layeredEasy to burnishConsistent in quality - the lead does not break that easily nor oftenFor a beginner or a parent I suggest you start out with cheaper pencils. If possible try out different pencils from open stock if before committing to a brand.If you're already an experienced artist then I'd suggest you try something new. Being used to expensive pencils does not always mean that a cheaper alternative can't do something new. Variety is the spice of life.But when in doubt and money is not an issue, I and pretty much every artist who has ever tried Faber-Castell recommend you try them out.
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