The best colored pencils are an invaluable tool for artists who wish to bring vibrancy and life to their creations. Furthermore, with the right colored pencils, it is possible to achieve a variety of effects ranging from smooth gradients to textured lines and detailed artwork – all with stunning results. With the huge variety of colored pencils on the market, however, finding the perfect set can be daunting. In this guide, we will outline the critical factors you should consider when choosing your ideal colored pencils and highlight some of the best sets available today.
What is a colored pencil?
A colored pencil is a drawing instrument consisting of a colored core encased in wood, used for creating art. These pencils are also known as wax-based pencils because their cores typically contain a combination of wax and pigment. The pigments used to make the cores can range from basic colors like red or blue to more complex shades such as magenta or turquoise. As with most types of art supplies, colored pencils come in different sizes and grades of hardness, from soft to hard. Harder pencils give sharper lines while softer lead offers better blending capabilities. Colored pencils can be used alone or in combination with other drawing supplies such as charcoal, markers and pastels to create drawings that have both depth and texture. With the right technique, colored pencils can create a beautiful and vibrant work of art.
Factors to consider for the best colored pencils
The first factor to consider is whether you want wax-based or oil-based colored pencils. Wax-based colored pencils tend to be softer and allow for easy blending and layering of colors, while oil-based pencils are more durable and better able to create sharp details. Depending on the type of artwork you plan to do, one may be more suitable than the other.
The second factor is the quality of the colored pencils. This can range from students’ grade pencils to professional grade sets — each with its own advantages and drawbacks. Student grade colored pencils are usually a great choice for beginners, as they are easy to use and relatively affordable; however, they lack some of the finer qualities of professional grade set such as lightfastness (fade resistance) and vibrant color saturation.
Finally, it’s important to consider how many different shades you need in your set. If you’re working on a detailed piece, you may need up to twelve or more colors; however, for sketching and basic artwork you may only need six or fewer shades.
5 best colored pencils
When it comes to colored pencils, there are so many products on the market today that choosing the best one for your needs can be a daunting task. Fortunately, we have put together a list of the five top rated colored pencils to help you make an informed choice.
Starting with our number one pick, the Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils are considered by many to be among the best colored pencils around. They’re professional quality and come in a wide variety of colors, including 144 hues specifically designed for blending and shading. The thick 3.8mm core also provides great coverage, allowing you to achieve beautiful effects with ease.
Another great product is Staedtler’s Ergosoft Colored Pencils. These pencils are made with thick, soft lead that is easy to use and provides great coverage. They also come in a large range of colors, including many shades specifically designed for blending and shading. The ergonomic triangle shape makes them comfortable to hold as well.
Another highly rated colored pencil is Faber-Castell’s Polychromos Art Pencils. These lightfast pencils have an oil-based lead which allows for deep, vibrant color without the worry of fading over time. They come in up to 120 vivid shades, all of which blend together seamlessly for amazing results.
For those looking for a more affordable option, Derwent Inktense Pencils are an excellent choice. These water-soluble pencils have intense color and produce a vibrant look that can be sealed with a light coat of fixative to ensure the colors don’t run or fade over time.
Finally, there is Caran d’Ache’s Luminance Colored Pencils which are considered by many to be one of the best colored pencils on the market today. Their extra-fine lead provides superior coverage and produces beautiful results every time. The range of 69 lightfast shades also offer plenty of options for blending and shading.
Is Prismacolor or Faber-Castell better?
The debate between Prismacolor and Faber-Castell art supplies is ongoing, with no clear victor in sight. Both brands offer a variety of quality products designed to meet the needs of artists, students, and hobbyists alike.
Prismacolor pencils are known for their vibrant pigmentation and smooth color laydown. The wide range of hues available make it easy to create stunning artwork with great blending capabilities. The major downside is that they’re not as lightfast or erasable as other brands.
Faber-Castell pencils have an impressive reputation when it comes to durability and lightfastness. These pencils are softer than most, which makes them ideal for blending colors and creating subtle effects. They’re also erasable and tend to be slightly cheaper than Prismacolor products. The downside is that Faber-Castell pencils may not have as much pigment, making them less suitable for use in vibrant works of art.
It really comes down to the individual needs and preferences of each artist. Those who need bright colors might find Prismacolor more suitable, while those who are looking for a more durable product should consider Faber-Castell. Ultimately, it’s always best to purchase an assortment of supplies from both brands so you can determine what works best for your artwork. Experimentation is key when it comes to finding the perfect art supplies.
Do professional artists use colored pencils?
Yes, professional artists often use colored pencils to create beautiful pieces of art. From intricate drawings to bold portraits, colored pencils are an ideal medium for expressing creativity. They provide excellent control over the application of color and line, which is highly appreciated by professionals in the field. One of the advantages of using colored pencils is that they do not require any special skills or materials like paints and watercolor media do; they are also a great way to add texture and depth to artwork without making it overly complicated.
Additionally, since colored pencils can be sharpened with precision, you can achieve very fine details in your work that would otherwise need more time-consuming methods. Furthermore, when combined with other media such as drawing ink or markers, colored pencils offer even more possibilities for creating unique artwork. All in all, the versatility of colored pencils makes them an excellent choice for professional artists.
As a result, many professional artists enjoy using these materials and often comment that their work looks more polished and refined when they use colored pencils. For those who are just starting out with art, it is highly recommended that they give colored pencils a try since this medium provides a great opportunity to practice various techniques without too much effort or expense. With a little practice and experimentation, you will soon be able to create masterpieces with your colored pencil set.
What is better than Prismacolor?
There are several alternatives to Prismacolor that offer comparable quality, but provide a greater variety of colors and features. Staedtler Triplus Fineliner is one such alternative, boasting over 300 vibrant colors in an easy-to-hold design. The pens feature superfine 0.3mm tips for precision drawing and are waterproof and long-lasting.
Another great option is the Tombow Dual Brush Pen Art Markers, which come with two versatile tip sizes — a brush tip for broad strokes or a fine tip for detailed line work — so you can create intricate designs with ease. They also boast 80 different colors and blendable ink that dries quickly, making them perfect for use in mixed media projects as well.
Finally, Caran d’Ache Neocolor II Water-Soluble Wax Pastels are an excellent choice for those looking to create art with smooth, vibrant colors. The pastels feature soft, water-soluble wax that can be layered and blended easily, making them perfect for detailed drawings. With their superior quality and extensive color selection, any of these alternatives are sure to take your artwork to the next level.
What brand of colored pencils do artists use?
Artists have many options when it comes to choosing a brand of colored pencils. Popular choices among professional artists include Prismacolor, Caran d’Ache Luminance, Faber-Castell Polychromos, Derwent Coloursoft, and Staedtler Ergosoft.
Prismacolor is known for offering a wide variety of colors with excellent color saturation and smoothness – ideal for blending, shading and layering. The lead is soft yet durable, which means they sharpen easily while still providing excellent control over details.
Caran d’Ache Luminance are known to be the most lightfast of all colored pencils on the market. These pencils come in 80 colors and have an ultra-smooth, creamy lead that makes them perfect for blending, shading, and layering. The bright colors are highly pigmented and boast excellent coverage.
Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils offer 120 vibrant colors with a high level of lightfastness and excellent depth of color. These pencils feature a hard lead which allows for precise detailing work and more intense pressure when coloring in larger areas.
Derwent Coloursoft colored pencils come in 72 colours, offering excellent blendability and good coverage. This brand is best known for its smooth application and strong pigment – it’s easy to build up layers without the waxiness found in other brands.
Staedtler Ergosoft colored pencils offer an ergonomically designed triangular shape for a comfortable grip. These pencils feature densely pigmented lead, excellent coverage, and smooth blending and layering capabilities. They come in 72 colors and are ideal for detailed work.
Overall, each brand of colored pencils has its own unique characteristics which make them suitable for different types of art projects. Professional artists will often experiment with different brands to find out which one works best for their particular needs. Ultimately, the choice of brand is up to the artist’s preference and budget.
Should I get Prismacolor or Polychromos?
Prismacolor pencils are widely regarded as one of the best colored pencils on the market due to their rich pigments and creamy texture. They’re a great choice for blending, shading, and layering colors. However, they do have their drawbacks. Prismacolors can be difficult to sharpen since the lead is so soft, meaning that you may need to replace them more often than other brands.
On the other hand, Polychromos pencils are also respected in the art community for being incredibly vibrant and having superior lightfast ratings compared to most other brands. Despite this advantage, however, many find them harder to blend than Prismacolor as they don’t have quite as much wax. Additionally, some may find that they don’t provide as much coverage when used on dark surfaces.
Ultimately, whether you should get Prismacolor or Polychromos pencils comes down to personal preference and the type of artwork you plan to create. If you’re looking for easy blending capabilities and a creamy texture, then Prismacolors might be the right choice; however, if you need high lightfast ratings then Polychromos might be better suited for your needs. In any case, both brands offer great colored pencils with their own unique advantages and disadvantages. It’s up to you to decide which is best for your artistic purposes.
Is Prismacolor overpriced?
Prismacolor has a reputation for being one of the most expensive art supplies on the market, and its prices can be intimidating. But when it comes to quality, Prismacolor delivers in spades. It offers some of the highest-quality materials available, including soft and delicate leads, strong pigments that won’t smudge or fade over time, richly saturated colors that will stay true even after multiple layers are applied, and a range of sizes that make it easy to find just the right pen or pencil for any project. These features mean that artists who invest in Prismacolor products have access to consistent results that they can count on again and again—something worth paying a bit more for.
In addition to its quality, Prismacolor products come with a few unique features that set them apart from their competitors. For example, their markers are refillable and the tips can be replaced for very low prices when they lose their shape. This is an especially great feature for professional artists who may use a lot of markers in a short period of time and don’t want to have to keep buying new ones every few weeks.
So yes, Prismacolor may indeed by pricier than other brands on the market, but it’s also one of the best options available for those looking for consistency and reliability in their artwork. Its superior materials, thoughtful designs, and innovative features all contribute to making it worth the cost—and ensuring that your art will look just as beautiful on the last day of your project as it did on the first.
