For children's coloring or illustration and watercolor enthusiasts, colored pencils are a must. Various types of this product are available on the market. There are even boxes with several hundred colors! To meet your expectations, we have developed this guide to buying the best colored pencils.
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Our selection
"These colored pencils offer many possibilities and outstanding precision for all artists and designers. You have a total of 120 different colors and silky, pigment-rich…"
"Featuring a rotating tip, these Crayola Twistables colored pencils no longer require a sharpener to use. They offer a vibrant color result, similar to markers,…"
"These pencils are not particularly greasy, that's not a problem. In fact, they have exceptional coverage and pigmentation! The colors are beautiful and work beautifully."
"Stabilo offers a box of 60 colored pencils designed specifically for fine arts. These pencils offer charcoal or drawing chalk like strokes and colors that…"
"Coloring enthusiasts will love these Sanford Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. Creamy and rich in pigment, they glide over paper beautifully and produce vibrant colors."
These colored pencils offer many possibilities and outstanding precision for all artists and designers. You have a total of 120 different colors and silky, pigment-rich leads.
43,99 £ on AmazonDedicated to professional and aspiring artists, this box of crayons includes 120 pieces. These colored pencils feature a silky, pigment-rich, wax-based lead. The lead adheres well to the paper for intense and precise colors. With the wide range of colors available, you get perfect shades and various mixes.
You don't even have to press hard to get vivid colors. The pencil, made of basswood, is also very sturdy. It won't break during your composition and spoil it. These Castle Arts are the perfect pencils for creating original and beautifully finished art.
Featuring a rotating tip, these Crayola Twistables colored pencils no longer require a sharpener to use. They offer a vibrant color result, similar to markers, but silky smooth.
7,61 £ on AmazonKids are sure to love these Crayola Twistables twist-tipped crayons. No more long chores of sharpening the lead before they can use it! It's a waste anyway. With these colored pencils, all you have to do is twist the tip to get more lead out. This technique also makes the lead more durable.
The lead is sharp enough to be suitable for felt-tip pens. Indeed, it allows you to color your composition with vibrant hues, to highlight details, without bothering to press too hard on the pencil. In the cardboard package, very light by the way, you have a total of 24 different colored pencils. Enough to make a beautiful creation or to finalize a coloring book.
These pencils are not particularly greasy, that's not a problem. In fact, they have exceptional coverage and pigmentation! The colors are beautiful and work beautifully.
183 £ on AmazonThis batch of 76 colored pencils has a very high resistance to light. The pigments are finely ground and chosen for their intensity, UV resistance and purity. They have a surprising texture, special and unique to them. The colored pencils glide on the paper and the colors are resplendent. Moreover, they present natural and really beautiful shades.
As for the packaging, each crayon is well cushioned in a fine foam with three rows, all in a beautiful box. However, don't be put off by these Caran D'Ache colored pencils at first, because at first they seem a bit sturdy. But as time goes on, they become easier to use. Note that they can also be suitable for children.
Stabilo offers a box of 60 colored pencils designed specifically for fine arts. These pencils offer charcoal or drawing chalk like strokes and colors that can be blended.
74,52 £ on AmazonIf you're a professional colorist or artist, consider this box of 60 Stabilo CarbOthello colored pencils. The lead is dry and powdery like charcoal and drawing chalk, but with a bright matte texture. Moreover, these colored pencils are perfect for dry pastel since they allow mixing, dry blending or even dipped head finishing.
If you're a watercolor enthusiast, you can also use these Stabilo CarbOthello pastel charcoal pencils, although the brand dedicates this passion to another line of watercolor pencils. As an added bonus, all 60 pieces come with a sharpener, eraser and breadcrumb eraser.
Coloring enthusiasts will love these Sanford Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. Creamy and rich in pigment, they glide over paper beautifully and produce vibrant colors.
120 £ on AmazonAny specific needs?
The best colored pencils in 2021
The best entry-level colored pencils
The best high-end colored pencils
Excellent high-end colored pencils
Your guide :
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In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Castle Arts Artist's Colored Pencils - 120 pieces
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Crayola Twistables - 24 pieces
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Crayons de couleurs Caran D'Ache Luminance 6901 - 76 pièces
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Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencils - 60 pieces
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Crayons de couleurs en bois Sanford Prismacolor Premier - 150 pièces
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These colored pencils offer many possibilities and outstanding precision for all artists and designers. You have a total of 120 different colors and silky, pigment-rich leads.
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Featuring a rotating tip, these Crayola Twistables colored pencils no longer require a sharpener to use. They offer a vibrant color result, similar to markers, but silky smooth.
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These pencils are not particularly greasy, that's not a problem. In fact, they have exceptional coverage and pigmentation! The colors are beautiful and work beautifully.
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Stabilo offers a box of 60 colored pencils designed specifically for fine arts. These pencils offer charcoal or drawing chalk like strokes and colors that can be blended.
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Coloring enthusiasts will love these Sanford Prismacolor Premier colored pencils. Creamy and rich in pigment, they glide over paper beautifully and produce vibrant colors.
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Strength
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Mine
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Wax-based, smooth, rich in vibrant pigments
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Plastic coated, glossy pigmentation
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Intense, finely ground, UV-resistant pigments
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Very pigmented, charcoal-like line
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Wax-based, creamy, highly pigmented
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Number of pieces
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120
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24
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76
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60
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150
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Material
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Limewood
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Plastic
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Wood
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Wood
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Wood
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Storage
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Metal box
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Cardboard packaging
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Reinforced cardboard box
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Metal box
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Cardboard box
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The lead is a determining criterion in terms of colored pencils. Choose models with a protective sleeve for durability and ease of sharpening. A highly pigmented lead also offers great covering power, which makes it possible to color large areas, to draw sharp outlines, but also to make precise colorings. It is also very greasy and not dry for a very vivid and not bland colors. As such, it doesn't require much sharpening, as long as the colored pencils are used correctly. No need to press too hard to get the best rendering.
Opting for a great brand is also the guarantee of an exceptional quality. For example, BIC colored pencils are made in the UK in the group's factories. The brand has long been associated with a unique know-how, especially in terms of school supplies. Note that its Kids Evolution Ecolutions range was recently awarded the NF Environnement label.
The materials used in the manufacture of colored pencils also guarantee their robustness. On the market, we distinguish many models that are up to date, being made of synthetic resin and 50% recycled material. These colored pencils are a reference at a time when environmental protection is a worldwide sport. Certified wood-free, they are cleaner when sharpened.
We
also choose our colored pencils in reference to their dressing. Some models are not fully colored, so much so that children have trouble with the color they are looking for in their kit. On the other hand, others are adorned with pretty stripes to the delight of children.
Since crayons are made of a much harder material in the core, they withstand heat and lack of moisture much better. Also, at any given time, a large majority of the core is protected by the outer shell. Remember, the shell is not just there for structural rigidity. It is also there to protect itself!
Most crayons are wax-based. The right amount of wax gives the crayon a smooth texture that helps the pigment flow onto the surface. The wax also helps the mark adhere to the surface or other layers of pencil, which means you can put down multiple layers without having to worry about smudging or sticking (a common problem with pastels).
Wax-based crayons come in a wide range of consistencies: from hard crayons designed for students to soft varieties designed for professionals. Since wax-based crayons are so common, there is likely a particular set that fits your required combination of quality and consistency.
Oil-based crayons use oil to bind the pigment and distribute it over the surface (but they still contain wax). What this means in practice is that they have a slightly different consistency and do not suffer from wax bloom. Most oil-based pencils are moderately soft: a bit firmer than many wax-based crayons, but still softer than student pencils.
While they are still fairly smooth, they won't set color as quickly as Prismacolors, for example. However, they are better at holding a dot and arguably more versatile. The firmer lead also means they are less likely to break and won't need to be sharpened as often. Some artists prefer a more restrained application of color, as it gives them more control.
Like
regular colored pencils, watercolor pencils can be used dry. The binder in them is a water-soluble gum that allows the pigments to be diluted with water. Artist grade water soluble colored pencils are essentially dry watercolor paints in pencil form. In practice, this means they are perfectly capable of producing watercolors by combining them with water and a brush or sponge to blend colors or create washes.
Other effects are also achieved by drawing on wet paper or by dipping the tip of the pencil in water beforehand (creating very soft lines). Many artists also use them in combination with regular watercolors and other media (including regular colored pencils). They can be hard to get used to, but if you like watercolors, you should definitely give them a try.
Colored pencils are a wonderfully dynamic medium that are very popular with artists and hobbyists because they are so easy to use. Plus, they are much cleaner and require almost no setup compared to most other art media! Colored pencils are capable of rendering expressive and abstract, or detailed and photorealistic art styles.
While they are slow to use compared to wet media like paint (in terms of coloring), they are almost unprecedented in terms of control and detail. Colored pencils, like watercolors, are also known for their translucent quality, which can give your work a striking luminance, especially on textured paper.
In addition, the versatility of colored pencils also allows for the application of bright, opaque colors, either by pressing harder or by layering and blending.
It is a type of pen that has its own ink source. It is mainly used to write permanently or not. There are different types of felt-tip pens, those with broad strokes, usually called markers, and those with fine tips whose points are made of felt, hence the origin of the name.
The ink that is easily erased is used for temporary markers. This ink adheres to the surface of the material being written on. Usually, it is transparent for overhead projectors or whiteboards. It is also the one given to children for their coloring (easily erased).
For creative studios and advertising agencies, the markers are used to make models simulating the appearance of a photograph to be made. A range with several colours exists. Many of these markers have refill inks and additional colours by mixing.
For artists, especially when they are gifted, it doesn't matter whether they use colored pencils or markers, but it obviously depends on the field and the art they want to share. But for beginners or for children, it is ideal to use colored pencils. They give more vividness, don't get too dirty (for professionals) and for parents, your children will only ask you for paper support.
To liven up your drawings
Whether you are an amateur or a professional drawer, coloured pencils are essential to bring your designs to life. Their function is to bring clarity so that your drawings can be closer to the models you use. The use of colored pencils allows the drawings you make on any support.
To diversify your art
We are used to drawing on white paper since our childhood. And you may have already wondered what white colored pencils are for. They allow you to draw on dark or colored paper. So, by choosing to draw with a white pencil on black paper, you give your creativity another dimension.
To help you de-stress
Art therapy improves your well-being. If you are stressed, you can color mandalas to relax. It is also a kind of therapy as it allows you to bring out all the good in you... and the bad too. It can even help you change your daily habits and behaviors. And of course, anti-stress coloring can't be done without various colored pencils.
To develop your creativity
When you color, you personalize a drawing by choosing the colors according to your mood and taste. You let your creativity express itself. Thus, by dint of practicing this activity, you make the blank page syndrome disappear. With quality coloured pencils, you can test your limits and surpass yourself, as if everything was possible and accessible.
To help you clear your head
Coloring calms your mind. Indeed, by concentrating on a single activity, you enter a second state. The fact of repeating gestures to color has a hypnogenic and reassuring effect.
In our opinion, the best brands of coloured pencils in 2022 are :
The Prisma brand belongs to the Bertelsmann group. The coloured pencils produced by this brand are among the best on the market. There are different types such as Prismacolor Premier, Prismacolor Vérithin, etc.
The Derwent brand is a famous brand that originated in the UK in 1832. Derwent coloured pencils have maintained their reputation ever since and remain among the best in quality and design.
Caran d'Ache is a Swiss manufacturer of art materials and writing instruments. Founded in 1915, it produces a wide range of products, including coloured pencils, graphite pencils, pastels, fountain pens, ballpoint pens, mechanical pencils, markers, gouache paints and ink cartridges.
Faber-Castell is in fact the oldest pencil manufacturer in the world. The company's very first product was the (then revolutionary) graphite pencil, introduced in 1761. This product has been in constant production ever since and is still a popular product today.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Keep your crayons sharp.
Your colored pencils need to be sharpened so that the pigment penetrates the paper well. You may find it easier to sharpen soft lead pencils in an eyebrow sharpener or eyeliner pencil sharpener.
After sharpening.
After
sharpening your colored pencil, run it through the bristles of a brush, for example. This will remove any stray crumbs that may stick to the sharpened tip and keep them from falling onto your canvas.
Think about sustainability.
More expensive colored pencils are made from quality wood that adheres more closely to the core. This makes the core less likely to break, even if it is dropped.
Look for a wide range of each color.
When
you shade your design, you need a darker shade of the color you use for the object. If you plan to do a lot of shading, make sure you have a wide range of shades for each color.
Place a few sheets of paper under the piece you are working on.
This makes
color layering much easier and also helps avoid leaving marks on uneven surfaces or residue that might be under the sheet you are working on
.
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