Prismacolors, Crayola…there are so many different colored pencil brands that exist out in the vast expanse of the world. I’ve personally used so many different brands, that I may not even remember most of the ones I’ve used in my life.
Either way, I’ve recently been getting back into more art, both digital and traditional. I also really enjoy adult coloring books with so many different details and designs. It’s fun to sit back sometimes and just think of nothing but coloring. I’ve even got an Assassin’s Creed coloring book.
I’ve decided to compile a list of great options to help you get started or boost your coloring.
So, without a further ado, let’s jump right into it. But first, you need to learn about some background information and what to consider when buying a set.
What are the Types of Colored Pencils
Colored pencils are not just a simple little tool. Depending on the quality, the make-up, and the material, they can really impact the way your art looks. Some colored pencils are made for professionals and others are made so that your little brother Timmy can color in his homework assignment.
Wax-based Colored Pencils
This is ultimately the most popular form of colored pencil. You’ve most likely been using them your entire life and you probably thought nothing of it. Wax-based colored pencils are perfect for things like blending and shading. The binding agent within them is made of wax. These are soft and can break easily however, which is the real downside to them.
Oil-based Colored Pencils
Oil-based colored pencils are not as popular and are harder to find in most stores. You really would need to go to a specialty art store to find these. The binder is made of oil, of course, and they are less prone to breaking. They do not have the same smooth consistency that some wax-based pencils get. They are not very messy and are not prone to wax bloom, which creates a thin film of wax on the surface. However, they are not extremely well-known with people who are not really professional artists.
Water-based Colored Pencils
These colored pencils are meant to be used in tandem with water. They act like water colors, as they are bound with gum arabic. This can dissolve the pigment and create a water-color effect on the drawing. Again, these are pretty niche and aren’t very well-known to people who aren’t super into art. However, they can be really cool if you know how to use them. You can really create some amazing art with these.
What to Consider when Buying Colored Pencils
There are a few things that you need to know about before you go ahead and spend money on a set of colored pencils.
Color Range
Not every set you buy will have a wide range of colors, and this is usually done on purpose. When you go and buy a tin or a big set, ensure that you have good color variance within each family of colors. If your set is specialized for a certain type of drawing, then you may find that your colors will only be in a certain few families of color.
When you’re going to buy colored pencils, ensure that you know what range of colors is available and if it’s the right fit for you. The bigger the set usually, the more color variance you’ll get.
Hardness vs Lightness
Some colored pencils are harder and therefore may be tougher to blend with. Others are soft and are easier to use in blending scenarios. If you value a certain form of coloring over another, you may want to consider this before buying a certain brand. Some brands have very soft colored pencils while others have medium or very hard colored pencils.
Experience
For more beginner artists, you don’t need to have a colored pencil set that’s full of colors upon colors upon more colors. You may not need to be very specific with your choices either. When you buy colored pencils, your experience level in art is often important.
If you’re a professional, your considerations are probably different than a beginner. However, even if you’re a beginner, it doesn’t mean that you can’t spend a little extra on some nicer brands and enjoy your coloring experience.
(Please note that if you click on the links, they lead to affiliate links which means that I make some commission but it comes at no additional cost to you).
The Best Colored Pencil Set
Find it on Amazon.
Prismacolor is most likely the best and one of the most premium brands out there. Although not the most expensive, it’s preferred by many artists all over the world. I personally own several tins worth of these and I love them.
Prismacolors are wax-based and their best types are extremely vibrant and soft. Prismacolor cores are very good at blending and are soft, with a wide color range that allows for all sorts of designs and art projects. The coverage of these is great and can cover across large surfaces without too much sharpening–provided you’re not pressing down on the colored pencil with the might of an elephant–and are great when it comes to blending.
The colors are also waterproof and don’t wear away as fast as cheaper brands out there.
Great for Beginners and Pros
Find it on Amazon.
This is a lesser-known brand that I found on Amazon when I was researching alternatives to Prismacolor. Castle Arts are a bit harder than Prismacolors. That doesn’t mean that they’re not soft–they very much are. However, I personally found that Castle Arts were great for shading, sketching, and less blending than Prismacolors were. You can’t press down too hard and blend. They’re great for lighter blending.
They’re very highly rated amongst beginners and artists over on Amazon and many people find that their color quality and design are great for any types of arts. I personally use these in my coloring books and I find that they last long, have great color quality, and are really nice to use.
An Oil Based Premium
Find it on Amazon.
Faber Castell is one of the most premium pencil brands out there. It’s a German company and is very proud of its long history in making high-quality pencils. When it comes to oil-based colored pencils, like I mentioned previously, there aren’t many out there. However, if you want to take a bit of a dive into oil-based colored pencils, these are the perfect kind.
The Polychromos are perfect for any coloring project and are great for blending and are more resistant to breaking.
Made in Germany, these water-resistant and smooth pencils are a great addition to a perhaps more professional artist collection out there.
Water Colored Pencils from a Great Brand
Find it on Amazon.
Arteza is a well-known brand in the art world and has many products of all kinds. I was searching for some good water colored pencils and found that they had high ratings on Amazon with many people showcasing how beautiful and vibrant their colors are.
They are great when it comes to blending and they’re perfect for students. They may not be necessarily for the pros, but if you want an introduction into water coloring with colored pencils, then these are perfect for you.
Budget-Friendly from a Great Brand
Find it on Amazon.
The Staedtler brand is another premium German-based pencil company. They make a wide range of different art and office supplies and are great for any type of artist as well.
The Staedtler Noris are a wonderful budget-friendly option. They are more resistant to breakage, have good color range, and are good for light art work. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend these for big art projects, as their color depth is not super dark. Plus, they aren’t the best at blending. These are probably good for a coloring book if you don’t want to overspend on colored pencils.
Still, they’re good and for their price, excellent.
Conclusions
Hopefully that list helped you start figuring out what type of colored pencils are a perfect fit. If you still have any questions, feel free to post in the comments below. Remember to keep all discussions respectful and polite!
Happy coloring!
I’m a writer for The DZSH Group and have a passion for all things gaming. I’m also an author. Check out my newest SciFi/Dark Fantasy Novel here.
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