Colored Pencils Options
Colored Pencils are the most used item for those folks that are truly addicted to adult coloring books. If that sounds like someone you know then this is the list for you.
Everything we have learned about the best coloring supplies for the most discerning Adult Coloring Book Addicts!
The first question you will have to answer is about pencils or markers. If pencils are your answer then you just have to decide your budget and buy the best line you can of the color selection that suits your best.
We recommend checking out individual pencils if at all possible so you can make an informed decision. People talk smack about Prismacolors all the time but they are my favorite. Fabulous colors and they work well for coloring books and sketching for my mixed media art and hand lettering.
We love shopping for colored pencils at Dick Blick because you can order individual pencils in your favorite colors to check them out before you waste your money on your artist pencils. Our recommended top brands are Prismacolor, Faber-Castell Polychromos, Caran d’Ache Pablos,
Oil-Based Colored Pencils include:
Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils
At the top of the list are the beloved Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils. They are not THE most expensive but they are near the top. These pencils are creamy, and smooth, blend easily, layer forever, and will give you a gorgeous result with practice and patience if you are new to this skill. The largest tin has 120 luscious colors including 3 metallic pencils.
- Click to Order Faber Castell Polychromos set of 120 Colored Pencils
- Faber Castell Polychromos set of 36 Colored Pencils
- Faber Castell Polychromos set of 60 Colored Pencils
- Faber Castell Trio Pencil Sharpener
- Faber Castell Dual Metal Sharpener
- Polychromos Colored Pencils UK
- Polychromos Colored Pencils Canada
- Poly’s in Spain
We have found that the sharpener that is made for the specific brand of pencils works fairly well but I always have my trusty Kum sharpeners with me as well as you can never have enough of them.
Lyra Rembrandt Colored Pencils
- LYRA Rembrandt Polycolor Art Pencils, Set of 72
- LYRA Rembrandt Polycolor Art Pencils, Set of 36
- LYRA Rembrandt Aquarell Artists’ Colored Pencils, Set of 72 (Note: These are watercolor colored pencils)
- Lyra’s in the UK
- Lyra’s in Canada
- Lyra’s in Spain
- Lyra’s are available at Dick Blick in individual colors and sets.
Only recently have we discovered these gorgeous sticks of color and we are currently in serious crush status with them. (pictured at the top of this page) They are soft and luminous and the colors are different than the Polycromos so you get a completely unique look when you use them instead of the polys. The only complaint we have is that the largest box is 72 pencils. Lyra’s are oil-based so no pesky wax bloom and they layer and blend nicely. They also come with their own blending pencil in the box but it seems completely useless and has zero effect so stick with your Derwent or Prismacolor blender colorless pencils instead. (More about those later)
Caran d’Ache Colored Pencils
Apparently, the finest colored pencil money can buy. We can’t speak about these from our own experience I SPLURGED! After reading the glowing only 5-star reviews and from coloring friends! We bought the small box of 20 just to see and WOW!!! I now have to rave about them too!!! If you can afford them, give them a try as you won’t be sorry. Caran D’ache Luminance pencils are simply the best-colored pencils money can buy.”
Each pencil is pocketed in its own foam bed within the box. I have enjoyed my set of 20 and the white pencil does amazing things for highlights and special effects. Read the description and reviews carefully as Caran D’ache makes several lines of colored pencils including these two top artist varieties which get fabulous reviews and then the and student and watercolor pencils which didn’t get great reviews for use on adult coloring books. These Luminance pencils have the highest lightfast rating meaning that they won’t fade over time like wax and other oil-based color pencils do. They have SO much pigment and go on SO easily, they really are so lovely. One day I’ll have the big set!! Maybe!
- Caran d’Ache Luminance Colored Pencils – set of 20
- Caran d’Ache Luminance Colored Pencils – Set of 40
- Caran d’Ache Luminance Colored Pencils – set of 76
- Caran d’Ache Supracolor Set of 120 (use wet or dry)
- Caran d’ache Luminance in UK
- Caran d’ache Luminance in Canada
- Caran d’Ache Luminance in Spain
- Sold individually and in several sets at Dick Blick
Pablo Colored Pencil Set Of 120 Metal Box “They are delicious. No wax bloom, no flaky bits. Gorgeous colors that lay down over each other well and blend beautifully. Plus the pencil wood casing is harder, easier to sharpen.” These pencils aren’t quite as pricey and get rave reviews in all the groups on Facebook.
- Caran D’ache Pablo Colored Pencil Set of 12 US UK Canada
- Caran D’ache Pablo Colored Pencil set of 30 US UK Canada
- Caran D’ache Pablo Colored Pencil Set of 18 – US Canada Spain
- Caran D’ache Pablo Colored Pencil Set of 80 – US UK Canada Spain
- Caran D’ache Pablo Colored Pencil Set of 120 US UK Canada Spain
- Sold Individually and in several sizes of sets at Dick Blick
Marco Raffine Colored Pencils
The least expensive wax-based colored pencil that performs like its oil-based more expensive cousins are the Marco Raffine line from Japan. I used to recommend purchasing on Amazon but the prices there have tripled. I found a set of 36 at Walmart here. If you have a Jerry’s Artarama near you, they also carry these budget-friendly pencils.
You can buy these from Amazon here.
Marco Raffine 36 Amazon US
Marco Raffine 72 Canada
Marco Raffine 120 Amazon US
Other brands that are gorgeous but only sold in high-end fine art stores are these Bruynzeel Colored Pencils are uber soft and creamy, possibly too creamy if there is such a thing but I would test these pencils at the nearest high-end fine arts store near you before you invest in a set of these. I have a few to fill in the missing greens I wanted for Enchanted Forest.
Wax Based Colored Pencils
Prismacolor Artist Pencils
I use my Prisma’s all the time not only in my coloring books but they are fabulous for shading and drawing mixed media art as well. I keep them in these pencils wraps by color groups which I find easier than leaving them in the tins.
Prismacolor Premier Artist Pencils – These very nice pencils come in the biggest set and for a price below all but the Marco Raffine pencils in the oil-based pencils above. They are a huge step up from Crayola or other schools / student-grade colored pencils and I’ve had no difficulty with mine breaking or chipping when they get sharpened. They do get a wax bloom if you want to layer your colors to blend and they aren’t colorfast, meaning your colors will fade over time particularly if your pictures are exposed to light.
I recently learned something else about these coloring workhorses for mixed media use. These are THE go-to pencils for many mixed-media artists and art journaling enthusiasts because they DO seal in the color from water-based art supplies you might use in proximity and completely seal the colors if you are doing encaustic work or sealing with beeswax.
What does “wax bloom” mean?
Wax bloom is a natural oxidation process of wax-based materials, just like rust is an oxidation of iron. It appears as a cloudy white film over a drawing or color lay down. If you are plagued with wax bloom, simply wipe your drawing with a clean, dry cloth and spray it with a final fixative to seal out air. If you find your drawings are prone to wax bloom, you may want to use a workable fixative intermittently as you layer your artwork and then finish with a final fixative. Wax bloom is especially prevalent in warmer climates and for artists who apply greater pressure when working with colored pencils. Prismacolor FAQ’
- Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencils 150 colors – every color they make including a few neons and metallics. I wish the packaging was nicer for the biggest purchase but it’s a cardboard box that isn’t handy for coloring. I’ve removed them all and have each color family in a mason jar. They look pretty that way too.
- CLICK to Order US UK Canada France Spain Mexico
- Sold Individually and in all size sets at Dick Blick
Prismacolor Verithins Colored Pencils are not to be confused with the Prismacolor Premier. These pencils are very hard and to be used for details and tiny spaces. They do not work well for blending or shading. Many people like to use them for the tiny spaces in books like Secret Garden or Time Garden.
Prismacolor Verithins Colored Pencils UK
Prismacolor Verithins Colored Pencils Canada
COLORED PENCIL TIP
You want to be careful with these colored pencils because the wax core can break and if that happens it pretty much ruins the pencil because you can’t sharpen it without it falling apart. Some people swear by microwaving them if that happens but Prismacolor FAQs warn against that and instead tell you to lay them in a sunny hot window and then firmly press the cores back together. Another person in our Facebook group suggested laying them on a heating pad. I think that would work well too.
Prismacolors are usually available open stock at Michaels and Guiry’s so you can always buy a couple to test them. Once you try any of these nicer quality pencils you won’t be able to color with a Crayola colored pencil or <GASP> a crayon ever again. But those are great to have around for the kids or grandkids.
Tombow Irojiten Colored Pencils US – UK – Canada – Dick Blick
These pencils remind me of a cross between a Lyra Oil-based pencil and Prismacolor Verithins. These pencils sharpen to a nice sharp point and keep the point nicely. The one thing I really LOVE about the Tombow line is that they come in small packs of 30 colors that don’t overlap one another so you can continue to add to your collection without having to buy a small pack and then have duplicates when you decide to buy the bigger set. They are HARD pencils though and don’t have the pigment of either then Prismas or the Polys.
Chel had this to say in an Amazon review, I’ve only a small pack of these so this explains how the colors are organized brilliantly.
A few things to note:
The Irojitens are pretty hard, as far as colored pencils go. They are not a smooth, creamy pencil that seems to melt over the paper with the lightest of stroke. They cover beautifully, and a little goes a long way, but they definitely require a little more “push” than the softer color pencils on the market. However, they are super rich and creamy, and even if you push down on them quite a lot, the leads do not crumble or turn into dust. They maintain a sharp point for a long time. And the ability to shade with these pencils is incredible- because they are slightly harder, you can get very very light layers of color, and layer many different colors together without losing the surface of the paper under a waxy buildup.
The color range is very untraditional- there is one set of “Vibrant” colors that has your basic red, blue, green, yellow, and orange, but the rest of the range is mostly pastel, “dull” (their name, not mine), and softer, creamier colors (also, one set of ten neon color, which are SO bright and vibrant!)
If you are looking for a collection of bright, traditional, clear jewel-tone colors, you may not love the colors that are available in the Irotijens. I happen to LOVE the colors- they are all creamy, beautiful, painterly… but again, very unusual, especially for colored pencils. It’s almost as if the opaque paint was made into a pencil.
The color names are equally unusual- there’s no Cadmium Red or Gamboge or Cobalt Blue. There’s “Lettuce Green”, “Firefly Yellow”, “Verbena”, and “Jay Blue”, just to name a few.
The pencils are grouped into nine “Volumes” of ten different colored pencils, each following a color theme. There’s Vibrant, Pale (I and II), Very Pale, Dull, Deep I (I and II), Fluorescent, and Light Grayish. The pencils are packaged inside a little box shaped like a book, ten pencils per “Volume”. The packaging is beautiful, but for regular use, I eventually had to give in and store the pencils in a more traditional holder (I wish there was a ton available for the complete set of 90.) Even though I store them out of their book-packaging, I couldn’t bear to separate them out of their color Volumes because they are grouped so perfectly (and I’m the kind of person who obsessively swatches everything and rearranges colors according to my eye rather than whatever numeric system/order they come in).
- Tombow Irojiten Woodland 30 Pack US
- Tombow Irojiten Rainforest 30 Pack
- Tombow Irojiten Seascape 30 Pack
I do wish more colored pencil brands split up their pencils into color volumes like this.
Johanna Basford Recommended Colored Pencils Staedtler Colored Pencils
Johanna really likes these colored pencils for use in her books because you can sharpen them to a very fine point and they blend nicely. They have a coating around the led that produces less breakage than other pencils. The triangular shape is also easy to hold. Click here to Order There just aren’t enough colors here to keep me happy but I do like to take these pencils with me when I color at the coffee shop, the stand is really nice and makes it easy to share with friends.
Click to order Staedtler Colored Pencils Amazon US UK Canada Mexico Spain France
Since Adult Coloring Books are gaining such a huge market share, lots of manufacturers are jumping in to produce coloring supplies. So far NONE of the new colored pencils that have come to the market is anything I would recommend.
Things to look for before you buy Colored Pencils
- Do the core colors match the outsides of the pencils?
- Are the cores centered in the wood? If not you will never be able to sharpen them correctly and the cores will break.
- Do the colored pencils have color names or numbers?
- Are there actually as many colors as the label says or are there duplicates? I was recently sent a set of 50 colored pencils. As I pulled them out to see what the difference was between the 36 and 50 sets, I was so disappointed to find that the extras were just the extras of the same colors that are in the 36 sets. If you stick with one of the suggestions above that fits your budget you will be much happier.
Honestly, simple Crayola Colored Pencils give ok results, you just have to work harder to get the color onto the paper.
Blending Pencils & Medium
A blending pencil is a colorless pencil that you use to blend your color together and smash the pigment into the tooth of the paper so those white speckles aren’t showing anymore. They give you a very painted look instead of the scratchy appearance you might think of with colored pencils.
I have both the Prismacolor blender colorless pencils and the Derwent blender, they both work well for me. Test them with the colored pencils you have decided on to see which one gives you the effect you are looking for. I find that each book with its paper and binding takes me at least one picture to find the pencils I prefer for it. It’s hard not to go right for your favorite image but try so you won’t be disappointed.
Many people prefer to use solvents to help with their color blending in their coloring books.
Gamsol* US UK Canada – take great care with this item as it is toxic and fumes could bother those with respiratory issues.**
Zest-ii is only available in the UK but colorists there swear by it
Baby Oil* – I like this pack of 3 small bottles because no matter what, I am constantly misplacing my coloring supplies. This is the one I choose to use as it’s the non-toxic option.
Vaseline* – I’ve seen both a method using a Q-tip dipped in Vaseline and also where you put the pencil itself into the pot of Vaseline.
*As always please test these methods on a scrap page of your coloring book.
There are Colored Pencil tutorial Videos here using these blending methods.
Erasers
Yes, you CAN erase particularly if you have a light hand with the pencils. I like the erasers that come inside a plastic tube like a pen but any good quality artist eraser will work at least partially. Each brand erases to a different degree. Kneadable erasers are something I’ve loved ever since I dated a commercial artist, these little gems are fun Derwent also makes a battery-powered eraser for the truly addicted. There is a list of my favorite erasers on the Stocking Stuffers page here.
While taking an online art class one of the teachers recommended this amazing erasing tool the Tombow MONO and I immediately ordered both the round and square versions. I use these in my art work quite a bit!
Not addicted yet? Overwhelmed by all of this pencil chatter? No worries, check out
- How to Get Started with Adult Coloring Books
- 13 Tips for New Colorists
- Best Markers for Adult Coloring Books
- Best Gel Pens for Adult Coloring Books
- Colored Pencil Tutorials
- Best Colored Pencil Sharpeners
Did I miss anything? Do you have other favorites? Let us know in the comments below.
Happy Coloring!
I am now wary of buying Prismacolors from Amazon. Every pack I have ever ordered arrived with the leads broken inside the pencils. I’m sure it is due to rough handling during processing and shipping and not a flaw of the pencil itself. Spend a little more and buy them locally. The extra cost is worth avoiding the frustration, not to mention the nubby pencils you quickly end up with.
Interesting! I was worried about it too but the price was right so I went ahead and got them on Amazon and they were absolutely perfect. I’ve had friends who had issues but just contacted Prismacolor through Amazon and replacements were sent out right away. I have found that companies on Amazon don’t want bad reviews so if you contact them they make it right and you don’t have to pay shipping either. 🙂
Agree, I have only had a couple of incidents with broken pencils from Amazon and they are very quick to give a refund or send out replacement pencils. I have not experienced any negative response and have ordered many sets of pencils from Amazon.
Mine were fine I got the 72 set right after Christmas and no issues. I have the 150 coming.
I miss the Holbein pencils, which are great and the colors are fantastic. Expensive but well worth the money
I’ve not heard of those, are they no longer made?
I just bought a set off Amazon. They are hard to find import from Japan and expensive to the tune of $415.80. But well worth it. If u order them pay the extra to get fast shipping with insurance, otherwise it can take months to arrive. It’s good to have the insurance when spending that much for pencils. I am saving to get another set ASAP for fear they will not be available for much longer. I have used all the other brands including the Mitsubishi Uni….which is very hard to find. These are much better to me than anything else. They are unique oil based. Have unique colors that are bright and vibrant. Plus if you get the largest set of 150 you will have 50 awesome pastel colors no one else makes and 5 metallic and neons too. They are so pretty you could hang on the wall. Hate to have to sharpen them….just gorgeous. They have hard wood case….not pressed sawdust or scrap wood. Worth the money to me.
You can buy a set of 12 Holbeins in the pastel shades; I know as I bought my first tin :-). I’m hooked and saving up for a set of 100.
They are still made. After purchasing the pastel tin of 12, I saved up for the 36 tin of standard colours which arrived in the UK last week 😁
I too am an advocate of Holbein pencils! They are expensive, yet well worth the cost in performance and pigment. I own a number of brands, and have a tendency toward the oil based due to my light hand. I also wish they could be sold individually here in the US. I feel the same about the Mitsubishi Unos and the Derwents. Some brands you enjoy using, yet know, when they’re gone……
Definitely look up Dick Blick art suppliers. I have seen them on there in all variety of sets. They’re a Holy Grail I want someday.
I use watercolor pencils almost exclusively and suggest you add a section for them. I have used several brands: Cretacolor, Reeves, Derwent, Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer, Prismacolor, and of course the unique Inktense. And there are others (you already mention Lyra). You could probably buy small sets (or get review sets) of each. BTW Reeves are really inexpensive and a good value for the money.
That’s a great idea! I haven’t used them as they are supposed to be used yet. I have a small set of Inktense and they are gorgeous colors. I’d not heard of Reeves, I will check those out. Please feel free to share some of your work on the Facebook page 🙂
Be aware that Inktense are not watercolour pencils but are actually ink:-)
Ha yes well I do call them “unique,” and you have to grant that they are watercolor and they are pencils.
Sorry to be pedantic Barbara, but they are definitely NOT water colours, even though you add water to them. That is why they have the name ‘Ink’ in their name:-). I recall reading somewhere where users had had some sort of problem when using; they couldn’t get them to handle in the usual way they were used to with watercolours. It was other folk who put her right and reminded her the pigment was ink and not water colour like say Albrecht Dürer or Caran D’Ache Suprasoft colour. Derwent’s own website describe them as:
‘ Derwent Inktense pencils are our best watercolour pencil ever! You can use them dry but mix them with water and WOW! the colour turns into vibrant ink.
Once it’s dry the colour is fixed and you can work over the top of it, and, because it permanent it’s great for using on fabric such as silk and cotton!’
So while loosely one could say they are water colour because you use water to activate. There is no way a ‘normal’ water colour pencil could be used in the same way; i.e. on fabric, it would just wash out.
I totally agree with you they are unique though. I was 50/50 on whether I like them or not, but I had a go using them on a tote bag, and got a totally different perspective on their usage. You have now indirectly nudged me into thinking I really should finish that tote bag:-)
The Mixed Media class I’m doing describes them as being more paint like once dry. They do behave like watercolors albeit very INTENSE colors but once dry they are permanent. With regular watercolors, you can come back and wet them and reactivate. I will have to try them on fabric now. I do now have a page just on watercolors to use for your coloring here: https://coloringbookaddict.com/watercolor-adult-coloring-books/
For the sharpeners : I definitely would have included the Derwent electric sharpener in the list. It’s not only an incredible time saver (just a 1 or 2 second dip in there and the tip of your pencil is nice and pointy), but it saves you from carpal tunnel as well!
Great tip! I have been a bit afraid to use the regular electric sharpeners for fear they would chew up my precious pencils.. I will check the Derwent one out! 🙂
Yeah, on the contrary, it actually saves them because if you are careful to leave them in for just a second or two at a time, there isn’t any more of your pencil “chewed up” than with a manual sharpener, and as a bonus, you run less risk of accidentally breaking the lead, because it’s more directionally stable.
I’m loving all the grayscale pictures I’m seeing but having a difficult time finding large flower pictures to work with and information videos are scarce. Can you do a lesson on grayscale?
There are two great video instructions on the greyscale coloring on this page. https://coloringbookaddict.com/coloring-over-greyscale/ A new publisher of coloring books is sending me some new greyscale one’s to review.. I will let you know the content when I receive them! Excited to give it a try. I also took a photo of my own cat, took it down to greyscale and then printed on cardstock. Came out really great! You can give that a try. Many digital camera’s have an option of grey scale built in too.
A great source of information especially for Faber-Castell – my favourites! This is a great site – keep up the good work!
What about the Westcott sharpeners? I saw one today that uses two AA batteries. I am all for saving my wrists from carpal tunnel! I have some Lyra Giants and some Caran d’Ache Supracolors.
I have not tried the Westcott but am afraid the electrics will chew up my pencils too fast.. do you like it?
I have not tried it, but was wondering if anyone else had. I have a KUM Manual sharpener,
Love my Kum sharpener the best – also a coloring book reviewer myself -began with Derwent and prisma color watercolors for use with prisma color or draw water color pe and prisma color watercolors for use with prisma color or Drumore watercolor pen ns – set of three with water bulb on top and different sized brush heads – also a fan of the Prismacolor colorless blender for watercolor pencils – not just the blender or a stick but a colorless marker – alcohol-based. Now I am enamored with Marco Reniors – somewhere around $35 bought on Amazon – which I use alongside Marco Raffines – I would recommend Marco Raffines for under $20 on Amazon by many different exporters and under different names – just look for the silver pencil & you will know that you are getting a Marco Raffine – I use a Kum sharpener on all my pencils. I have so many different colors and types of pencils and I’m just a colorist – enema bed and I think I do a good job – and I like good pencils, and I like pencils that I can buy it again on “open stock” at an art supply store as a replacement – for any coloring book addict who isn’t going to spend thousands of dollars on pencils I recommend a nice set of 72 Marco Raffine’s and a Kum sharpener – but I’m sure that a time will come when everyone reads reviews of all the colored pencils from the famed car an D’ache through basic Prismacolor prmiere & watercolor, Derwent Watercolor, sharpie and or Prismacolor markers, (fine and dual sides) – you might want to know like me and find out that you areIN LOVE WITH COLORED PENCILS! I am Expecting new set of Faber Castell soon – highly recommend Marco RENIOR (Oil based) – these will take 1 mos to come from China in very nice tin (if that’s a must – also wrapped in bubble wrap for safety!) — super surprised about this find – I could go on for days but began with Kum sharpener – 1-2 twists I’m done – perfect over ever other!
Oh no! NOw you are forcing me to get more pencils!!! lol I have seen people mention Marco Renoirs and thought maybe they wre just typing wrong.. are those the big brothers of Maro Raffines? I agree with you about the budget set. I tend to take my marco’s with me on holiday as I won’t cry as much if something were to happen to them.. Off to order some Renoirs & go to the BIG art store to test watercolor pencils. Those are the only one’s I don’t own … YET! Although I do have a tiny set of Inktense I still need to try. Thanks for stopping by and chatting! Are you on Instagram Diana? Please tag me on your favorite coloring there. 🙂 https://www.instagram.com/coloringbookaddicts/
I also have the Marco Renoir pencils, set of 72, and love them. They are almost identical to the Bruynzeel Design pencils you mentioned in your article. I have both. The Marco Renoir set has more colors and the pencil case is painted a bit differently. However the color numbers and letter font on the pencils line up between the two sets. The Bruynzeel pencils are no longer being marketed in the US and I was able to purchase them as individual colors from a local art supply store that was clearancing them. I was able to get all 48 colors that were being offered, but was sad there weren’t more colors. I was very excited when I received the Marco Renoir pencils and realized they were basically the same pencils but with more color selection. They area creamy pencil with a vivid pigment. They can be quite opaque if you use a heavy hand. The Marco Renoir sets have gone down in price on Amazon since I purchased mine so I recommend you consider adding them to your collection. Definitely go for the 72 pencil set.
I just purchased my first colored pencil sets. I will be doing mostly adult coloring. I got BOTH the Caran d’Ache Pablos and the Faber Castell Polychromos. Am I nuts? I had a set of Caran d’Ache Supracolors that I gave to my daughter, and some Lyra Giants that I gave to my son. I read great things about both these pencils and decided to try them both.
You won’t be sorry at ALL! I adore my Poly’s and lust after Pablos… please let us know what you think!
This is hands down the most thorough review of colored pencils and their accessories I have come across! I look forward to this site’s future!
Thank you so much Shelly! I appreciate the kind words 🙂
I do all my own drawings with prisms color and I use certain colors more than others where can I purchase mabey just 10 or 20 pencils of certain colors at a time .
Depending on the brand, you can get them on Amazon or Dick Blick as well as Hobby Lobby or Guiry’s.
This is a fantastic site,,Wish I had found it when I started.I just bought the Caran Dache museum aquarelle pencils,and I am in love.I only bright three,but I will be back there for more.I have the Inktense,,the albert duherr and neocolor 2 water soluble,but think I must have these also.A few at a time.IF anyone else has used these I would be interested to know.Again thanks so much for all this great information.
Hey Faye, I haven’t tried those yet, the individual pencils aren’t available in my area but please join our Facebook Group, I’m sure there are colorists there who have some thoughts. https://www.facebook.com/groups/coloringbookaddict/
Spectrum Noir has a line of colored pencils called ColorBlend by Spectrum Noir. Five sets to choose from. Someone told me they were smooth and blended well. Was wondering if you had heard of them or tried them? They were being marketed in a craft store (JoAnn Etc.) Thank you for the marvelous reviews!
I haven’t tried those yet and haven’t seen them in person, but have read quite a few reviews and they don’t blend as well as either the Prismacolors or the PolyChromos, it seems as if lots of new people are scrambling to get into the colored pencil business with this surge or excitement with Coloring Books but so far the newer brands just can’t get up to the level of the art pencils that have been around for years. I DO like the idea of being able to add to your collection of colors slowly though.
I know this is imported from Japan, and is a bit pricey, but what about Holbein colored pencils on this list? Although I don’t have them (they’re pricey), I’ve heard some artist YouTube channels swear by it.
I’ve heard of them but they aren’t readily available in the US and I haven’t colored with them or known anyone personally who had, so I didn’t include them.
Correction to the Marco pencils — the are NOT oil based. On their official U.S. store listing, which also includes packaging them in a metal box for protection during shipping (http://amzn.com/B01KX0QSO8) they answer the question regarding oil vs. wax and state all their pencils are wax (https://www.amazon.com/forum/-/TxOREH2FF3ZOGL).
Interesting Ed! Thanks for sharing! I’ve seen conversations on both sides everywhere. They certainly behave more like an oil based Polychromos than a waxy prismacolor so I guess I”ll have to change my description to say an extremely creamy oil feel wax based colored pencil? 🙂
Dear Author,
I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for this incredibly thorough guide on colored pencils for adult coloring books. As a fellow illustrator of coloring books, I understand the importance of selecting the right tools to create an enjoyable and satisfying coloring experience for enthusiasts. Your breakdown of various brands and their unique qualities is a goldmine of information.
I’m particularly intrigued by the discussion around the Tombow Irojiten pencils. The fact that they sharpen to a fine point and maintain it well caught my attention. However, I’m curious about their suitability for intricate designs and fine details, which are often crucial in adult coloring books. Have you personally tested these pencils on highly detailed illustrations, and if so, how did they perform in terms of precision and maintaining sharp lines?
Thank you again for sharing your expertise. Your insights are invaluable for both colorists and fellow creators like me. I look forward to your thoughts on using the Tombow Irojiten pencils for intricate designs.
Warm regards,
They work well for that purpose Nikolett! I’d compare them to the Prismacolor Verithins but when they aren’t sharpened to a point are softer for blending and of course they come in a much larger array of colors. I wish all the nicer grade pencils let you buy sets to complete your collection in stages instead of a huge chuck of money all at once. If you decide to try them I’d love to hear how you go with them. Chrissy
Dear Chrissy,
Thank you so much for your swift and insightful response! Your comparison of the Tombow Irojiten pencils to Prismacolor Verithins, along with the added softness for blending, sounds incredibly promising. I’m definitely going to give them a try for my next test of colored pencils. The idea of having a broader color palette at my disposal is quite appealing, especially when working on intricate designs.
On another note, I’m genuinely thrilled to see that you’ve my coloring book, “Colors of Daydreams!” Your kind words about the book mean the world to me, and I’m grateful for your support. It’s always heartwarming to connect with fellow creators, and I truly appreciate your encouragement.
And speaking of new books, I’m excited to share that I have a new coloring book in the works, titled “Colors of Treasures.” It’s been a labor of love, and I can’t wait to release it soon. I’ll be sure to keep you updated and share more details as we get closer to the launch.
Once again, thank you for your valuable insights and for brightening my day with your kind words. I look forward to exploring the Tombow Irojiten pencils and continuing to follow your creative journey.
Warmest regards,
Nikolett
I’ll be so excited to see it Nikolett! You are SOO talented!
Holbein pencils are made with materials that could cause cancer. There’s a warning on Dick Blick about it. If you still have them, please get rid of them for your safety. I was considering getting some for myself but no art is worth that risk.
Interesting! I wonder what it is in them that is?
It is the Americans overreacting again. They are quite happy to have their food full of junk and additives that are known not to be good for the body; yet they deem colouring pencils to be bad! Why not ban lead pencils as well 😂. I’ve got Holbeins and have no intention of getting rid of them or not using them.
As an American… I agree with you. I even feed my dog food that is made in Canada. Our government often targets the wrong things. I think lots of art supplies have toxic things in them however (think oil paint) and it’s always wise to use with caution particularly if you have a compromised immune system for any reason.
I do agree with you about oil paint. If I recall when reading about it a long time ago, it was decades before they realised the dangers of some of the components. Even longer back when I used to make models and paint them with Humbrel paints, I didn’t realise at first what was affecting my lungs (severe asthmatic). I eventually thankfully cottoned on it was the paints so that was the end of Airfix models for me ha ha. Now I am happy to stick with Rolife. Thank you for your reply.