Best Finds colored pencils

Buying guide for Best colored pencils

If there’s one item that belongs in every art supply collection, it’s a set of colored pencils. The medium is a favorite for fine, detailed work, including coloring books, drawing projects, and drafting. 

Colored pencils come in a rainbow of vibrant shades, particularly primary colors, jewel tones, neons, and pastels. Several manufacturers now make inclusive sets that feature all skin tones and true-to-life colors. Besides an impressive color range, they come in a few different varieties, including erasable, watercolor, and toddler-friendly pencils. 

With so many brands and varieties of colored pencils available, it’s easy to feel spoiled for choice. To find the best set for your creative needs, however, it’s important to examine a few key features. 

Crayola manufactures more colored pencils than any other company in the world. The company also offers free access to printable coloring pages on its website.

How to buy the best colored pencils

What are colored pencils made of?

Colored pencils have a simple design that features a wooden body with a pigmented core. Each core contains a different formulation of binding agents and additives, which impacts how hard or soft the pencil is. The core may be made of wax, oil, or charcoal, and there are some pencils that are water-soluble. Pigments vary in terms of concentration, saturation, and intensity, and in turn, they affect how vibrant and lightfast the colors are. 

What are colored pencils used for?

Colored pencils are typically used for coloring, sketching, cartooning, and drafting projects. A few varieties of pencils are better for certain projects than others.

Wax-based pencils are ideal for everyday coloring because they’re inexpensive and easy for anyone to control, including novice artists.

Oil-based pencils apply color slowly and as a result, offer a controlled coloring experience. 

Water-soluble and watercolor pencils have a binder that reacts to water and transforms dry pencil strokes into fluid paint. These are popular for creating multidimensional works of art by both coloring and painting. 

Charcoal pencils are suitable for detailed shading and blending and are often used for advanced coloring techniques by experienced artists.

Hard vs. soft colored pencils

When choosing colored pencils for specific projects, it’s helpful to know the difference between hard and soft pencils. 

Hard pencils are typically used for detailed work because they create fine, crisp lines. However, they’re not the best choice for coloring large spaces. 

Soft pencils have a buttery texture that glides across the paper and covers large areas. One of the drawbacks, unfortunately, is that certain soft pencils can leave a grainy texture on the paper.

Colored pencils for kids vs. adults

Although colored pencils are used by people of all ages, there are a few key differences between sets for kids and sets for adults. 

Sets for kids tend to be made of nontoxic materials and undergo rigorous quality and safety testing before they become available. Most of these colored pencil sets are designed for everyday coloring or school projects, and they’re not as bright or blendable as better-quality adult pencils. 

Sets for adults generally fall into two categories: casual and artist-grade. Casual coloring sets, like most kids’ sets, are suitable for arts and crafts projects or adult coloring books. Artist-grade sets, sometimes called scholar sets, are geared toward creative and professional use.

Staff Tip

For kids and adults who like coloring on the go, there are a few travel-friendly colored pencil sets available. Some of them come with a durable protective case made of plastic.

Staff

BestReviews

Features to look for in colored pencils

Packaging

Colored pencils are packaged in durable cardboard boxes that are suitable for long-term storage. Although they may sustain wear and tear, especially when they’re jostled inside backpacks, they generally last the duration of the pencils. 

Artist-grade sets usually come in better-quality cardboard packaging, and some of them come in fine metal, plastic, or wooden cases. There are a few sets that come in zipper travel cases or tube containers. 

Sharpener

Whereas crayons often come in a box with a built-in sharpener, it's rare to see this feature in a colored pencil case. Instead, artists purchase mechanical or electric pencil sharpeners. Mechanical sharpeners are recommended over electric ones because they’re less likely to shred or damage the pencils, particularly high-quality pencils. However, artists using affordable pencils for casual coloring projects prefer the convenience of electric sharpeners.

Color range

The color range largely depends on how many pencils come in a set. Basic sets include 12 colors that at the very least include most or all 7 colors of the rainbow. Other pencils are sold in sets of 24, 36, or 48. Each assortment features several shades of rainbow colors, ranging from vibrant magenta to sky blue. Deluxe colored pencil sets have anywhere from 72 to 180 colors. 

Labels

With so many unique shades, it’s sometimes hard to remember the names of all the colors in colored pencil sets. To make it easier, some manufacturers print names or numbers on the pencils for easy reference. A few sets also include a shade chart or color wheel showing how the colors relate to one another. 

Special varieties

There are a few special varieties of colored pencils designed to meet unique creative needs. Metallic and glitter pencils, for example, add sparkle to artwork, while erasable pencils are forgiving and versatile. These sets may come with erasers as well. Classroom pencil sets, sometimes sold in bulk, include colors frequently used in art projects. Some of the newest ones available are those featuring an inclusive shade range for skin tones. 

Website: Best Finds colored pencils https://bfreviews.com/news/view/1

Look Around