Choosing the Right Coloured Pencil Set for You

The need to express ourselves through art has been around ever since we have been around. Ancient cave paintings can attest to this. Though simple, they are a valuable testament to the human need to document and convey how we feel and what we see, even when words fail us.

Parietal art was done in either black or red pigment, derived from different elements found in nature like charcoal or iron oxides. The engravings were made with simple tools.

Jumping a couple of centuries later, coloured pencils make an appearance. First used as a way to document and distinguish different items on lists, they are now a go-to medium for many artists around the globe.

Usually made of a cedar wood exterior and a pigment core on the inside, they can be found everywhere, from kindergarten classrooms to professional art studios.

Still, there is a huge difference between a regular, classroom pencil kit and a professional pencil kit. The main difference is in the core, i.e. the pigment. Professional pencil sets are known to be made with materials of much higher quality than the regular ones, offering richer, more vibrant colours and better blending between them. Regular ones just can't pull this off.

However, not all professional coloured art pencil sets are made the same, either. There are a few different types, made with different binders, offering different effects to the user.

Pencils with soft cores lay down colour easily and are great for blending. They make it easy to produce vivid, striking images that can often resemble paintings. Because they are so easy to blend, creating gradients is almost effortless, adding to the realistic effect of the art made with them.

Hard-cored pencils take a bit more force to lay the colour down and don't usually produce the same vividness as soft-cored ones do. However, they can be sharpened to a crisp point and used for intricate detailing and straight lines. Requiring a steady hand, they don't blend as well as the soft-cored ones, but since they're used for different purposes, that's completely okay!

Moving on, we're going to explore the different kinds of coloured art pencil kits, based on their core. We're also going to look at what they're best for!

As the name itself suggests, watercolour pencils are water-soluble. This kind of professional pencil kit can be found in well-stocked art supplies stores.

Although you might find them a bit hard to use at first, watercolour pencils can create amazing effects and are definitely worth the effort of learning to use them. As they are basically watercolour paints crafted in a different shape, there are two ways to use them as such.

The first way is dipping the pencil tip directly into water and softly applying colour on watercolour paper. This will allow you to immediately start creating that flowing watercolour effect, without the need for other tools.

The second way is to use them as you'd use a regular coloured pencil, then grab a sturdy brush dipped in water and move the pigment around the paper. If you're experienced with brushes, you might find this method easier, as it's quite similar to the traditional watercolour painting.

While we're on the subject of watercolour painting, there are a few arguments that go in favour of using watercolour pencils instead of paints.

First off, they're far less messy than watercolour paints, especially when using the second method we talked about above. Precise in their application of colour, you don't need to transfer a brush loaded with drippy paint from your palette to the paper and back. Your brush only needs water, which is much easier to clean.

Furthermore, they are easily portable, as they come neatly packaged in a narrow, practical box. They also don't require much set up to be used and dry quicker than watercolour paints do, so there will be less mess when you store them back in their box.

As you create your mixing right there on the paper, there is no need for a mixing palette and your colours stay pristine for further use.

Another great thing about watercolour pencils is that they can be used as regular coloured pencils if you choose not to add water to the piece. Many artists also use them alongside watercolour paints for touch-ups and precise colour application.

As they are most common, they are the ones we've all used when we were little, which are mostly hard-cored, and the ones many professional artists use in their work, which are usually soft-cored, though artists are no strangers to quality-made hard-cored ones, too.

As we said, soft-cored pencils are easier to apply colour with and that colour blends nicely together. Creating incredible gradients which can closely resemble paintings, they are versatile and easy to use.

It's important to note that you should pay attention to the other ingredients used in the coloured core alongside the wax, as this also plays a part in how your coloured pencil set is going to perform. Look for known brand names and sets specifically labelled for professional use. These are usually the ones that will give you the most vibrant colours and the desired mixing.

As they are great for layering and detailed gradients, it's nice to seal your finished work with a sealant of your choosing, as wax bloom, a sort of whiteish substance that appears when wax oxidises over time can affect the look of your piece.

Harder to find than their wax and watercolour counterparts, oil-cored pencil sets are considered to be used only by professional artists. They are an exclusive item and are much pricier than the other two types. Look for them in specialized stores only.

These pencil kits are somewhat hard-cored and can stay sharp for a long time. They don't provide the same smoothness as wax-based ones do, but they can still be layered nicely. Some artists don't like the effect wax-based pencils give, as they prefer a sharper image, so they opt for the oil-cored pencils. These coloured pencils can also be erased effortlessly, while the wax-based ones, for example, need a bit of elbow grease.

Since they are expensive, they're not the first choice for many, but their performance is excellent. The colour stays put, there is no risk of smudging or any bloom developing, and the ingredients used are usually well-controlled and top-notch.

Even though they are similar to wax-based pencils and can be used for the same techniques, they produce a crisper look, so if your style matches this description, consider investing in an oil-based coloured pencil set. They may be a bit difficult to get used to at first, but you'll love them once you get to know them!

Another thing to keep in mind is the style you're going for. Pick watercolours if you want to create dreamy, flowy imagery and control the way the paint moves. If you love layering and a buttery look, go for wax-based. Use oil ones if you want crispness in your work and want to avoid a smudged, unified look.

As a final note, remember to store and take care of your pencils properly. Each set comes in a box, so put them back when you're done with them. Always use a clean sharpener when you need to sharpen them and make sure any erasing you do can actually be pulled off before you try.

Whichever way you decide to go, don't be afraid to experiment and maybe even use these different kinds of coloured pencils together. Art is all about expressing yourself and there are no limits when it comes to that.