What different types of colored pencils are there?
Our range of coloured pencils has been greatly expanded! Where we used to sell only three types, there are now many more. In this blog we will advise you on which pencils work very well for which purposes.
The biggest difference in colored pencils is in the base, or the binding agent with which the lead/core of the pencil is made. The different cores can be easily divided into three categories:
- oil or wax based pencils
- pencils that are water soluble
- pastel pencils
Wax/oil based pencils
I mention these colored pencils in the same category, because colored pencils are often a mix of wax and oil. The pencils work in a similar way. In this, wax pencils are often a bit softer than oil-based pencils. A harder pencil keeps a sharper point, a softer point has an easier color release. With wax, your paper is saturated faster than with pencils on an oil basis.
Watercolor pencils
Watercolor pencils contain a water-soluble binder, which allows you to easily edit the colors with water after application. This makes watercolor pencils easy to combine with pans or tubes of watercolor paint. You can actually use these pencils in three ways. You can draw with them just like a normal colored pencil or create a watercolor effect by adding water. You also have several options here: you can dip the pencil in water and then start drawing, or you can use a brush (or aquabrush!) with water.
Pastel pencils
Pastel pencils are very soft pencils. In the core of these pencils is a soft pastel. Pastel pencils are best used on paper with a grainy structure, so that the pigment can adhere well. These pencils are often used for realistic drawings.
It is also a lot of fun to experiment with pastel pencils on colored paper! Because they are a bit harder than pastel chalk or soft pastel, pastel pencils are very suitable for adding details to a drawing that you have made with pastel chalk. Make sure that you work from light to dark with pastel pencils. Layering dark colors over lighter colors makes the darker shades pop. If you were to do it the other way around, you would get a stain and it will not be possible to get the light color to cover properly.
What are professional colored pencils?
There are big differences in quality between pencils. In our shop we only sell artist quality pencils. These pencils have good color release, due to high-quality pigments. These good pigments also ensure that the colors will not fade quickly. So no concessions, but only good quality materials.
Which pencil should I choose?
There are many types and brands of colored pencils . With colored pencils, the hardness of a pencil varies per brand. Some brands have multiple collections of colored pencils, each with a different hardness and properties.
First you choose which base you would like to use for pencils: watercolor, pastel or wax or oil and then you can choose which pencil suits you best. We have written an extensive review blog about wax/oil pencils, watercolor pencils and pastel pencils.
With professional brands you can buy pencils in different sets, but often all pencils are also available separately. So you can also choose to put together your own collection with your favorite colors!
Tip: Are you still not sure which one you want to use? Order the same color of each pencil. That way you can compare them best. Would you rather not order the same color so often? Choose different colors that are not in the set you have in mind. That way you can try out the pencils and then use them well as a supplement.
What size set or colors do you recommend to start with?
I will be honest here: the bigger your sets, the better. But of course your budget has to allow that. I would go for your first choice and then for a set of at least 36 colors. This will get you started as a beginner.
Many brands make about 100 colors per type, which you can also buy individually. A smaller set can always be expanded. You can also use multiple pencils with the same base together.
Do you have any questions? Read more on our blog, or send us a message.
You can shop all colored pencils here.
Love,
Judith
