Let's compare the results of four popular brands of colored pencils.
The four popular brands that we will use for this comparison:
A Comparison of Similar Colors
For this example, I used a page from "My Coloring Companion" by Global Doodle Gems.
Faber-Castell Polychromos has the best match for "industry-standard" colors.
Prismacolor Premiers are a close second when matching "industry-standard" colors.
The Black Widow series has many unique colors and is limited in some color ranges. However, they are expanding their color range regularly and may fill in the gaps with future sets.
Crayola had the most distinctive colors, and it was challenging to match to standard shades. As a less expensive brand, I wonder if that could be due to finding less expensive pigment sources.
Yellow, Red, and Blue
I applied three to four shades of similar colors from each brand to a different corner of a mandala from "Simple Kaleidoscopes Adult Coloring Book" by Ligia Ortega.
I printed the mandala on Neenah Exact Vellum Bristol Premium Cardstock (67 lb). This paper is a little thicker and has a smoother tooth. It works well for mixed media as well as for blending pencils.
I used my preferred, colored pencil style - tiny circles with many light layers. I blended the yellow, red, blue shades to achieve other colors.
Crayola
An inexpensive pencil, lightweight with a smooth, standard-sized barrel.
Has less pigment than the other brands, so more layers are required to achieve smooth coverage.
Not as scratchy as some of the other less expensive pencils.
Since these are considered student-grade, I expect that the colors will fade with time.
Overall, I was pleased with the result considering the price of the product.
Black Widow
Mid-range pencil, lightweight with a standard-sized, hexagonal barrel.
Nice pigment saturation.
Smooth application.
Required fewer layers than Crayolas to achieve a smooth look.
Unique colors.
Not my favorite barrel shape as it tends to cramp my fingers but overall an enjoyable pencil with nice coverage.
Faber Castell Polychromos
Artist-grade pencil with a smooth, slightly heavier, and larger barrel.
Rich pigment color saturation.
Applies smoothly.
The soft core makes it easy to lay down a thick first layer, making it harder to blend layers.
The colors are less likely to fade with time which is essential if you plan to display your pictures for years.
Prismacolor Premiers
Artist-grade pencil with a standard-sized, smooth barrel and soft core.
Rich, saturated color.
Applies smoothly but tends to develop "wax bloom" when layers are applied too heavily.
Limited color fading over time.
Requires frequent sharpening to maintain a sharp point.
Conclusion
Any of these pencils will get you beautiful results for a coloring hobbyist, so buy what is in your price range and practice your techniques. Ultimately, the best pencil is the one that you like best. Thank you for spending some time with me, and feedback is always welcome. Come back for future blogs for simple ways to take your coloring to the next level.
Which pencils do you prefer and why? Let me know in the comments section.
Deirdre Gamill-Hock is a lifestyle/wellness coach and freelance writer/editor who writes engaging content for blogs and small businesses. Contact her at deirdre@deirdrehock.com or click here.
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