Top Model 006710 Pencils, Pack of 24, Multi-Colour

Product Information

Trusted brands are always a good choice in this regard, but don’t be put off if you haven’t heard of a manufacturer before – it might just be better value.

Best colouring pencils 2023: Draw like a professional artist

Hardness: An interrelated concern to both quality and type, this refers to the relative hardness of pencil lead. The only thing that comes close is the Caran d’Ache Luminance set, but the Premiers tend to offer a more opaque look that blends beautifully between colours like butter. In terms of colour, the Arteza pencils have excellent pigmentation, offering a wonderful range of colours in the 72-piece set, from warm and cool to earthy and dark.

Then there are the less well-known manufacturers that might offer better value, especially if you are just starting out.

Top Model – Stationery Archives - The Pencil Case Top Model – Stationery Archives - The Pencil Case

These are crude categorisations though – in reality, no pencil is purely wax or oil and both are often present in the same pencils, alongside other ingredients. As the name implies, these pencils imitate the look of watercolour paint since the coloured pigment is held by a water-soluble binding agent rather than wax or oil. But that’s not to say we can’t nudge you in the right direction with our guide to the leading brands for artists. There are the brands that artists know and trust, such as Faber-Castell and Caran d’Ache, who produce professional-grade pencils.This set would make an incredible gift for any budding artist that will be cherished for a long time to come. Lightfastness is pretty solid too, with only a dozen of the 72 pencils not being recommended for professional work. Type: To start with, you’ll want to decide whether you want oil-core, wax-core or watercolour pencils.

Top Model Colouring Pencils - Basic Colours x 24 - The Pencil Top Model Colouring Pencils - Basic Colours x 24 - The Pencil

Coloured pencils have their own standard for lightfastness and pencils that reach those heights are labelled with ASTM D6901. On the other hand, softer pencils will provide a more opaque stroke that smudges faster, making it useful for blending colours and shading.

They aren’t quite as soft as those more expensive brands, which should have the benefit of making them more durable, while still providing a creamy touch on paper. Quality: When it comes to quality, you’re generally looking for pencils with higher proportions of pigment, which should result in richer colours coming off the pencil. Pencils vary enormously too, in the hardness of the lead, how they feel in the hand and in the variety and depth of pigment.