Coloured pencil reviews & articles
Click on any of the images below to view the article of interest to you. We add new articles to the website every three months. We also like to keep current articles updated, sometimes changing the format of the page entirely to add more information or make it more aesthetically pleasing, so please do visit often. You can SUBSCRIBE to our quarterly newsletter if you want the latest articles sent straight to your email as soon as they are available. Not all articles below are currently available to view. A few may be in progress right now or we will add them at a later date. We hope you find these articles very informative and should you wish to request a specific article, get in touch via our contact page.
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Pencil ranges
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We have recently updated our article and now list the seven most important items you need to get started with this medium. A comprehensive guide includes information on brands, hints and tips, colour charts and help with choosing your first pencil brand.
Updated February 2021 |
Compare coloured pencil ranges with this checklist including availability, lightfast information and thoughts on each range.
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Looking to purchase a brand of coloured pencils and not sure which one to pick? Maybe this article will help you choose.
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The Berol Karisma coloured pencils were sadly discontinued in 2005 but are still loved by many pencil artists. Take a read of what could be the most comprehensive article on the internet about these pencils.
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Find out more about the Luminance pencils and why they are one of the best coloured pencil ranges out there.
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Have you ever tried water-soluble pencils? Find out how they can save on the usage of normal pencils, especially for larger drawings. Read our article and view the lightfast colour chart.
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Why are the Derwent Coloursoft pencils so popular amongst pencil artists? Find out more about them and see what they can achieve.
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Have you tried the Drawing pencil range by Derwent yet? Chalky, soft pencils perfect for smooth blending. Rich pigments in 24 earthy tones.
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Wondering what the Derwent Inktense pencils are all about? This review offers personal thoughts on these pencils and lightfast information.
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Derwent released their first 100% lightfast coloured pencil range this year and I decided to try them out on both smooth and textured surfaces, see how I got on.
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Read a personal review on Derwent's Procolour pencils with a couple of trials on both white & black paper, including lightfast information.
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The Polychromos pencils by Faber-Castell are probably the most loved oil based pencil out there. They have 120 highly lightfast colours and made from high quality materials.
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Want to know more about these very popular USA made pencils - used and loved by many artists alike and known for their vibrancy & softness.
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Ever tried the Van Gogh Coloured pencils? See how these pencils compare to other pencil brands and where you can buy open stock in the UK.
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Want to try coloured pencils without breaking the bank? Nip into your local WH Smith store and pick up a box of 48 brilliant pencils for just £10.99! Find out more about these pencils.
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Papers suitable for coloured pencils
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An article offering information and a personal review by Karen on the textured paper known as Colourfix by Art Spectrum.
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For anyone who is a fan of the Colourfix paper, did you know that Art Spectrum, also has a smooth version too? Find out more about the Colourfix Smooth, compare between other surfaces and see where you can buy some.
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A highly innovative and unique surface - this versatile, finely textured paper is perfect for pastel, charcoal, pencil, & acrylic artists and suitable for both dry and wet media techniques.
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Looking for a smooth watercolour paper suited to pencils and paints that is acid free and archival? Bockingford might be the one for you.
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A tinted watercolor paper available in 5 colours, suitable for pastels, pencils and acrylics. Find out more on our blog.
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Looking for an acid-free & archival tonal paper? This paper is available in three textures and eight colours, including black. Suitable for pastels, pencils, charcoal, pen and ink and animal friendly! Click the image to find out more about this paper.
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How does this textured paper work with coloured pencils? Take a look at this article to see. A universal paper suitable for many artists & mediums.
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Are you a pencil artist and want to know more about the popular Stonehenge paper? Find out more in this article.
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For those artists that like to work on a very smooth paper, the archival Strathmore 500 plate surface may be just what you are looking for. See how it compares with coloured & graphite pencils.
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Read information on different hot pressed watercolour papers before buying. Compare the size, weight and brightness of each and see which are vegan friendly too.
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Here I trial my coloured pencils on the latest UArt dark sanded paper. How did it compare to other papers? See how I got on.
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An acid free coloured paper suitable for pencil artists and craft work. This is a low cost, high colour, paper available in 56 tones including high white, suitable for graphite pencil work.
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Are you a coloured pencil artist looking to find out how coloured paper can aid your artwork? Check out a few examples and hints and tips in this article.
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Are you a coloured pencil artist thinking of trying the pencils on a textured paper? Here are a few hints & tips to get you started.
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Are you thinking of stepping out into the commission business and want some pointers and advice as well as tips on how to price your art? This article may help.
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Coloured pencil accessories
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This article gives lots of information about different types of sharpeners as well as explanations on how they can play a huge part in your art techniques too.
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Find out more about Blenders & Burnishers including how to get the most out of them for improving coloured pencil art.
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The perfect way to transfer outlines offering less mess and wastage than carbon sheets. A popular product among artists. Find out how it compares.
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This article gives lots of information about different types of sharpeners as well as explanations on how they can play a huge part in your art techniques too.
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Read our blog for some hints and tips on when to use a fixative, how to apply and why you should never use hairspray as a cheap alternative.
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In this article, I mixed pencil blend and Derwent Lightfast pencils on both the Pastelbord surface and the Strathmore Bristol plate surface, check out the review.
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If you have a lots of coloured pencils and unable to find a suitable storage unit, this may be the answer. Holds upto 250 pencils/slim pens.
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Why not try one of our Coloured Pencil Tutorials
Our tutorials are created with each artist in mind regardless of calibre. We provide easy-to-follow, written explanations alongside images which allow you to easily recreate in your own portrait. We provide a colour chart so you can match your own pencil colours if you do not have the brands we use. We also show you how to build up your layers, how to hold you pencil, when to blend and how to create the finer details in your drawing which will help you achieve the realism in your work. If you are new to coloured pencils, we would recommend you begin with the first tutorial which explains the layering and blending process before working along the others, each a little more challenging than the last.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
