Coloured Pencil Reviews & Articles

Click on any of the images below to view the article of interest to you. Some articles may not yet be available to view as they may currently be in progress or will be available at a later date. There are new articles added as regularly as is possible so please do keep visiting or you can SUBSCRIBE to the Newsletter if you wish to be informed of new articles when available. I hope you find these articles very informative and helpful, feel free to request a specific article should you wish. 

Pencil Ranges

Starting Out with...Coloured Pencils

Do Coloured Pencils pique your interest as a medium but not sure what you need or where to begin? Read this article for some great pointers.

Coloured Pencil Checklist

Compare Coloured pencil ranges with this checklist including availability, lightfast information and thoughts on each range.

Coloured Pencil Comparison

Looking to purchase a brand of Coloured pencils and not sure which one to pick? Maybe this article will help you choose.

Berol Karismacolor

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.

Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle

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.

Caran d'Ache Luminance

Find out more about the Luminance pencils and why they are one of the best Coloured pencil ranges out there.

Derwent Coloursoft

Why are the Derwent Coloursoft pencils so popular amongst pencil Artists? Find out more about them and see what they can achieve.

Derwent Drawing

Article to follow

Derwent Inktense

Wondering what the Derwent Inktense pencils are all about? Take a look at this trial review that offers personal thoughts on these pencils as well as lightfast information.

Derwent Lightfast

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. 

Derwent Procolour

Read a personal review on Derwent's Procolour pencils with a couple of trials on both white & black paper, including lightfast information.

Prismacolor Premier

Want to know more about these very popular USA made pencils - used and loved by many Artists alike and known for their vibrancy & softness.

Van Gogh Coloured Pencils

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.

WH Smith Colouring Pencils (UK)

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.

​More pencil brands will follow including:
Faber Castell Polychromos
Lyra Rembrandt
Prismacolor Verithin
​

---

Coloured Pencil Accessories

Sharpening Pencils

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.

Blenders & Burnishers

Find out more about Blenders & Burnishers including how to get the most out of them for improving Coloured pencil Art.

Pencil Storage Rack

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.

Derwent Blender Pen

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.

Ghiant Transfer Spray

The perfect way to transfer outlines offering less mess and wastage than carbon sheets. A popular product among artists. Find out how it compares.

Zest-it pencil blend

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. ​

---

Papers suitable for Coloured Pencils

Art Spectrum Colourfix Paper

An article offering information and a personal review by Karen on the textured paper known as Colourfix by Art Spectrum.

Legion Stonehenge Paper

​Are you a pencil Artist and want to know more about the popular Stonehenge paper? Find out more in this article.

Clairfontaine Pastelmat review

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.

Ursus Paper

The paper used by myself (Karen M Berisford) in my Coloured pencil Art. Many people ask what paper I use so I thought I would explain the reasons behind my personal choice.

Bockingford Hot Pressed

Looking for a smooth watercolour paper suited to pencils and paints that is vegan friendly? Bockingford might be the one for you.
​​

UArt Dark Sanded Paper

Here I trial my Coloured pencils on the latest UArt Dark Sanded paper. How did it compare to other papers and see how I got on.
​

Working with Tonal paper
​- for Coloured pencil Artists

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.

Working with Textured paper 
- ​for Coloured pencil Artists

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. 

Strathmore 500 Bristol 
Plate Surface (Smooth)

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.

---

Why not try one of our Coloured Pencil Tutorials

If you are completely new to Coloured pencils and would like tutorial help on where to begin, why not try the 'Watermelon' tutorial which shows you how to layer with Coloured pencils to create effect in your work, if you wish to take a step further in your pencil Art to create high detail, the Snow Leopard eye is a good exercise - both have Step by Step explanations on the how's and why's including a colour chart so you can work with your own pencil brand. 

FOR BEGINNERS...

Watermelon Tonal layering Exercise - Coloured Pencil Tutorial
Click the image to give it a go

ALL LEVELS...

Blueberries Tutorial in
​Coloured Pencils 
Available now!

ALL LEVELS...

How to create waves in
​Coloured Pencils
Available now!

ALL LEVELS...

Glass jar 3-D drawing
​Coloured Pencil Tutorial 
Click the image to give it a go

FOR INTERMEDIATES...

Snow Leopard Eye
​Coloured Pencil Tutorial 
Click the image to give it a go