Exploring Royal Talens Van Gogh Pencils: An In-Depth Look at the Pros and Cons
An Introduction to the Van Gogh Coloured Pencil
Royal Talens Van Gogh coloured pencils provide artists with a versatile option, combining practicality with vibrant colour. Made with wax-based leads, they deliver smooth application and vivid results. The pencils are available in a carefully curated palette of 60 shades, with exceptional lightfastness as a standout feature. Encased in sustainable cedar barrels, they sharpen efficiently to support precise and controlled strokes.
From their technical makeup to user experiences and market challenges, this article explores the full scope of what these pencils offer and where they fall short, providing a comprehensive look at their place in the artistic landscape.
From their technical makeup to user experiences and market challenges, this article explores the full scope of what these pencils offer and where they fall short, providing a comprehensive look at their place in the artistic landscape.
Background on Royal Talens and Van Gogh Line
The Van Gogh line was introduced by Royal Talens in September 1963 as part of their expansion into artist materials, with coloured pencils developed later in the late 20th century as the company leveraged its expertise in pigments. These pencils were designed to meet the increasing demand for reliable, lightfast options, with Royal Talens actively participating in early ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) lightfastness testing to ensure quality and longevity. Named after Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), the range honours his legacy of vibrant colour, creativity, and bold expression, while celebrating Dutch heritage. The Van Gogh line includes coloured pencils, paints, and other media, tailored for aspiring artists and students seeking dependable materials.
A detailed look at the greens and blues in the Royal Talens Van Gogh coloured pencil collection, showcasing their vibrant and rich hues.
Key Characteristics
Base: Wax based |
Colours: 60 |
Hard or soft lead: Medium |
Lightfast rating: ATSM - D6901 |
Costs: ££ - £££ |
These wax-based pencils are of medium softness, offering a creamy application that’s slightly drier than competitors like Prismacolor Premier. The lead, made from pigment, kaolin, wax, and cellulose, ensures vibrant colour transfer. Barrels are crafted from sustainable cedar wood, easy to sharpen and durable. The pencil features a circular barrel with a lacquered finish that matches the pigment colour. The cap is dark blue, distinguishing it from the watercolour variant, which has a light grey cap. Silver text is used for the details on the barrel, with the 'Van Gogh' name prominently displayed in the centre alongside the pencil colour, lightfastness rating (++ or +++), and code number. On the reverse side, the barrel displays the company name, 'Royal Talens Holland,' and includes barcode information.
Royal Talens Van Gogh coloured pencils are a mid-tier option, designed to bridge the gap between beginner-grade and professional-quality art supplies. While they do not rival higher-end ranges like Royal Talens’ Rembrandt line, they offer an elevated alternative to basic materials. Tailored for aspiring artists and students, these pencils strike a balance between practicality and affordability, delivering reliable performance across a variety of artistic techniques. Below is a breakdown of their strengths and limitations.
Strengths:
Limitations:
- Pigmentation and Colour Intensity: These pencils feature vibrant pigmentation, providing bold and vivid colours that are easy to apply. They are often described as offering strong colour payoff, suitable for detailed work or bold designs.
- Lightfastness Ratings: The pencils excel in lightfastness, with 26 colours rated “+++” (over 100 years fade resistance under museum conditions) and 34 rated “++” (25–100 years), making them ideal for artists aiming to create durable, archival-quality artwork.
- Smooth Application: The wax-based lead ensures relatively smooth application, especially on slightly textured surfaces, helping to create consistent coverage without significant effort.
- Sustainable Design: Encased in cedar barrels sourced from sustainable wood, the pencils are environmentally conscious and sharpen cleanly, supporting precision during use.
Limitations:
- Firm Texture: The pencils have a firmer core compared to softer options, which can make blending and layering less seamless. This may limit their appeal for techniques requiring smooth colour transitions.
- Range of Colours: With a selection capped at 60 shades, the colour range lacks some nuanced tones, such as deeper crimsons or additional violets, which can restrict versatility for more complex projects.
- Availability: The pencils are sold only in sets, with no open stock option available, making it challenging for users to replace individual colours as needed.
- Poor Opacity: While the Van Gogh pencils are known for their vibrant pigmentation, the white pencil is an exception. Its opacity is notably weak, making it less effective for highlighting or adding contrast in artwork.
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European Bullfinch illustration crafted using Royal Talens Van Gogh coloured pencils. Featured alongside the 60-colour tin and accompanying colour charts.
Performance and Applications of Van Gogh Pencils
Van Gogh coloured pencils have a firm core, making them well-suited for detailed illustrative work. However, they are less ideal for artists who prefer heavy layering, as the pencils are not designed to support multiple layers effectively. To achieve the best results, these pencils require a delicate approach—build colour gradually and avoid applying excessive pressure, as their pigment is highly concentrated. Start with deeper contrasts and gently layer additional colour. Once saturation is reached, the pencils may begin to drag on the surface, sometimes producing a squeaking sound as the tip rubs against the pigment already laid down. At this point, no further layering is possible.
The white pencil functions more like a blender than a highlight tool, offering very little opacity regardless of the pressure applied. For white highlights, it is best to plan ahead, reserving the areas for highlights by outlining them and avoiding overlapping. Despite being wax-based, Van Gogh pencils resemble Faber Castell Polychromos in terms of firmness and application.
If you're curious about how Van Gogh pencils compare with other popular brands, check out our detailed article, Comparing Coloured Pencil Brands: A Comprehensive Guide, via the link below.
The white pencil functions more like a blender than a highlight tool, offering very little opacity regardless of the pressure applied. For white highlights, it is best to plan ahead, reserving the areas for highlights by outlining them and avoiding overlapping. Despite being wax-based, Van Gogh pencils resemble Faber Castell Polychromos in terms of firmness and application.
If you're curious about how Van Gogh pencils compare with other popular brands, check out our detailed article, Comparing Coloured Pencil Brands: A Comprehensive Guide, via the link below.
The images in this gallery are sourced from Jackson's Art website. Click the link below to explore the Van Gogh pencils available for purchase.
The Challenge of Sets-Only Sales and Open Stock Absence
A significant limitation of Royal Talens Van Gogh coloured pencils is the lack of open stock availability, which poses challenges for long-term usability. While sets of these pencils are available from UK retailers like Jackson’s Art Supplies and Amazon UK, the inability to replace individual colours forces users to either repurchase entire sets or abandon the range altogether. This contrasts with competitors such as Caran d'Ache, Faber-Castell and Derwent, which offer widespread open stock options, allowing artists to replenish specific colours conveniently. Without this flexibility, Van Gogh pencils struggle to compete with brands that foster loyalty and usability. Royal Talens’ decision not to offer open stock may be driven by cost-saving measures or logistical simplicity, as distributing individual pencils demands higher inventory management and packaging efforts. By focusing on pre-packaged sets (e.g., 24 or 60-colour tins), the company may cater to beginners or gift buyers rather than prioritising the needs of serious artists. However, this strategy undermines the usability of Van Gogh pencils as artist-grade tools, pushing users towards competing brands that better support their workflow.
Production and Availability Considerations
In addition to the lack of open stock, manufacturing and distribution logistics also contribute to their limited presence in the UK. Since joining the Sakura Group, a Japanese company, in 1991, Royal Talens has outsourced production for some products, including Van Gogh pencils, to China. These pencils are then routed through Holland for distribution across Europe. This complex supply chain, coupled with import costs and potential delays, makes consistent availability challenging for smaller UK retailers. Larger art suppliers often prioritise globally dominant brands over niche offerings like Van Gogh pencils, further restricting their presence.
Lightfast Qualities and Colour Chart
The Royal Talens Van Gogh coloured pencils are highly valued for their lightfast qualities, following the ASTM D6901 standard for resistance to fading. Each pencil is rated using a "+" system, with "+++" indicating exceptional durability for over 100 years under museum conditions, and "++" signifying longevity of 25–100 years. Of the 60 shades available, 26 are rated "+++" and 34 are rated "++", making them a reliable choice for archival-quality work.
Their involvement in early ASTM lightfastness testing further underscores their dedication to setting industry standards. By participating in these tests, Royal Talens contributed to the development of reliable benchmarks for lightfastness, ensuring that their products meet the needs of professional and aspiring artists alike.
Since the Royal Talens website does not provide a colour chart for this brand, subscribers to our Ko-fi community can access and download one directly from our Step-by-Step Art Ko-fi Community page below.
Their involvement in early ASTM lightfastness testing further underscores their dedication to setting industry standards. By participating in these tests, Royal Talens contributed to the development of reliable benchmarks for lightfastness, ensuring that their products meet the needs of professional and aspiring artists alike.
Since the Royal Talens website does not provide a colour chart for this brand, subscribers to our Ko-fi community can access and download one directly from our Step-by-Step Art Ko-fi Community page below.
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Conclusions
The Van Gogh coloured pencils stand out with their vibrant pigmentation, smooth application, and sustainable cedar barrels, appealing to artists who prioritise bold colour and a reliable sharpening experience. Crafted with a wax-based lead, they offer a practical design that bridges student and professional needs, carving out a mid-tier niche. However, their firmer texture can hinder blending and layering, while the 60-colour range limits options for nuanced shades, leaving some techniques underserved. The absence of open stock further restricts flexibility, requiring full-set purchases that may not suit every budget or preference. Artist experiences reflect this split—vibrancy and durability earn praise, yet constraints in versatility and availability draw critique. In a crowded market, these pencils hold a distinct place, balancing strengths with trade-offs that shape their appeal across diverse artistic styles and goals. Each artist’s priorities ultimately determine their worth.
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In 2025, Royal Talens officially confirmed to us in an email, that their Van Gogh coloured pencils are not vegan-friendly, clarifying that certain ingredients in their formulation do not meet this criteria. |
