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Crayola Bulk Colored Pencils for Kids288 Count (Pack of 1)12.75 x 6.75 x 4.75 Inches4 PoundsCheck on Amazon
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Best Colored Pencil Sets for Artists: Quick Picks
The best colored pencil sets for most artists are Faber-Castell Polychromos for durable, blendable oil-based cores; Prismacolor Premier for soft, rich color and easy layering; and Faber-Castell Goldfaber for a more affordable starter set. Choose by how you work: harder cores suit fine detail and repeated layers, softer cores lay down color quickly, and a larger set saves mixing time but is only worthwhile if you’ll use the extra hues.
How the Main Sets Compare
Colored pencils vary most in feel, not simply in how many colors the tin contains. “Oil-based” and “wax-based” describe the dominant binder rather than a guarantee of a particular drawing result. Paper, pressure, sharpening, and technique all affect pigment and blending, so treat the comparisons below as practical tendencies.
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| Set | Core feel | Color range | Best use | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faber-Castell Polychromos | Firm; oil-based | Up to 120 colors | Fine detail, layered work, and artists who want a durable point | Metal tins in common set sizes |
| Prismacolor Premier | Soft; wax-based | Up to 150 colors | Strong color laydown, broad coverage, and easy blending | Sets commonly sold in tins |
| Faber-Castell Goldfaber | Medium-firm | Sets commonly reach 48 colors | Beginners and regular practice without a professional-size set | Set-dependent, often a tin |
| Caran d’Ache Luminance | Soft, creamy; wax-based | Up to 100 colors | Professional work where lightfastness and refined color choices matter | Set-dependent, including tins and boxes |
| Derwent Coloursoft | Soft and smooth | Up to 72 colors | Fast, vivid coverage and expressive drawing | Set-dependent, including tins |
Color counts are the largest commonly available sets, not the only sizes sold; availability and packaging can vary by region and retailer. Check the exact listing before buying, especially if you want a particular case or a specific number of pencils.
Head-to-Head: Which Pencil Suits Your Technique?
Polychromos vs. Prismacolor Premier
Polychromos is the better fit if you build a drawing through many controlled layers, draw small details, or dislike constantly sharpening a soft point. Its firmer core tends to hold an edge longer. Prismacolor Premier is more appealing when you want saturated color with less effort: its softer core covers an area quickly and blends readily, but the point wears down faster and can be more prone to breakage if mishandled.
For a smooth gradient, either can work. Use light pressure and several passes rather than trying to reach full saturation at once. A soft pencil can fill the paper’s texture quickly; once the tooth is packed, adding more layers becomes difficult. A firmer pencil may take more passes to reach the same intensity, but often leaves more room for gradual layering.
Goldfaber vs. a Professional Set
Goldfaber offers a sensible way to find out whether you prefer a firmer or softer drawing experience without committing to a large artist-grade collection. Its more limited palette means you’ll need to mix colors more often. That can help build color-mixing skill, though it may slow down projects with many distinct shades.
For professional illustration, botanical drawing, or artwork intended for display, Polychromos and Luminance are stronger candidates when core behavior, color selection, or lightfastness are priorities. Lightfastness varies by individual pencil, not just by brand; consult the manufacturer’s ratings for the specific colors you plan to use.
Choose by Your Drawing Habits
| If you usually… | Look first at… | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Draw fine lines, fur, leaves, or small details | Polychromos | A firmer core is easier to keep sharp for precise marks. |
| Color large areas or want quick, vivid coverage | Prismacolor Premier or Coloursoft | Softer cores deposit color readily and feel smooth over broad strokes. |
| Are learning layering and color mixing | Goldfaber or a smaller Polychromos set | A moderate palette keeps the initial investment and color choices manageable. |
| Make finished artwork for display | Luminance or selected lightfast colors from another artist range | Individual lightfastness ratings matter for work that may be exposed to light. |
| Work in several places | A set with a secure tin or fitted case | Organized storage protects pencils and makes missing colors easier to spot. |
What to Check Before Buying
Pigment richness and layering
A vivid pencil is not automatically the best layering pencil. Rich, soft color is useful for bold fills, but a pencil that deposits heavily can fill the paper’s tooth early. If your style depends on translucent layers, look for a core that responds well to light pressure and test it on the paper you actually use. Artist-grade ranges generally provide more consistent color and clearer information about pigment permanence than student-oriented sets, but the exact performance is color-specific.
Blendability and core hardness
Soft cores blend easily with overlapping strokes and burnishing, but they use up faster and need more frequent sharpening. Firm cores give better control and can make fine marks, though smooth gradients may take more time. If possible, try a few open-stock pencils before choosing a large set. A firm red and a soft red, for example, can feel quite different even when their color names are similar.
Set size and color gaps
A 12- or 24-color set is enough to learn layering and mix secondary colors. A 36- or 48-color set is a useful middle ground for portraits, landscapes, and illustration. Larger sets—often 72 to 150 colors, depending on the range—reduce the need to mix every intermediate shade, but duplicate colors you rarely use can make them poor value. Check whether the manufacturer sells individual pencils so you can replace favorites instead of buying another full set.
Storage that matches your routine
A tin protects pencils from getting crushed in a bag, but trays can be awkward to use at a desk and pencils may roll when a tray is removed. A fitted case or layered box is easier to organize if you work with many colors at once. Whatever the package, sort pencils by color family or value and return them to the same slot: that makes a missing or broken color apparent before it interrupts a drawing.
A Practical Starter Setup
If you’re new to colored pencils, choose a 24- to 36-color set with a tin, a dependable sharpener, and medium-tooth drawing paper. Try three light layers before pressing harder: one base color, a second hue for shadow, and a final pass to deepen the darkest areas. This reveals whether you enjoy the pencil’s core feel without immediately filling the paper texture.
For a mixed collection, a smaller set of soft pencils can cover broad areas while a few firmer pencils handle outlines and detail. Avoid buying two large sets at once: first identify what your current pencils cannot do—such as hold a point, blend smoothly, or supply a needed hue—then add a set or individual pencils to address that gap.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix colored pencil brands in one drawing?
Yes, a mixed collection can combine soft pencils for broad areas with firmer pencils for outlines and detail. The article recommends identifying what your current pencils cannot do before adding another set or individual pencils. Keep in mind that paper, pressure, sharpening, and technique also affect how pencils lay down pigment and blend.
How can I avoid making colored pencil layers difficult to add?
Use light pressure and build color in several passes rather than trying to reach full saturation at once. Soft pencils can fill the paper’s texture quickly, making further layering difficult once the tooth is packed. Trying three light layers—a base color, a shadow hue, and a final pass for the darkest areas—can help you assess the process.
Do colored pencils need special paper?
The article recommends medium-tooth drawing paper for a starter setup, but it does not identify one paper as best for every pencil. Paper affects pigment and blending, and the amount of layering a surface allows depends in part on its texture. Test pencils on the paper you actually use, especially if you rely on translucent layers.
Can I replace individual pencils instead of buying a new set?
Often, yes: the article advises checking whether the manufacturer sells individual pencils so you can replace favorites rather than buying another full set. Availability can vary by retailer and region, so check the specific listing. Individual pencils can also help fill a color gap or address a need such as better point retention or smoother blending.
Are the largest sets always the best value?
No. A larger palette can reduce the need to mix intermediate shades, but it may include colors you rarely use. The article suggests choosing a set size based on your work and checking for color gaps and individual-pencil availability. A smaller set may be enough to learn layering and color mixing without committing to a much larger palette.
Bottom Line
Choose Polychromos for control, sharp detail, and steady layering; Prismacolor Premier for soft, saturated coverage and easy blending; and Goldfaber for an accessible first set. Consider Luminance when lightfastness ratings and professional color selection are central to the work, and Coloursoft when smooth, expressive color matters more than a long-lasting point. The best set is the one whose core feel suits your technique and whose palette you’ll actually use.
