Now while there won't be dancing lights, magic winds, or something of the sort, it is very important you test each one. Each colored pencil, like wands have a "core" that gives it it's power. Not unicorn hair or dragon heartstring-- no. The cores of the pencil are made out of two things: Pigment, and binder. It's important you understand what is what and what DOES what before you pick out what you need to obtain the desired effect.
There are two categories of colored pencils- Traditional and nontraditional colored pencil.
The results are VASTLY different.
Wax-based pencils are the easiest and most common to find. This includes Crayola, Prang, Roseart, Prismacolor, and all the other BASIC brands. They are really good at being blended and getting a smooth effect, but break easily and can "bloom", or have the wax make weird white marks on the surface especially over time.
These pencils can be blended or "burnished" with either a colorless "wax" blender, white or cream or any other color pressed hard, or alcohol or some sort of oil. (Note, whenever I blend pencil with oil or vaseline, it does NOT like being colored over after that point.)
There is such a MYRIAD of pencils to choose from in this category, from varying hardness and softness. Prismacolor being the leading brand.
Traditional Prismacolor pencils are a soft core, allowing better blending buuuut you get to the point where you simply can't layer anymore. Too much wax will block out the surface. When I reach this point, I often actually use alcohol or an alcohol based marker (Usually copics), blend it down, and then continue working over it again.
(Here is a drawing I did with prismacolor pencils and lined with a copic fineliner. You can see that the colors are VERY vivid)
However, there's the Prismacolor Col-erase pencils which are on the absolute OTHER spectrum.
(The packaging cracks me up-- it looks quite old school despite being the same brand as the fancy packaging above)
These are VERY hard lead, giving you a very very light, soft touch and gives you a more pastel feel. The upside is that they last a LONG time and can be erased with only a LIGHT outline left afterwards, but the downside is that if you want VIVID colors like the Premier pencils, well, it's not going to happen. However, these are choice for illustrators making sketches.
(This one was primarily done with Col-erase pencils, though I DID touch up the darker areas with prismacolor markers. It's also worth it to note that this was done in 2011)
Watercolor pencils have a water soluble core, usually having the same kind of binder that you would find in pan watercolor paints.
And then.. There is Inktense pencils.
This piece, the Frog Prince was done on midtone cardstock. However, it's impossible to tell from those exquisite yellows and greens. I added white ink on the top since I didn't have a white inktense pencil, however there was no need to add anything else I felt. The color spoke for itself and anything beyond that would take away from the vivid, flowy colors. I also enjoyed dipping the lead in water straight, as that gave areas of DEEP color. I feel that no other water soluble pencil compares to this one.
The thing that I like most about Col-Erase is it's easier to get a smooth effect with their lines, as well as getting super detailed in areas like fur, folds, or the detailwork on things like the tattoo, scales, tree bark, etc. But alas, the tones all blend together mostly due to it all being the light tones and there being a very little way to push it darker.
These are the two extremes of course-- I know that Prismacolor has verithin which is a good in between of these two extremes, but I haven't had the chance to use them myself.
A good chart to see the pros and cons of each kind is this one: http://thevirtualinstructor.com/blog/colored-pencil-comparison-chart
This site is an extremely good resource in all kinds of traditional medium too, and very worth reading.
ANYWAYS- so that's the variety, pros, and cons of wax pencils. The Oil based pencils are something ENTIRELY different.
These are the two extremes of course-- I know that Prismacolor has verithin which is a good in between of these two extremes, but I haven't had the chance to use them myself.
A good chart to see the pros and cons of each kind is this one: http://thevirtualinstructor.com/blog/colored-pencil-comparison-chart
This site is an extremely good resource in all kinds of traditional medium too, and very worth reading.
ANYWAYS- so that's the variety, pros, and cons of wax pencils. The Oil based pencils are something ENTIRELY different.
Oil based pencils are a LOT harder to find and tend to be more expensive than your waxed based pencils. However, their quality I would say is overall better. The color is very smooth, the core harder and sturdier than most wax based pencils and less prone to breaking; keeping its point longer. However, despite the harder lead, the color is still VERY vivid- which means that less is indeed more when it comes to these pencils.
They have a harder time blending with itself, however can be blended with olive oil, vegetable oil, walnut oil, or mineral spirits like you would oil paints. This may make it difficult to draw over with anything else however.
They also are capable of working alongside wax based pencils despite being inherently different.
The most noted and common of these is the Polychromos pencils by Faber Castell. I recently have acquired a set, but my experimentation on them has been minimal. However, I had the opportunity to compare them side by side with Prismacolor pencil and there was really no mistaking just how much better these pencils are. Just with one stroke, the color was more smooth and stuck into the tooth of the paper much better. The color I'd say was just as vivid as prismacolor.
So far, I prefer these because of their durability and the smoothness of color.
NON TRADITIONAL COLORED PENCILS- This is basically EVERYTHING ELSE that isn't wax or oil based cores. This includes Watercolor, graphite, inktense, pastel pencils, clay-based pencils... Or anything else, really. There is such a myriad of products being made that it's impossible to say them all. So I will focus on two of my favorites, and two that I have actually used.
They have a harder time blending with itself, however can be blended with olive oil, vegetable oil, walnut oil, or mineral spirits like you would oil paints. This may make it difficult to draw over with anything else however.
They also are capable of working alongside wax based pencils despite being inherently different.
The most noted and common of these is the Polychromos pencils by Faber Castell. I recently have acquired a set, but my experimentation on them has been minimal. However, I had the opportunity to compare them side by side with Prismacolor pencil and there was really no mistaking just how much better these pencils are. Just with one stroke, the color was more smooth and stuck into the tooth of the paper much better. The color I'd say was just as vivid as prismacolor.
So far, I prefer these because of their durability and the smoothness of color.
NON TRADITIONAL COLORED PENCILS- This is basically EVERYTHING ELSE that isn't wax or oil based cores. This includes Watercolor, graphite, inktense, pastel pencils, clay-based pencils... Or anything else, really. There is such a myriad of products being made that it's impossible to say them all. So I will focus on two of my favorites, and two that I have actually used.
Watercolor pencils have a water soluble core, usually having the same kind of binder that you would find in pan watercolor paints.
(Yep these sweet babies. What? I'm not picking favorites or nothing)
They are blendable with water (Or... With spit as my 15 year old self discovered) yet are drawn on like a pencil. The color can be mixed with wax based pencils without a problem and it's not too much of a difference between the two strokes. However, when painting with water over them, they ARE harder to control the blend, and there is some pencil stroke left behind. So I'd much prefer using watercolor first, than perhaps using watercolor pencils for detailwork. They are often cheaper than high quality wax pencils, and MUCH cheaper than oil based pencils.
And then.. There is Inktense pencils.
(The GOD of all water soluble pencils. And the price shows it)
Inktense pencils have rich, vibrant colors and has an ink core. What's interesting is that when dried, it becomes essentially permanent and is able to be worked on top of. However, if you're wanting PASTEL tones, go somewhere else because these only come with bright and brighter colors. I enjoy using these on top of my watercolor paintings to add more detail, brighter colors, or just redo particular areas. This means you can overlay light on dark without muddying the colors.
It draws as smoothly on a textured, painted surface as it would on plain paper. The color also overpowers and shines through midtone paper. It also plays well with others. I haven't had issues with it clashing against wax based cores or watercolor cores, though I need to experiment how it works with oil based cores.
It draws as smoothly on a textured, painted surface as it would on plain paper. The color also overpowers and shines through midtone paper. It also plays well with others. I haven't had issues with it clashing against wax based cores or watercolor cores, though I need to experiment how it works with oil based cores.
This piece, the Frog Prince was done on midtone cardstock. However, it's impossible to tell from those exquisite yellows and greens. I added white ink on the top since I didn't have a white inktense pencil, however there was no need to add anything else I felt. The color spoke for itself and anything beyond that would take away from the vivid, flowy colors. I also enjoyed dipping the lead in water straight, as that gave areas of DEEP color. I feel that no other water soluble pencil compares to this one.
For more information on watercolor or non traditional pencils, look here:
http://thevirtualinstructor.com/blog/colored-pencils-vs-watercolor-pencils-vs-the-others
Overall-- Who am I to say what pencils are best? There are so many kinds. So many to try.
(Like, really. Yikes.)
What I would suggest is read reviews. Start with small sets or small single pencils. Do your research, use the crap out of them. Try mixing and matching, blending with other pencils and other materials. What does it do when you pour alcohol on it? What about if you blend it with oils? Water? What happens when you put it on a toothy paper or a smooth paper?
Personally I LOVE smooth pencils and vivid colors. The smoother the better. Part of that is the tooth of the paper or blending and burnishing it with different materials, but if I can get a pencil that gives me the richest and the smoothest effect while playing along with other mediums, that's the pencil for me.
And who knows? You might find the perfect thing. Find a pencil that really lights up your world.
Personally I LOVE smooth pencils and vivid colors. The smoother the better. Part of that is the tooth of the paper or blending and burnishing it with different materials, but if I can get a pencil that gives me the richest and the smoothest effect while playing along with other mediums, that's the pencil for me.
And who knows? You might find the perfect thing. Find a pencil that really lights up your world.
(Other resources: Jazza's video upload from today. Very useful and interesting to see the difference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx1SoWJT6nw
Also, though I've already mentioned it, this is an amazing resource: http://thevirtualinstructor.com/colored-pencil-drawing-tutorials.html
Always, Deviantart has some really neat tutorials as well. Here's a few of my favorites: http://nithak.deviantart.com/art/Colored-pencil-tutorial-111852869
Also, though I've already mentioned it, this is an amazing resource: http://thevirtualinstructor.com/colored-pencil-drawing-tutorials.html
Always, Deviantart has some really neat tutorials as well. Here's a few of my favorites: http://nithak.deviantart.com/art/Colored-pencil-tutorial-111852869
http://orig03.deviantart.net/c9e8/f/2006/239/4/2/penciltut.jpg
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