[Niuniu teaches you to draw sketches] Introduction and comparison of colored pencils

Jan 2, 2022

What are colored pencils? What is the difference between "oily" and "water-based"? Which one is right for me?

Colored pencils, also known as "colored pencils", differ from pencils in that the refills of colored pencils do not contain graphite, but are made of pigment powder plus wax as an adhesive and additional additives. Among them, colored pencils can be roughly divided into two categories: "oily" and "water-based" according to the composition of the adhesive.

So should you buy "water-based" colored pencils or "oil-based" colored pencils? Before making a choice, we must see the difference between the two.

From the picture above, you can clearly see the difference between water-based and oil-based pencils. In contrast, the saturation and color stacking effect of oil-based pencils are better than water-based pencils.

Oil-based pencils:

The refill is softer than water-based pencils, so it is very suitable for repeated coloring back and forth. The colors presented are fresher and brighter, and it is easy to remove and redraw with an eraser. It is smooth and smooth to use and can be drawn on paper very smoothly.

Another feature is that it is insoluble in water, and other pigments are covered on it, and it is not easy to be covered up. And because it is the most common in the market and the price is relatively cheap, it is suitable for novices and children.

Water-based colored pencils:

"Water-based colored pencils" are made with water-soluble adhesives, which dissolve in water to create a watercolor-like smudge effect. This type of colored pencil can be used both wet and dry. Those with a harder lead are suitable for drawing edges or color details. It is also convenient to paint large areas of color after being wet. The water-based refill is relatively dry and easy to powder when rubbed on the paper

The color of the water-colored pencils has a strong contrast, the brush strokes have a rough feeling, and the performance of color mixing and overlapping is more difficult, but because it can be used in both wet and dry, compared with oil-based pencils, it can create a variety of changes. s Choice.

The difference between water and no water Faber blue box

In addition, colored pencils can be divided into three types: "hard", "neutral" and "soft" according to the hardness of the refill.

If you want to draw in detail, it is recommended to choose a hard refill; on the contrary, if you want to use a large area for coloring, a soft refill with good color strength and ductility will be quite suitable (similar to choosing a pencil).

Most manufacturers produce colored pencils of different grades, such as student-level and expert-level, and even grades 3-5, to meet the needs of creators with different needs. The difference lies in the color saturation, when drawing. Smoothness, color stacking and water-solubility effects, more advanced colored pencils have the technology to resist breakage of the lead.

Generally speaking, low-priced colored pencils have hard refills, low toner content, and weak color rendering power. Generally, they can only achieve 36 colors at most, which are suitable for children to use. Better-quality colored pencils have high toner content, good light fastness, better preservation, and up to 120 colors.

It is usually recommended to use 36 colors as the benchmark for purchase, and the insufficient colors are purchased in a single unit. It should be noted that some brands or series are not sold separately, you need to confirm before purchasing. (But the basic models are almost not sold individually!!)

If you choose a style with more than 36 colors, it is not easy for beginners to distinguish subtle color differences, so it is not recommended to buy. But if you have a certain understanding of colored pencils, the combination of different colors can create a lot of different effects.

In addition, if there are many intermediate colors, it is easy to create a sense of hierarchy. (As for what intermediate colors are, this is color science, we have a chance to talk about it)

The following is the introduction and recommendation of some colored pencils that I have used.

water-based colored pencils

FABER-CASTELL Faber

Official website

Founded in 1761, Faber is the oldest manufacturer of writing instruments in the world. Foresight and progress have enabled us to produce the highest quality products to meet the different needs of our customers. Therefore, Faber is proud to present our long history to you.

Faber (AW Faber-Castell) has developed from the middle of the seventeenth century (founded in 1761) to the present, and has a history of more than two hundred years. It is one of the oldest industrial enterprises in Europe and has a long history.

Under the leadership of the fourth generation Baron Lothar von Faber, it was the first in the world to bring the brand concept to the pencil, and since then Faber has become a household name internationally. Only the unique vision and innovative concept, adhering to the customer-oriented service, manufacturing the best quality products, to meet the enthusiasm of users' different needs, is Faber's consistent purpose and pursuit goal.

red box

 It is made of artificial concentrated toner for entry-level refills for students. The special SV process makes the refill not easy to break. Recommended for simple hobbies or children's practice.

The red box is Faber's entry-level colored pencils. This box should have been bought when I first started learning colored pencils. Later, I bought new colored pencils and this box was no longer used. The main reason is that the pen is too hard, it can pick the paper, and a little force will produce powder, so there is no way to mix colors well (but it is enough for beginners)

Later, I changed to a box of Faber medium-grade colored pencils, a blue box.

blue box

 This series has good color adhesion, and the refill itself has a good content of natural mineral powder. It can be easily painted on various rough materials such as pottery, wood, cardboard, and cloth. Make the works rich and varied

Comparing the two boxes, it can be seen that the colors are actually slightly different. The blue box has many grayscale colors, but the bigger difference is the refill. The texture of the blue box refill is softer than that of the red box, and the coloring is easier, but it still picks the paper (it is enough for daily drawing)

I have used a better pen (a bit like the feeling that I can't go back to 2G after using the 5G network) and I later changed to watercolor, so the above two boxes were given to my mother (Oh, no, at the beginning it was He paid for it) In short, I don't use these two boxes anymore.

Faber I only buy the whole box in red and blue.

green box

 For artist grade, the refill is made of high-purity mineral pigments for excellent coverage, can be stacked into saturated and bright tones, and has excellent light fastness, which can still be preserved in sunlight for more than 100 years. The barrel is non-toxic and environmentally friendly water-based paint Lacquer, feel smooth and smooth when painting

Personally, I think the green box is a bit tasteless, so I didn't buy it. Normally, the blue box is enough. If it's not enough, just buy a single museum-grade one. It is recommended that you buy Kada colored pencils, which are better and cheaper.)

Most people's perception of this brand is these three grades, but he actually has the highest grade, which is a museum grade colored pencil, but the price is a bit scary, and Niuniu currently only has a few scattered pieces.

If someone around you has a pen of this level, don't try it, because once you use it, you can't go back!!!!!!

Of all the colored pencils I've used, this Faber grade really beats every other brand, every grade.

It must be said that this box does not pick any paper at all, it is just a word "shun", and at the same time, when it touches water, it directly turns into an awesome watercolor!!!

CARAN D'ACHE

Official website

Founded in 1924 by Mr.Amold Schweitzer. CARAN D'ACHE is a French transliteration of Soviet Russian, meaning pencil. After a hundred years of continuous pursuit of excellence and insistence on quality, we have produced practical and elegantly designed writing instruments. . The brand has become a well-known Swiss manufacturer of pencils, art supplies and writing stationery, and has made a big splash on the international stage of stationery and art supplies.

It must be said that this is my favorite brand of colored pencils. The unit price of this brand is relatively high, but it must be said that it is really easy to use. This brand was used for art exhibitions before (plus Faber's museum-level).

Swisscolor series

There is a white cross (Swiss flag) on the red iron box. This is a student-grade color pencil of Qatar. Most of the colors are pink and purple, and the pink color is a bit more. Although it is a water-based pencil, the dry coating effect is better than adding water. And its gold and silver are insoluble in water.

Fancolor series

The use of food-grade pigments does not harm the human body. The strong and soft pen core has saturated bright and bright colors. For student-grade colored pencils, this box is already very good. The stacking color is very good, and the color is greenish. Compared with other brands of student-grade colored pencils, this box is less paper-picking. The effect of adding water is also good. Compared with the Swisscolor series, I personally recommend this box.

Supracolor Soft Collection

This is Qatar's expert colored pencils, and Niu Niu also used this box to draw the art exhibition. In fact, this box of Niuniu was a birthday present from my teacher. Compared with other brands, the colors of Kada are a little brighter, but the 40-color box does not contain gold and silver. You need to buy the paintings you want, or you can buy more color combinations. This series is up to 120 colors.

This box of Faber green (professional grade) is going to be smoother, the color stacking effect is very good, and it will not pick up the paper when using it with water.

STAEDTLER (Side Building)

Official website

Since its founding in 1835 by Johann Sebastian Staedtler, Staedtler has continued to uphold Germany's long-standing family tradition of pencil-making. as early as 1662,

Friedrich Staedtler has been nominated for the "Bleistiftma-cher", the pencil making specialist, in the official annual report of Nuremberg. Through a century-long accumulation of experience, we continue to advance in research and innovation, and develop a number of high-quality creative new products. Such an achievement symbolizes the extremely important position that Shide House enjoys in the international market.

Visualizing ideas through writing, coloring and drawing tools is something to be proud of. With a passion for expressing ideas and inspiring ideas, you will also be easily inspired when using our products.

To be honest, I am quite unfamiliar with the colored pencils of Shi Delou compared to the above two brands. The main reason is that the colored pencils of this brand are not the main products. The only one that can compete with the two brands above is his primary colored pencils , is the following box.

The color is very normal, there is no particularly brilliant color, the color distribution is even, the overall refill is hard, the color saturation is also sufficient, and the color mixing effect is better than the Faber red box.

It is a very friendly box of colored pencils for beginners. Although the Faber red box is a bit more expensive, it is still worth buying in terms of cp value.

As for the other grades of Shi Delou, it's okay to buy them and get angry.

in conclusion

Just compare the three brands I introduced. In fact, there are many brands that have water-colored pencils, but Niu Niu has never used them, so I won't comment.

Cheapest: Faber Red Box (36 Colors)

Beginner: Shide House (36 colors)

Student level: Kada funcolor series (40 colors)

Professional grade: Qatar Supracolor Soft series (40 colors)

Museum level: Faber artist (it is recommended to buy the color you need)

oily colored pencils

Regarding oily colored pencils, Niuniu is also less used (high-end water-based pencils can replace medium and low-end oily colored pencils), I am not very clear about different brands of pens, and I can give few opinions. I will only mention one that I have used and Useful brand introduction. As for Faber and Kada, there are also oily colored pencils, and the reviews are also good, but Niuniu has never used them, so you may have to write your own.

PRISMA

It has good color rendering, good stacking, full color, and easy coloring. It is excellent in all aspects. Many professional illustrators are also using the brand, and it is a brand that everyone recommends.

The price is a bit high, but overall it's a good value for money.

The thunder that Niuniu stepped on: Everyone avoid it!!!

MONA water-based pencils. The refill is too hard, and it is not easy to push it open with water. In addition, if no water is added, it will feel grainy. This box is not recommended.

pentel water-based pencils. Add water to push it off, and the color stacking effect is very poor.

Liberty Oil-Based Pencils. will feel grainy

ps. Lipathy's colored pencils seem to be grainy, and I have used more than one box.

Lion Cream Pencil (oily). Very non-slippery and non-pigmenting.

Pentel colored pencils (oily). No coloring, it takes a lot of effort to color.

postscript:

Every time I get a new box of colored pencils, Niuniu needs to spend a little time "sorting out". No matter which brand of colored pencils it is, as long as it is new, its order will always drive Niuniu crazy. As long as it's messed up, it'll be uncomfortable, damn obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The more colors, the more difficult it is to arrange. Every time there will always be one or two more. I don't know where the fortress is, and it's uncomfortable to put it anywhere...

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder like Niuniu, please remember my advice, just buy 36 colors, enough, and don't let yourself feel uncomfortable seeing the pen.

Well, the introduction of colored pencils is like this, let's see and buy for yourself.

If you have specific needs and need my additional recommendation, please find me in Xiangte City (I haunt there more often)

[Niuniu teaches you to draw sketches] series of articles

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