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Colored Pencil Essentials

Crayon emoji 15 items
I curated this list of my favorite colored pencils to help you find the perfect one for your next project. It includes everything from my go-to professional brands to the best options for beginners.
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Colored Pencils

Unlock a world of vibrant color. This list features a variety of my favorite colored pencils, from affordable sets perfect for sketching to high-end brands for creating your next masterpiece.

 
Mika profile picture
These are my go-to pencils for a reason! I love their soft, thick cores that provide vibrant color and a buttery-smooth laydown. They're perfect for any type of drawing and are incredibly easy to blend.
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils and Sets
 
Mika profile picture
I love these pencils for their buttery smooth laydown and incredible lightfastness. They are truly the professional's choice for creating permanent, rich drawings that won't fade over time.
Caran d Ache Luminance Colored Pencils and Sets
 
Mika profile picture
These Japanese-made pencils are known for their exceptional pigmentation and smooth, buttery laydown. I love them for creating vivid, lightfast art that will last a lifetime.
Holbein Artists Colored Pencils and Sets
 
Mika profile picture
The perfect start for any artist! These classroom-trusted colored pencils offer rich, smooth color that's easy to use. While they aren't on the same level as professional brands, they're excellent for learning, sketching, and casual use.
Crayola Colored Pencil Sets
 
Mika profile picture
These oil-based colored pencils are perfect for creating highlights and mixed media work. With their soft touch and high opacity, they are ideal for layering and adding vibrant, fade-resistant color to your drawings.
Posca Colored Pencils and Set
 
Mika profile picture
I love these pencils because they truly give you the best of both worlds. They lay down as smoothly as a wax pencil but can be sharpened to a fine point for all your detailed work, making them incredibly versatile."
Derwent Pro Colour Colored Pencils and Sets
 
Mika profile picture
These are a great choice for detailed work. With firm, break-resistant leads and high pigmentation, they combine precision and performance. They also have impressive lightfastness, ensuring your art lasts a long time.
Caran d Ache Pablo Colored Pencils and Sets
 
Mika profile picture
I love these for mixed media! They give you the control of a pencil for fine details but blend like a soft pastel. It's the perfect hybrid medium for any artist looking for versatility.
Stabilo CarbOthello Pastel Pencils and Sets
 
Mika profile picture
These are an essential for professional artists. As an oil-based pencil, they give you a rich, smudge-free laydown that layers beautifully. They're highly lightfast, so your work will stay vibrant for a lifetime, a true investment for any serious art...
Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils and Sets
 
Mika profile picture
These are fantastic, pigment-rich pencils for artists of all levels. They have a thick, wax-based core that makes blending easy, and they have excellent lightfastness to ensure your artwork lasts. The sets come in travel-friendly tins, perfect for ar...
Winsor & Newton Studio Collection Colored Pencil Sets
 
Mika profile picture
I love these for sketching! The double-ended design is super practical, giving you two colors in one pencil. They're great for saving space in your kit and perfect for quick color studies.
Prang Duo Color Colored Pencil Sets

Watercolor Pencils

These versatile pencils are the best of both worlds, combining the precision of a colored pencil with the expressive flow of watercolor paints. They are perfect for sketching on the go, creating vivid illustrations, and adding beautiful washes of col...

 
Mika profile picture
The perfect way to combine drawing and painting. These pencils are fully water-soluble, allowing you to create a traditional pencil drawing and then use a wet brush to turn it into a watercolor painting. They have a soft, break-resistant core and are...
Faber Castell Gold faber Aqua Watercolor Pencils and Sets
 
Mika profile picture
These pencils are a great, affordable option for exploring watercolor effects. With their vibrant, pigment-rich cores, you can use them to add color to your drawings and then blend them with a wet brush. They're perfect for journals and mixed media a...
Pentel Arts Watercolor Colored Pencil Sets
 
Mika profile picture
I love these for their versatility. They give you the smooth, classic laydown of a Prismacolor pencil but can be blended with water for beautiful watercolor effects. You can use them dry for precise details or wet for fluid washes of color.
Prismacolor Watercolor Pencil Sets
 
Mika profile picture
These are a fantastic starting point for exploring watercolor. I love how the vibrant pigments can be used for drawing, then activated with water for beautiful washes of color. They're a durable choice that's perfect for any student or beginner.
Derwent Academy Watercolor Pencil Sets