Do you need expensive colored pencils to create awesome pictures?

Here is a colored pencil comparison. Let’s find out if you need expensive colored pencils to create awesome pictures.

The four popular brands that we will use for this comparison:

1. Crayola (Standard)

2. The Black Widow Series

3. Faber-Castell Polychromos

4. Prismacolor Premier

A Comparison of Similar Colors

For this example, I used a page from “My Coloring Companion” by Global Doodle Gems.

Color comparison between the four brands.

Crayola had the most distinctive colors, and it was challenging to match to standard colors. As a less expensive brand, I wonder if this could be due to the use of less expensive pigment sources.

The Black Widow series features a unique color palette and is limited in certain color ranges. However, they are expanding their color range regularly and may fill in the gaps with future sets.

Faber-Castell Polychromos has the best match for “industry-standard” colors.

Prismacolor Premiers are a close second when matching “industry-standard” colors.

Yellow, Red, and Blue

Yellow, Red, and Blue Comparison

I applied three to four shades of similar colors from each brand to a different corner of a mandala from “Simple Kaleidoscopes Adult Coloring Book” by Ligia Ortega.

I printed the mandala on Neenah Exact Vellum Bristol Premium Cardstock (67 lb). This paper is slightly thicker and has a smoother texture (also called the "tooth"). It works well for both mixed media and blending pencils.

I used my preferred, colored pencil style – tiny circles with many light layers. I blended the yellow, red, and blue shades to achieve other colors.

Crayola

Crayola Colored Pencil Test

1. An inexpensive pencil, lightweight with a smooth, standard-sized barrel.

2. It has less pigment than other brands, so more layers are required to achieve smooth coverage.

3. Not as scratchy as some of the other, less expensive pencils.

4. Since these are considered student-grade, I expect the colors to fade over time.

5. Overall, I was pleased with the result considering the price of the product.

Black Widow

Black Widow Colored Pencil Test

1. Mid-range pencil, lightweight with a standard-sized, hexagonal barrel.

2. Nice pigment saturation.

3. Smooth application.

4. Require fewer layers than Crayola pencils to achieve a smooth look.

5. Unique colors.

6. Not my favorite barrel shape as it tends to cramp my fingers, but overall an enjoyable pencil with nice coverage.

Faber-Castell Polychromos

Faber-Castell Polychromos Test

1. Artist-grade pencil with a smooth, slightly heavier, and larger barrel.

2. Rich pigment color saturation.

3. Applies smoothly.

4. The soft core makes it easy to lay down a thick first layer, which can make it harder to blend subsequent layers.

5. The colors are less likely to fade with time, which is important if you plan to display your pictures for years to come.

Prismacolor Premiers

Prismacolor Premier Test

1. Artist-grade pencil with a standard-sized, smooth barrel and soft core.

2. Rich, saturated color.

3. Applies smoothly but tends to develop “wax bloom” when layers are applied too heavily.

4. Limited color fading over time.

5. Requires frequent sharpening to maintain a sharp point.

Expensive Colored Pencils Conclusion

Any of these pencils will get you beautiful results for a coloring hobbyist, so buy what is in your price range and practice your techniques. Do you need expensive colored pencils to achieve the result you want? Ultimately, the best pencil is the one that you like best.

Which pencils do you prefer and why? Let me know in the comments section.

What are the 12 best coloring supplies to create beautiful pictures? Find out here.

Want to learn how to color a beautiful face? Find out here.

Deirdre Gamill-Hock is a lifestyle/wellness coach and freelance writer/editor who writes engaging content for blogs and small businesses. Contact her at deirdre@deirdrehock.com or click here.