Choosing the right colored pencil will help greatly in enriching both your expression and your final piece. With so many colors and brands in the market, choosing the right pencil for the project is something that may leave one bewildered.
This article will take you through a step-by-step process of choosing an ideal colored pencil, considering color range, lightfastness, pigment quality, and personal preference.
Knowing Your Colored Pencils
Colored pencils have grown in popularity as being among the easiest access and most manageable art media. A number of types exist, including wax-based, oil-based, and watercolor pencils. Each type possesses its own characteristics and is suitable for different applications of style and technique in drawing.
Wax-based pencils: These are the most common colored pencils available in the open market. They possess a very smooth application with very brilliant colors. They are also ideal for shading, blending, and drawing in detail.
Oil-based pencils: These pencils offer a richness and smoothness of application rather than wax-based ones. They are suitable to use for higher amounts of sheen than usual. They are often used in fine arts and illustrations.
Watercolor pencils: These can prove to be useful either in their dry state, similar to a normal colored pencil drawing, or even in their wet state to show a watercolor effect. They're pretty versatile, giving quite a different experience in art.
Color Range and Lightfastness
A wide color range is very important when you have to make your expression with a range of colors. Thus, select the brands that offer a wide range of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
Light-fast is theoretically a signal about the resistance or stability of the color of the pencil if it's exposed to light over a long time. Preserving the integrity of your art with light-fast pencils is going to be a huge thing.
Quality of Pigments
The quality of pigment in colored pencils largely determines the vividness, intensity, and durability of the color. High-quality colored pencils contain pure pigments for superior saturation of color and lightfastness. Also, avoid those with fillers or binders since these features in colored pencils dull colors and affect the quality of your work altogether.
Personal Preference and Artistic Style
Which colored pencil is best for you will, of course, have to be a matter of personal preference and your working style. Experiment with brands and types until you find ones that suit your needs. Take into consideration how the pencil feels in your hand, blending ease, and desired effect.
Pairing with Your Colored Pencils
Paper types: Paper type also makes a lot of difference in the application and blending of colored pencils. You may want to try different types of paper to see which best suits your pencils.
Sharpeners: A sharp pencil is going to make all the difference in the world in giving you precise lines and details. For this reason, invest in a good-quality pencil sharpener since these will provide you with a sharp point without breaking the pencil.
Blending techniques: Learn several blending techniques that will help you achieve everything from smooth transitions to dramatic contrasts.
That's a wrap for today, Lykkers! By keeping these tips in mind, you'll be able to choose the perfect colored pencils that not only enhance your skills but also help you create artwork that truly wows! Do you have any personal tips or experiences when it comes to finding the right pencils? We'd love to hear from you!
