9 best color pencils

It seems to choose colored pencils - nowhere easier: go and buy. That's just on the shelves reigns such diversity that get confused for long. In search of the best, someone is focused on cost and ... loses. After all, the "promoted" brand and overpriced do not always guarantee excellent quality. Therefore, we have reviewed the reviews of mummies and professional artists in order to rank the best colored pencils for every taste and thickness of the wallet.

Color pencils which company to choose

Unfortunately, not a single Russian company got into the TOP of the best manufacturers, despite the significant cheapness of domestic goods. But the main criterion for selection was quality.

And here such companies showed themselves to the best extent:

1. French corporation BIC

Known worldwide manufacturer of quality, but inexpensive products.

2. Marco Dachs, S. A. (Spain)

The European leader in the production of pencils, but products from its Chinese branches come to our market.

3. Crayola LLC (USA)

Positioning itself as a manufacturer of safe products for creativity.

4. Koh-I-Noor Hardtmuth (Czech Republic)

For 300 years, produces office supplies.

5. Maped (France)

Specializes in the production of innovative products, no matter how funny it sounds in the case of colored pencils.

6. Austrian Kores

He pays special attention to the quality and safety of their products.

7. Faber-Castell AG and Lyra

German companies that produce products for professionals.

8. Derwent

English brand, collaborating with famous artists.

The best colored pencils for the smallest

Preschoolers experts advise to buy thickened (up to 1 cm) pencils with a triangular cross-section of the body. In this case, it is more convenient for small fingers to keep the instrument “grown-up”. In addition, thick pencils are not so easy to break, because children are still difficult to control the force of depression. And, of course, pencils must come with a high softness stylus and be made of non-toxic materials.

BIC Evolution

These colored pencils are made from eco-friendly bioplastic, which is stronger than wood and does not produce sharp edges when chipping (cracking).

Advantages:

• Pencils are very durable and even slightly “elastic”;
• Economical - slowly erased, and they need to sharpen no more than once a week;
• High impact lead;
• Convenient triangular holder - does not roll off the table;
• Easy to sharpen.

Disadvantages:

• It is necessary to separately buy a suitable sharpener;
• Over time, cardboard packaging is torn.

The absence of any weighty claims to BIC Evolution pencils on the part of buyers allowed us to give first place in the TOP of this particular brand.

Crayola mini kids

A set of 8 colored pencils for creativity of children from the year. All products of this brand are examined for compliance with European standards, and most importantly - they are easy to find in any office supply store.

Advantages:

• The convenient size of the trihedral holder is suitable for a small children's handle;
• Juicy colors;
• Soft and at the same time durable lead that does not crumble when falling and “drawing rain” with a loud bang;
• Excellent sharpened;
• Safe even when licking;
• Easily erased from the wallpaper and washed from the clothes.

Disadvantages:

• Not too cheap (average price threshold), although a huge amount of their advantages fully justifies the money spent.

These pencils in our market are the most popular, like other Crayola products. But the higher price does not allow them to give the leader a place.

Marco kidstaff

Soft pencils draw brightly and colorfully on paper with any texture, even when lightly pressed. Suitable for children over 3 years.

Advantages:

• The correct triangular cross-section of the shirt;
• Affordable cost;
• Soft and greasy stylus, easily leaving a mark even on smooth paper.

Disadvantages:

• Poorly erased from the sheet and not painted over - the child will not succeed in correcting the error.

In general, Marco produces a very large collection of colored pencils for children of different ages. Although the difference is reflected only in the shape of the shirt and the number of colors. The quality of the slate and the peculiarities of working with it do not change at all.

The best colored pencils for schoolchildren

Fees for a child in school cost the parents a considerable amount: buying clothes, a knapsack, supplies — anybody wants to save. However, buying a budget office means that the product will be of "appropriate" quality. A child will begin to draw with dull and often breaking pencils without pleasure. For school, it is better to take the accessories of medium softness, choosing products of well-known companies.

Kores "Kolores Duo"

Two-color pencils with extra soft lead. They are made from high-quality wood and have a comfortable ergonomic shape. And the best part - in the box to them is a compact sharpener.

Advantages:

• Good wood shirts - not dusty and not crammed when sharpening;
• Saturated pigments, high-impact leads;
• Twice as many shades in a standard box;
• There is a golden and silver color;
• Surprisingly high quality sharpener.

Disadvantages:

• The price is rather average, although in terms of the number of colors, it is no longer so scary;
• Not every city is on sale.

Perhaps Kores "Kolores Duo" is the best choice for a schoolboy of any age and just lovers of drawing. And the concern of the manufacturer about the convenience of the artist (in the form of a good sharpener) buyers note in each recall.

Maped Duo Color Peps

A set of 12 items pleased with a couple of features. First, all the pencils are double-sided here, and secondly, among the standard shades there is gold and silver, which girls especially like. The Maped Duo pencil shirt is made from lime and has a popular triangular cross section.

Advantages:

• Bright, natural colors;
• Shock-resistant and sharpened lead when sharpening;
• Conveniently lie in hand;
• The price matches the quality.

Disadvantages:

• They do not like strong pressure and fall - the core just breaks away;
• The yellow pencil is pale - you have to paint it in several layers, which is why it grinds faster.

In general, very good pencils that children like. But buying Duo Color is better for older students - they will handle them more carefully.

Koh-i-noor Mondeluz "Fish"

A set of 12 watercolor pencils made from environmentally friendly and safe color pigments. Suitable for independent creativity. You can draw, like ordinary colored pencils, and then just hold a wet brush on the image - you’ll have a real watercolor drawing. Such properties of pencils develop the imagination and motor skills of the child.

Advantages:

• Bright and saturated colors even after wetting with water;
• Drawings do not fade in the sun;
• Universal - you can draw “on wet”, on dry, and then moisten the sheet, or leave it as it is;
• The triangular holder - does not roll on the table;
• Strong, almost unbreakable slate.

Disadvantages:

• Price;
• Grind off quickly.

Colored pencils Mondeluz "Fish" can be used as a regular art class, and in the classroom in art school. But for coloring contour maps they are not suitable.

The best colored pencils for professionals

Most artists prefer to use paints in their work, but they also use colored pencils, especially when working with sketches. There are those who fully focus on the pencil technique - these people prefer sets to come with a large number of colors and shades, pigments of the leads were bright, but not greasy. And of course, the artist’s work tool must be of high quality: do not break or crumble, properly respond to pressure.

Derwent Coloursoft

The standard set consists of 72 items. The pencils themselves are soft, with a rich color palette.Suitable for both portraiture and illustrations, fanart, sketching, still lifes. On paper, they can create an unusual effect of a drawing, whether it is pastel or watercolor.

Advantages:

• Very soft pencils that are well sharpened;
• Bright pigments;
• Durable metal box;
• Convenient sharpener included;
• Suitable for gradients, shading and blending colors;
• Have an affordable price, as for professional pencils;
• There are on sale by the piece.

Disadvantages:

• There were complaints that broken rods come across;
• Because of their super-smoothness, cores are quickly grinded, sharp sharpening does not hold onto them at all.

Good pencils for saturated or sweeping drawings with a clear and bright line. Alas, it is absolutely uneconomical, so in addition to them, artists often buy other colored pencils - cheaper and firmer.

Faber castell polychromos

Chic set of 60 premium quality pencils. Go in a flat metal box with a soft substrate, which protects them from breaking the slate when falling.

Advantages:

• The box opens comfortably, but with little effort;
• Just a crazy selection of colors and shades in the palette;
• Soft, waterproof lead;
• The pigment on the sheet is not taken on the fingers and is not imprinted on the next page;
• Quality wood shirts;
• Missing shades in the set, you can buy one by one.

Disadvantages:

• Really expensive - the bill goes on thousands;
• To some, they seem to be tough, do not slide well on paper;
• Poor shading;
• Sold only in large specialized stores or brought to order.

If 60 shades are not enough for you, the Faber manufacturer has such boxes for 72 or 120 pencils. Not enough money? Try to start a compact set of 12, 24 or 36 colors, or take the necessary ones.

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor

Unique in its kind wax pencils class elite with bright, shiny and waterproof leads. In addition to paper and cardboard, they can be painted on other materials: wooden surfaces or textiles.

Advantages:

• Chic colors with an oily sheen;
• Well superimposed and mixed with each other;
• Nice shirt design in real wood color;
• Easily erased with a rubber band, which allows you to "save" the work with a random error;
• Sold in sets and individually.

Disadvantages:

• It is difficult to find in the free market;
• In a set of 12 pieces there is no gray tint. The reason - the manufacturer produces sets with pencils of different shades of gray and assumes that you buy them separately.

In general, Lyra Rembrandt are very interesting pencils. It is pleasant to work with wax cores, especially since they become harder in a cool room and soften in a warm room. The price for them is also quite adequate. And we give the third place to this brand for the greed of marketers.

What colored pencils to buy

1. For babies under one year old, it is better to choose BIC Evolution pencils - their size is perfect for small palms.

2. Children from a year to three can already buy Crayola "Mini Kids".

3. Marco KidStaff pencils that are more affordable are suitable for children over the age of 3.

4. For the development of creative abilities in children, experts advise buying a novelty - watercolor pencils, such as Koh-i-Noor Mondeluz.

5. For a school, there will be enough inexpensive two-sided pencils Maped Duo Color Peps or Kores "Kolores Duo", where there are twice as many colors.

6. Professionals and art school students will love the Derwent Coloursoft and Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor soft pencils.

7. For experienced artists you can already recommend Faber Castell Polychromos, although this is one of the most expensive pencils in our market.