The best colored pencils for kids and professional artists. Which pencils are better: testing and choosing the best pencils Quality colored pencils

Colored pencils combine the beauty of graphics and the ability to work with color. This is in most cases the very first instrument that novice artists get acquainted with in childhood. And often it is colored pencils that awaken in children a further craving for creativity. This tool is absolutely non-toxic and non-marking. It does not require additional tools such as a brush and thinner, and therefore you can always carry it with you.

How are professional colored pencils for drawing different from ordinary ones?

• wood quality. For professional tools, such expensive wood species as, for example, cedar are chosen. They are easier to sharpen and at the same time perfectly preserve the lead from mechanical damage.
• Lead features. It is produced on a wax or oil basis using natural pigments. Such a lead is much softer and does not crumble when sharpened. Soft colored pencils are very easy to lay down on paper, the color is saturated and persistent.
• Marking. regular school colored pencils best case have a standard softness marking. On professional ones, the number and full name of the shade are affixed. This makes it possible to buy the right pencils separately.
• palette. Today you can buy colored pencils for artists in a set of up to 120 pieces. They provide a smooth transition of color and make it possible to convey shades as accurately as possible.

• Use thick paper for drawing. The thicker it is, the more layers you can apply, and therefore, you can get more saturated colors and mix more shades.
• If you need to leave thin lines unpainted, push them through. To do this, you can use a special pusher or, for example, a used ballpoint pen.
• To smooth the transition between colors, use a special colorless pencil or marker.
• In order to prevent your hand from blurring the finished areas when drawing, you can use an old unwanted photo. Just place it under the brush with the glossy side down.

Drawing is the favorite pastime of millions of children. It is hard to argue with the fact that the most popular instrument to implement their creative ideas on paper are colored pencils.

In this case, parents have only one task left to do so that drawing gives maximum pleasure.

Below we will take a closer look at several manufacturers of pencils, their advantages and disadvantages, and together we will decide which colored pencils are best for drawing.

To make the results as honest and unbiased as possible, both domestic and foreign manufacturers participate in the review with a full range of pricing policies from the most affordable to more elite ones. In this article, we evaluate the products of the following brands:

1. Kalyaka-Malyaka;
2. Crayola Jumbo;
3. Jovi Maxi;
4. maped;
5. Faber-Castell;
6. Crayola Twistables;
7. ErichKrause;
8. KOH-I-NOOR;
9. Lyra OSIRIS AQUARELL;
10. Faber-Castell watercolors;
11. Crayola;
12. Crayon Rocks.

All applicants listed above have necessary qualities which allows any child of any age to translate their ideas on paper.

Kalyaka-Malyaka

One of the few domestic manufacturers that can really please you with quality products. Many noted that the pencils are very bright, thick, have a short length, which allows even the smallest to hold it firmly in their hand. Regardless of the pressure, the line is always very bright, juicy and does not fade over time. Among the advantages it is worth noting: affordable cost, small shape, soft core. The only thing that let me down was the stylus, which falls apart when sharpened.

Crayola jumbo

These pencils have a non-standard, large diameter, which makes it possible for anyone to comfortably hold them. The durable lead and rich natural colors allow you to create vivid drawings even without significant pressure on the pencil. Among the positive aspects: a durable stylus, a thick body, a nice design with complemented drawings. WITH reverse side, it is difficult to choose a sharpener, as the diameter is unusual.

Jovi Maxi

These are already representatives of the middle league, since the pencils have a trihedral body, with an additional thickening. The shape is designed to help form the correct grip. The soft stylus does not scratch the paper, even when pressed hard, but it does not require significant effort to draw. Clear saturated colors and a wide palette of shades.

Maped

Pencils from this company can be safely called the best choice in most situations. The product has an ergonomic shape, which allows you to comfortably hold even several pieces, regardless of position. It is convenient to sharpen them, both with a knife and with any sharpener. When used, they have bright and saturated colors. This is the only product that, according to many users, is completely devoid of flaws, a great option for anyone who does not know which colored pencils are best for drawing.

Faber-Castell

So that after the purchase no one is looking for a special sharpener, the manufacturer offers it for free in the kit. These pencils are already approaching the professional league, as they have a specially protected varnish and a lead that is glued along the entire length. Using them, you can be sure of a bright color palette, fast sharpening and simple removal from any type of fabric.

Crayola Twistables

Pencils from this company can be attributed to the next stage in the evolution of this product, since they do not require sharpening. The design allows you to unscrew or remove the lead as needed. To determine the remaining length of the lead, you just need to look at the pencil, as the body is completely transparent. Among the positive points, it can be noted: rich colors, ease of drawing and an additional function, in the form of deletion using any eraser. From negative sides just a high price compared to others.

Erich Krause

This company has been in the market for pencils, pens and other office equipment for decades, so they know what they are doing. Watercolor pencils are affordable, have an incredibly practical 3-sided shape and an extra brush that comes with the kit. It is also worth noting the high strength of the stylus and the case as a whole.

KOH-I-NOOR

This product also belongs to the watercolor type and has rich colors. Pencil perfectly draws on any surface without scratching it. When working with it, the lead does not crumble, even with strong pressure, and does not break if the pencil is dropped. There are no shortcomings.

Lyra OSIRIS AQUARELL

An excellent choice for those who are just starting the path of the artist. Saturated clear colors, soft pattern, comfortable shape and durable body. As with any watercolor pencil, the kit comes with a brush, which is necessary to blur the background.

Where to improve drawing skills?

Those who have just started drawing, really want to start or want to improve their skills, the MATITA drawing school will be an excellent way out of the situation. Huge range of courses: academic drawing, pencil graphics, oil painting and much more.

More detailed information regarding the schedule of classes, teachers and pricing policy, you can get a website on the website. The courses are aimed at both children and adults, so everyone will find useful skills for themselves.

The most favorite activities of children are connected with artistic creativity, so good colored pencils are a tool not only for drawing, but also for development. The benefits of such a pastime are undeniable: the accuracy of the eye and the hand, the mobility of the hand are formed, the creative abilities and emotional sphere of the child develop.

How to choose colored pencils

Colored pencils are convenient and practical: they do not leave stains, do not require preparation for a drawing session and cleaning up after it. But the range of these tools is so extensive that it can be difficult for the buyer to navigate it independently. Together we will look at the main characteristics of the products and give advice on how to choose colored pencils, paying attention to important factors.

1. Form. Pencils can be in cross section:

• round;
• hexagonal;
• trihedral.

Triangular ones are more convenient for baby fingers, triangular and hexagonal ones are more convenient for older children, and a body with a round section requires a hand that is already used to holding a pencil correctly.

2. Softness. Simple graphite pencils are marked according to the level of hardness, but for non-ferrous such a classification is not accepted. Therefore, it is worth focusing on reviews and reviews of products from specific manufacturers.

The optimal hardness for a colored rod is at the level of 2B, B, HB, that is, very soft, soft, hard-soft.

3. Rod thickness. For different types colored pencils, it ranges from 2.5-5 mm. It is chosen depending on the age of the artist, drawing technique and many other factors. The thicker the rod, the less often it breaks, but such a tool will also have to be sharpened often (especially if 2B is chosen - very soft).

4. Rod material and type. In colored pencils, the rods can be:

• classic- in the composition of colored pigments and white clay, they fit well on paper, depending on the method of sharpening, they allow thin or thick lines to be drawn;
• wax- wax acts as a base, which gives an easy glide on paper, the pencil has no shirt, it is not necessary to sharpen the core;
• pastel- the composition includes linseed oil, often the rod does not have a shell, the tool gives soft lines, eliminates sharp strokes;
• watercolor- special water-soluble emulsions are added to the base, the strokes lie on the paper gently, they can be blurred with a special brush.

It is difficult to say by this parameter which colored pencils are best for drawing - each type performs its own functions. Watercolors and pastels are usually needed for those who study at art school or independently study serious techniques. visual arts. The most versatile are good soft colored rods of the classic type - such pencils are suitable for children of any age for drawing at school and at home.

5. shirt material. Most often, the shell of the rod is wooden. This is the usual option, but the wood may be heterogeneous or brittle. Then the tool breaks when sharpening or cracks when dropped. The wood of high-quality pencil backs is quite durable. But there is a good alternative - plastic cases, which are not afraid of falling.

6. Number of colors in the set. The standard number of multi-colored pencils in a set is 12. Such a selection allows you to solve almost any basic artistic task. Large art kits can be used to create intricate multi-color designs. Everything depends on the goal. In the Komus online store there are sets of colors of the main spectrum and in a wide palette - from 4 to 72.

7. Brand. Domestic and foreign manufacturers of quality colored pencils: Koh-i-noor, Bic, Crayol, Siberian Cedar, Faber-Castel, Kores, No. 1 School, Stabilo, Maped. Almost every brand has products for young children and schoolchildren, some have specialized products for beginners and experienced artists. Colored pencils of any company listed in this list are of good quality:

• give straight lines and are suitable for hatching;
• their rods are strong;
• colors are saturated.

The listed parameters and characteristics will help you choose tools that you can draw with pleasure.

Toddler pencils

Colored pencils BIC Evolution, 12 colors IN preschool age important to develop fine motor skills, but do not allow excessive tension of the fingers. So, the first colored pencils for a child should be:

• not too long;
• enough (but not excessively) thick;
• trihedral - this is the most convenient body shape for an inexperienced hand;
• with a soft or very soft thick lead - the accuracy of the lines is not so important for the baby;
• impact-resistant, preferably with a plastic case (do not use pencils with a wooden shirt - children often gnaw them, and chips, breaking off, can injure the baby);
• saturated color.

For thick soft pencils and a plastic body, you may need a custom sharpener.

Pencils for schoolchildren

Choosing a set of pencils for a child school age occurs at the beginning of each academic year. Many parents prefer the cheapest stationery. However, this approach is wrong, because you can find budget sets of colored pencils that meet certain requirements - the assortment of the online store has a large number of products whose prices vary widely.

The best school pencils for drawing (if we are not talking about an art studio):

• in a set of 12 colors - tasks in drawing lessons can be difficult, the tools must match, big sets allow you to use similar shades if some of the pencils are lost;
• bright and saturated colors - otherwise the drawings turn out to be dull and fine art does not bring joy;
• soft and medium soft - so that you can draw small details;
• long enough to be used for a long time - children often break pencils without calculating the pressing force;
• with a durable case - plastic or wooden;
• tri- or hexagonal section - such a tool lies comfortably in the hand, the fingers do not strain.

When choosing pencils for school, check if they sharpen easily and be sure to get a few sharpeners. The best option is pencils of standard diameter and ordinary sharpeners, since a student can lose or forget an unusual little thing, and then a broken pencil will cause serious grief.

Having overcome the initial stages of education, students may become interested in unusual and funny pencils - double-sided, with an eraser, sharpener, metallic lead, two-color. If you want to pamper your children, look through the Komus catalog with them - you will find a lot of interesting things there.

In the workshops of past centuries, where brilliant works art, there were no luxurious frills among the materials for painting. Simple black coal could create real masterpiece. For inspiration, only nature in the form of a person or an ordinary piece of furniture was needed. But progress, of course, does not stand still, and it has had a tremendous impact on artistic sphere. First of all, professional drawing pencils have undergone changes. There are so many of them on the shelves of stores that they just run up their eyes when choosing. Therefore, we will try to consider in detail what types of pencils are and for what purposes they are intended.

Black on white

This is the first material that was widely used among the great artists of the past centuries. It is well suited for tinting certain areas of the canvas, and it is also very convenient for them to draw the silhouettes of a person.

Today it is widely used. With this means for drawing, artists convey their feelings to the canvas, thereby not particularly focusing on the colorfulness of the work.

Such coal is made mainly from or willow. Relatively recently appeared on the market lead pencil. IN wide circles it is called graphite.

Such a tool is suitable for a thorough study of the image on the canvas. It is better to sharpen it or with sandpaper.

Graphite charcoal and Conte pencil

A black drawing pencil is the basis for writing a masterpiece. After all, a sketch made with such a tool is a "framework" for future creation.

The graphite charcoal and the Conte pencil are very important tools for the artistic process, as each brings its own unique mark and hue to the paper.

When working with a drawing, it is still worth using different materials, for example, by combining wax with graphite or compressed charcoal. Expanding this arsenal will allow expressing various aspects works of all kinds. Carnadash Conté or graphite charcoal is good for sketching landscapes, street parks, still lifes, cinemas, and so on.

Discover the variety of black shades, and then your drawing will change significantly.

colorful abundance

In order for the creation to sparkle with new "emotions", you will need to draw. Professional and high-quality, they will help to carry out the most daring experiments on the canvas.

In most cases, these pencils are sold in sets, but if necessary, they can be purchased separately. They have many shades, but in hardness they are significantly inferior to graphite ones. But still, the softness of the stylus in such an instrument can be very different.

Very often the concepts of "chalk", "pastel" and "chalk" are confused. The first material from this list is made mainly from natural components: iron oxide, gypsum or coal. The second tool consists of pasty mixtures based on gum or resin. The pastel leaves behind a vague trace, which is slightly reminiscent of chalk, but has a wider gamut. After finishing work, put such material in a box, as it is soft and breaks very easily.

Wax miracle

Professional drawing pencils of this type are suitable for work different nature and in different techniques. They include natural or synthetic wax with colored pigments. Wax pencils practically do not blur, thereby simplifying the drawing process.

When working with such material, it is worth considering that it has a very soft base, traces still remain. Therefore, before using, pay attention to its sharpness. If the tip is blunt, then dip the tool in hot water and give it desired shape or use a regular kitchen knife to cut vegetables.

Suitable for those people who strive to make a bright, but at the same time calm picture, where clarity flows into smooth outlines.

Question about white

Any professional drawing kit is complete without white pencil. Many novice artists are wondering why he is at all. After all, you will not see it on an ordinary light canvas or paper.

But still, a white pencil has special functions in this matter:

1. With this tool, you can make drawings on colored paper, highlight silhouettes over charcoal or sepia.

2. If the creation turned out to be catchy, then with the help of this product you can muffle the main color, reducing the brightness by several tones.

3. Also, using a white pencil, you can blur the prevailing shade, while obtaining a new pattern.

These materials are mainly used for graphic images and drawn on dark colored paper.

watery patterns

Professional good not only in terms of the fact that they are easy to "manage", but also that the need to use paints of this type disappears.

The brightness of the colors of such an instrument is impressive, nothing can compare with them.
The number of shades in the palette is very large, they can be mixed, but you should not get carried away, as the expected result will not work if you overdo it.

When choosing pencils of this type, it is also worth considering that they are not erased by an eraser, and if such an intervention is made, the result will be dirt. Here you will be helped by brushes and special paper, which is designed for watercolor.

Faber-Castell

Professional drawing pencils are not always available good quality, here you need to know what to choose. Materials from the German firm Faber-Castell are a priority for most artists who long years doing art.

This campaign specializes specifically in stationery, but the main advantage is still pencils. They took care of the preferences of each client and therefore created several types of such materials.

The first group was called "Red". This series is intended for children from 3 to 12 years old. These pencils are inferior in quality, they are very hard and dull, but just right for training.

The second group - "Blue" - are materials for those who draw as a hobby, but they are also great for professionals. In this category, both colored pencils and watercolors are available.

The third, final group is "Green". The products of this plan are designed for real professionals.

Here all the nuances are taken into account, there are materials different types, which allow you to emphasize the peculiarity of the work. They are also resistant to light, which is undoubtedly the main advantage.

color advantage

Well, having considered all professional drawing pencils, we can say with confidence that it all depends on your personality and desire to create something unusual. The priority for today remains the color segment in the work, but no one has canceled the black-and-white variations.

Discover your secret desires and emotions and feel free to go shopping for professional pencils. After all, nothing soothes as the process of working on a drawing created by one's own hands.