Though I do not have extensive experience with colored pencils, my practice does go back over thirty years. Colored pencils were cheap and readily available which made them a good choice for my parents to purchase for me. I’m confident most kids experienced the same.
(Left) Colored pencil sketch from 1995.
Again, like most other kids, I filled in each block or section with one color as if they were crayons. There was no layering or blending because I didn’t know anything about it at the time. Often, I would simply sketch an outline with colored pencils without even filling in with color. There weren’t tutorials as there are today and how-to books were too scarce and expensive, so I had no idea how to use them. Forget about comparing brands. With no understanding of the pencils, cheap brands like Craft art and Crayola were more than adequate.
Paper is another important topic. None of this meant anything to me growing up. Coloring books, smooth or tooth, drawing or pastel. Which to choose? Does it matter? Available to me were rolls of copy paper and frequently an off-brand sketch book.
As I began to develop and grow as an artist (of mostly watercolor) and with the plethora of online reviews and comparisons, I realized how much I didn’t know about the colored pencil medium and how much it intrigued me. I also felt challenged to take this new knowledge and apply it to the medium that was a huge part of my artistic roots.
Below is my most recent colored pencil drawing from September 2026. NOT using the professional quality pencils.
I finally purchased some colored pencils without realizing that even though they were highly recommended they remained in the medium range of quality for a professional artist. I’m happy with them but as a selling artist, I certainly want the professional quality that takes my work to the next level. So, I’ve decided to take the monetary plunge and purchase some of the highest quality pencils: Caran D’Ache Pablo and Faber Castell Polychromos.
I’m so excited!! Stayed tuned for my review on these!! 😁
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