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I don't do well with Copic Markers. I can't stay in the lines. I do have Prismacolored pencils and I like them except they tend to break. Are there any other artist quality pencils that work well? When using them what do you use with them to blend?
It only says 'colored pencils' on there, but I remember asking her one time, and that's what she used. I like the colors better than the prismacolors, myself, and they don't break like my prismas did.
Crayola and Rose Art both are like Prima in that they are waxed based and blend with Gamsol or their blender...
If your Prisma pencils are breaking that easy, you may be coloring a bit to hard...They are a somewhat soft base because of the wax and also, try not making them pin point sharp...If I need a really sharp point to fit in a small space, I will rub a point on scrap paper and it does better...
you can always use dry color pencils of any kind, but they do not blend any way near the beauty of Prisma...
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I am far from an expert with pencils, but I have 4 different kinds of pencils in my pencil cup: Derwent Inktense, Derwent Colorsoft, Prismacolor and Koh-I-Noor. I think I like the K-I-N THE LEAST, and the Derwents the most. I got the Derwent pencils from a local art store and they only carry a select few of the Inktense pencils, so I have more Colorsoft than Inktense, but I really like them both!
This was colored with the Derwent pencils. (and blended with Gamsol of course.)
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SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
Prisma color pencils! I've had them for quite awhile now! They were expensive but I used a 50% off coupon at Joanns. This was a few years back. They also blend nice too with the blender pens!
I have wondered about Faber Castell. I just heard about Derwent Inktense. Do they break as easily as the Prismacolor? Jazzytobi I love your card and the way you colored it.
I have wondered about Faber Castell. I just heard about Derwent Inktense. Do they break as easily as the Prismacolor? Jazzytobi I love your card and the way you colored it.
Thanx.. and I haven't broken a derwent pencil yet!! *knocks on wood*
The Koh-I-Noors, however, I have broken a few..
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I design for: Stampendous!, There She Goes, Technique Tuesday,
SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
I like the Koh-i-noor pencils for their intensity of color, but I guess I don't press hard as I haven't broken any pencils yet, and I have Prismas also. I do wish the Koh-i-noors came in more colors. I also like the Crayola pencils. I have several brands mixed together that I use, including Prang and Reeves, but the Prismas and Koh-i-noors are my favorites. I haven't tried the Derwent pencils, but I've seen many people here post that they like them.
Are your Prisma's breaking when you are coloring or are they breaking when you try to sharpen them? Have you dropped them?
There is a technique for sharpening colored pencils - use a good quality sharpener with a sharp blade, make sure you are using the correct size hole and turn the sharpener instead of turning the pencil. Makes a big difference. you can get hand sharpeners which have replaceable blades. Or you can get a battery operated sharpener make for colored pencils. I got mine from Dick Blick, it's a Derwent and was less than $10. Works great.
The leads can break inside the pencils if they are dropped.
I have Prisma Premier, I like them. I think the Verithin's leads are too hard.
I have the full set of Derwent Inktense, which are water soluable and use like watercolors but much more vibrant and when they dry, they dry as ink so you can add layers or other mediums without lifting or smearing the ink. I just got my inktense and did this test painting. I have never painted or watercolored so this is a new technique for me.
If you don't want to paint as well as draw with the Inktense, then they might not be the right pencil for you because the painting is one of their really great qualities - and they are expensive! Water brings out their colors, the are rather dull and muddy looking until water is added. I haven't tried Gamsol with Inktense, that probably brings out their vibrance also.
I have a full set of Derwent Coloursoft pencils on order right now. I snagged one Coloursoft from my husband and love the creaminess of it.
I just figured out how to attach as a thumbnail. Does anyone know how I can edit the post above so my one-eyed girl isn't so overwhelming??
you need to resize the photo smaller in your computer and rename the file to something else... then edit that post, go advanced and manage attachments. remove that one then open the smaller version.
I have a few prismas, a set of Kooh-i-nors, a set or RoseArt, but what I use the most are my Crayolas. They work really well and blend beautifully with oms. I think its all a matter of practice with whatever medium you choose to colour with. This is a card I did recently with Crayolas and I think my results are just as nice as what I get with my prismas:
Mostly I use watercolour pencils, but for blending with mineral oil the ones I have are Conte a Paris - Couleur d'Art. No breakage problems with those.
Faber Castells are not as soft as Prismacolor pencils, and don't break as easily, but lay down smooth, beautiful color. They blend wonderfully with OMS.
I also use Lyra pencils, and I love them almost more than any other except for the fact that they don't have the wide color range.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michelleh38
I have wondered about Faber Castell. I just heard about Derwent Inktense. Do they break as easily as the Prismacolor? Jazzytobi I love your card and the way you colored it.
I've never had a problem with my Prismas breaking. I am sorry to hear that. I did hear someone say that there is a difference between where the pencils are made...some in Mexico or something aren't as good as the ones here. I hope I have this story straight! If not, someone please correct me!! LOL
I have Prismacolor pencils which I like and have had for a few years. No breakage problems. I also have the Derwent Coloursoft and the Inktense pencils and like them too. I had tried Roseart but wasn't crazy about them. If I didn't have any pencils and was going to buy some, I'd buy the Derwent's because of the problems people have had with the newer made in Mexico Prismacolors. Dick Blick has their own line of colored pencils and I have read that they are pretty good. They're reasonably priced. Dick Blick sells sets but also sells most of their pencils on an individual basis. So, if you wanted to try different brands to see which pencils you liked the most, that would be an inexpensive way to do it.
I don't do well with Copic Markers. I can't stay in the lines. I do have Prismacolored pencils and I like them except they tend to break. Are there any other artist quality pencils that work well? When using them what do you use with them to blend?
Thanks so much!
Hi Michelle, I use almost colored pencils only and I have been a die hard prisma fan, but I do have a NEW love. They are the Pablo's by Caran d'Ache. They are a harder lead, and I rarely even sharpen. They blend like heaven with the white {made in Taiwan} colored paper stumps that you can get at about any craft store. The beige colored stumps are what I hoard and use with Prismacolor pencils...harder to find these days. The Caran d'Ache are my new pencil of choice, BUT, I grab whatever color I need, they all work good over each other. Hope this helps you!
I have Dick Blick Studio brand pencils and honestly can't tell the different between them and my Prisma's. The colors aren't exactly the same in each set so they fill in the gaps for each other. They are a reasonable price. I haven't had problems with breakage in either Prisma's or Blicks except for one pencil which I dropped on a hard floor.
I have an artist friend who uses pastels - this morning I started looking at pastel pencils..SOMEONE MAKE ME STOP!
I have Prismacolors which I use with OMS, but also have a set of 72 Derwent Coloursoft pencils which blend beautifully with OMS. I have a few Koh-i-noors which I also love. I often combine my different brands (see this link to one of my cards that combine pencils) and I think sometimes it is worth buying one pencil of different brands (you may not be able to do this with all brands out there) to try out before you fork out for a whole set in case you don't like them. I went to my local Artist supply store and bought one of all the different ones to try. Glad I did, because some don't blend as well with OMS as I had hoped!
I love derwent coloursoft pencils with baby oil. I think they are easier to blend than prismas (I have those too). I've had my derwents since august and haven't broken any yet.
Below is a card I colored with them.
Have fun... I found with the Coloursofts that I had to literally 'color soft' - with the pressure I was using with the Prismacolors, the Coloursofts would crumble. Enjoy, though!
Hi Michelle!!!
I got my Inktense last week...It was the 72 ct. set (I also receive the 72 ct. of the DB house brand pencil and your are right...can't tell the difference between those and my prismas) So if any one who is on a tight budget or just frugal...Dick Blick house brand are worth the 42.00 for 72 delicious colors but I have yet to play with them...
I can't wait for your opinion on the Colorsofts. They are calling to me in my sleep. Also, I was curious as to how your store yours. With 140 prismas/ 36 prisma watercolors/ 24 Stampin Up watercolors/ 72 Inktense/ 24 Koor-i-noor/ 12 Jumbo Lyra flesh colors...I am struggling with how to organize/store them in my limited space and still have easy access.
Blessings,
Valerie
I use the Global Classic Leather cases - I have 2 of the largest ones (holds 120 pencils)........ and and have overflowed those actually... those hold all my colored pencils except the greys, and those I have had to put into a standing pencil holder. I have my watercolor pencils in another case (holds 96). I like the cases because they don't take much room, keep the pencils from getting jarred, and they're very portable. I like keeping them in order too.
Hi Val - I can't wait to hear how you like your Inktense!
I just did some scribbling with a few of my Colorsoft pencils and ohh, creamy!
Dini - I can see where you are coming from with watching the pressure.
Right now, all my pencils are in their original tins. I like the tins but they are not the most convienient. I have thought about the cases like Dini has but I don't want to spend the money. I've thought about making my own somehow.
After reading Dini's blog and seeing her discussion about the Global cases I bought two of them. They're a little pricey but REALLY worth the money. I tried a cheaper brand also (I have a lot of pencils, gel pens etc.) but wouldn't buy the cheaper brand again. Hard to zipper closed and when full it's really difficult closing. Once you buy one or two you're done. It's not like other products we buy that will need replenishing so for me, it was worth spending the money.
I got a set of 12 Derwent InkTense just after Christmas and LOVED them. Ordered the set of 72 yesterday and CAN'T wait to get them. I do love my Prisma pencils, but that is a completely different look to me. As are my Kimberly watercolor pencils, Prisma VeriThin pencils, and EK Success Pastel pencils I also use Lyra skin tone pencils when I can't find the exact shade I need. Wow, beginning to think I MIGHT have a pencil fetish! Are there any other brands that I JUST HAVE TO HAVE? Enable me!
__________________ Randa Trying to be a Breast Cancer Survivor Follow me on Twitter @craftjunkiesc
LOL Randa. Me too and I'm glad I'm not alone. I have Prisma's, Derwent Coloursoft, Inktense, Art Soft, a few Dick Blicks to try, a couple of other brands to try. Why would I need to try them? I have a few hundred pencils. Yup, I'd call it a pencil fetish. Oh yeah, forgot about the watercolor pencils I have, chalk pencils. Yikes!
I was trying to keep my prismas in the tin they came in, but it's not convenient. So I have a basket I keep them in, at arms reach. I like it better, but I do have an old marker storage rack, and I may play with that, and see if that is better. I need to try the inktense pencils, from what I am reading on here!!
Best Colored Pencils?
