Introduction-
I am Em Studios, a self-taught artist and an art teacher who loves using different art mediums to create stylized art inspired by fantasy and storytelling.
When it comes to coloured pencils, a lot of factors are at play when someone is looking for the perfect set. Not everyone can afford expensive art supplies, and often the people who order from our shop have different needs and wants. Quality, price, and quantity all play a part in shopping for the best set for the customer. This review will focus on a broad overview of all the popular brands we carry, looking at each set from both an artist’s and a consumer's point of view.
The pencils I will be reviewing are the Nexx Kre-a-tiv Colour Pencils, Bic Kids Evolution Stripes Colour Pencils, Staedtler Noris Club Colour Pencils, Faber-Castell Black Edition Colour Pencils, Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Pencils, and Prismacolor Premier Colour Pencils. The idea of the review is not to directly compare only quality or price but to match the coloured pencil set with its best consumer group. Whether a set is meant for a professional or beginner artist, a colouring enthusiast or functions best as educational supplies for students, this review aims to give a broad overview of each brand and set.
The prices used in this review are from July 2024.
Nexx Kre-a-tiv Colour Pencils-
Starting with the
most affordable colouring pencils, the Nexx Colour Pencil set costs only R 31.61,
working out to about R 2.63 per pencil.
The sets are available in pastel, neon and metallic colours. The Nexx range also offers a set of basic colours. Each pencil is branded with the logo and the set name, making them easy to recognise. Unfortunately, I did not have a basic colour set during this review but I have tested the three other sets. At first glance, the pencil design is neat with a triangular barrel and average-sized lead core. The colours are easy to recognize, and the metallic pencils also feature a metallic coating on the barrel.
I was impressed during the swatching of these pencils, as the quality was much better than the price suggested. At R 2.63 per pencil, I expected the filler pigment to cause significant scratching and scraping of the paper, however, the pencil was smooth and pigmented. The scratching was not obvious in the feeling or finish of the swatch. The wide variety of colours made it easy to pick which colours to blend, and with the basic colours being available in both 12 and 24 sets, this set is ideal for kids who love using a lot of colours. The solid colour test and the blend test were both successful.
Some drawbacks come with the price, however. The lead is hard, which means that pressing hard can cause general discomfort on the hand and wrist, however, the colour yield is very good despite that. By layering slowly, you can build up the pigment without pressing hard. The pencils also leave a slightly scratched, waxy finish if pressed hard, due to the filler pigment being scraped away from the surface. I would say that these are a good standard pencil, as the pencils were able to pass all the tests, despite the hard lead and general hand cramping when blending.
I would recommend these pencils for students, beginner artists and colouring enthusiasts. This recommendation is due to the wide colour range, the easy-to-recognize neat design, and the blending ability. The affordable price also makes these pencils ideal budget options for gifts and your back-to-school pack. The biggest drawback of these pencils is the hard lead, which can make drawing or colouring with them for an extended time painful.
Bic Kids Evolution Stripes Colour Pencils -
The Bic Kids coloured pencils work out only a few cents more than the Nexx pencils, coming in at R 31.96 for 12, R 2.66 per pencil.
The set I tested was the 12-colour set, which consists of all the basic
colours. The Bic Kids pencils also come in packs of 24, which includes more
secondary colours. The pencil has a hexagonal-shaped barrel with lines of
beige, raw wood running down it, alongside stripes of the pencil’s colour. Each
pencil is branded with the logo.
I have one of these pencil sets in my classroom, and I have noticed a significant design flaw. When younger students are using the pencils, they will often express confusion because they cannot recognize the colour. The beige stripes will cause them to believe the colour is beige, rather than the actual colour, and this is especially prominent in students who have not learnt their colours yet. I find that solid-coloured barrels, or barrels decorated with black stripes make it easier for young kids to recognise the colours. I have not experienced this issue with older students.
When swatching these pencils, they delivered a good solid colour yield, allowing them to easily pass the solid colour test. An expected amount of filler pigment was present in the pencils, which meant that a few layers were necessary when doing the solid colour test. It was however notable that the pencils felt scratchy, like the lead was going to tear the paper. Blending these pencils was extremely difficult. The colours barely merged and instead, I found myself scraping the pigment off the page when I tried to burnish the colours together.
I would recommend these pencils for educational use, for students who already have a good understanding of colour. These pencils are affordable, meaning that they are budget-friendly. Students also do not need to blend colours, and pressing extremely hard isn’t necessary for most school projects. Although I feel improvement could be made to the design and quality of these pencils, they will get the job done. They still work as expected. If these pencils are purchased for primary school kids, the biggest benefits are the price and the standard colour selection.
Staedtler Noris Club Colour Pencils-
The Staedtler Noris Club Colour Pencils are a step up in price from the previous two sets. The set of 12 costs R 54.33, working out to R 4.52 per pencil.
They come in both 12 pencil sets and 24 pencil sets. Currently, the 12 pencil sets come with two free Staedtler HB Graphite pencils, although this may change in the future. The colour choices of both sets are good, including all the primaries and a good selection of secondary colours. The pencil has a hexagonal-shaped barrel with thin lines of black running along the barrel. The majority of the pencil’s design matches the colour of the lead, aiding in easy identification of the colour. The design is seamless and neat, branded with the logo and set name. These pencils have a classical and timeless design.
When it came to swatching the pencils, I was immediately disappointed by the lack of pigment in the red pencil specifically. The filler present in the pencil made it not only hard to colour with, but the filler also made the red pigment look faded and pale. The colours seemed transparent. What the pencil made up for in the design, it seemed to lack general pigmentation and quality. The solid colour test was left with lots of speckling and faded colouration. During the blend test, I found that they blended better than the Bic Kids set, but as soon as I started burnishing the layers, the pencils caused significant scratching. Unfortunately, I found that this set was the one I had the most trouble with the filler pigment. They are surprisingly unpleasant to use because of this, however, the pencils are marketed for school use.
I would recommend these pencils for educational use; however, the higher price will have to be taken into consideration by the customer. The pencils have an aesthetic design, very reminiscent of my childhood using these pencils. As a child, I never experienced issues with these pencils, hence why I would recommend these for students. For the quality and the price, the final verdict on these pencils will be in the customer’s hands. For me, the nostalgic value and the aesthetic appearance of these pencils, unfortunately, do not justify the low-end quality or the price, which is a little less than double the price of the Nexx Kre-a-tiv Colour pencils.
Faber-Castell Black Edition Colour Pencils-
The Faber-Castell Black Edition pencils are the first higher-end set of this review. The set of 12 costs R 110.80, which works out to about R 9.23 per pencil.
These pencils come in sets of
12, 24, 36, 50 and 100, as well as a set of 12 Neon and Pastel colours. Unfortunately,
the pencils aren’t sold individually at this time. The colour selections of all
the sets are great, as they offer basic colours, unique colours such as neons
and pastels, and bigger sets that make picking colours for blending easier. The
pencils are triangular, with a solid black barrel. The wood of the pencil is
also a solid black. The only indication of the colour of these pencils is the
coloured lead and the end cap of the pencil. I would rate these pencils as
being the most aesthetic set of this review, with the deep black colour of the
majority of the pencil, highlighted by the bright end cap and lead. The pencils
are branded with the logo.
Strangely, my set of 50 pencils was not numbered, however, my 100 set was. The numbered pencils help artists to identify specific colours and thus achieve the same blends over time.
These pencils are vibrant, indicating less filler pigment is present in the pencils. When I swatched the pencils, they colour very smoothly, and they were comfortable to use. Since I first used these pencils, I have appreciated the vibrant colours on both white and toned paper. These pencils easily passed both the solid colour test and the blend test. However, if I were to pick apart these pencils, when blending, the pencils do not create a good mid-tone in the middle, making the transition ever so slightly patchy in certain areas. This drawback does not compromise the quality of the pencils.
Overall, the price and the quality make these pencils a perfect entry-level, good-quality art supply. The price would make me hesitant to recommend these to younger students or for school use, however, they are perfect for older students and teens who love art and colouring. If you are an adult who loves colouring and art, these are perfect. I have personally used mine in many of my illustrations and sketchbooks, and I have no serious complaints. I have recommended these pencils to many of our customers since they make beautiful gifts and are great for a variety of artists and anyone who loves colouring. If you are serious about art or colouring, invest in the 100 set, which comes with numbered pencils. These pencils are a great balance of quality and price.
Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Pencils-
The Lyra Rembrandt
pencils are artist-quality pencils. The set of 12 costs R 354.34, and R 29.53
per pencil.
These pencils come in tin sets of 12, 24, 36 and 72. There is also a box set of 100 pencils available. The pencils also have a tin set of 12 grey tones. The pencils are also sold individually, something that is essential in high-end art supplies. The colour selections are good, the 12 set I used to test having a selection of both warm, cool and neutral colours. These pencils are round, with a solid wood barrel and coloured ends. The wood barrel gives these pencils a unique, rustic feel. The barrels are branded with the logo, the set name, and most importantly, the colour names and numbers. Colour names and numbers make it easier to order individual pencils, as well as find the correct colours for specific blends. As someone who works on character designs that need to be replicated multiple times, the colour names and numbers are essential.
The colour yield and smoothness of these pencils made them very pleasant to swatch. The pencils had an almost waxy or chalky feel, indicating that there was a lot of pigment in the pencil. The darker colours were very bold and striking, however, there was some speckling with the lighter colours. This I saw during the solid colour test, with the light blue causing speckling, even though the dark carmine turned out perfectly solid and bold. In this case, the natural speckling is not due to bad quality, as it does not interfere with the brightness of the colour or the colouring experience. The blend test went seamlessly at first, however, in layering the pencils it did reveal a waxy finish, especially while I was blending the apple green and the light blue. It seems that these pencils blend best when using similar tones or saturation since the pigment build-up can leave a rough finish. It was my first time using the Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Pencils, so I had not expected the pigment build-up to leave a waxy, blotchy finish. However, when blending the red and orange pencils, the blend was almost perfect.
These pencils are
artist-quality, making them perfect for artists, serious art students, or
colouring enthusiasts looking for good quality, high-end pencils. These pencils
are not for children or young students, as the price makes them very expensive
to replace. I had a great first impression of the set, and I really love how
bold the colours are.
Prismacolor Premier Colour Pencils-
I should preface this section by noting that Prismacolor has been my favourite pencil since the moment I bought my first set. I have been slowly building up my sets and I use them in every single one of my recent illustrations. A set of 24 pencils costs R 899.99, bringing a single pencil to a total of R 37.50.
These pencils come in tin sets
of 12, 24, 36, 72 and 150. There is also a portrait set of 24 pencils
available. Each set has a really good colour selection, and the bigger sets
also include warm, cool and French greys, as well as metallic gold and silver
pencils. Prismacolor pencils are also available to be purchased individually. These
pencils have a round barrel in the same colour as the lead. The barrel is
branded with their logo, set name, colour name and colour codes. The coloured
barrel along with the colour names and codes make it easy to grab a specific
colour while colouring.
Prismacolor was by far the most comfortable pencil to swatch, as the pencils have very soft leads. This gives the pencils a smooth, almost buttery feel to it. There is also not a lot of filler pigment present in these pencils, as there is total coverage in the solid colour test. These pencils are opaque and rich in pigment. The smoothness of the pencils is apparent in the blending, as these pencils have so far been the only ones to create a mid-tone when two colours are used alongside one another. The pencils can almost be mixed and blended like paint, creating a very unique effect.
Although Prismacolors are my
personal favourite, it does not make them the best pencils in this review.
Unfortunately, the price of Prismacolors is a huge drawback, making them a
large investment. Each pencil costs R 8.00 more than the Lyra Rembrandt pencils,
which are also considered artist-quality pencils. The price also makes these
pencils difficult to replace, since not a lot of stores can carry the cost of
having the range of individual colours in stock. Overall, it comes down to each
customer to weigh the costs. Prismacolors are considered an artist-level
investment, and I would not recommend these pencils to customers who value
their budget or are looking for pencils for casual purposes. However, if you
love the effect that Prismacolors give, you plan on using these pencils long
term and you love quality supplies that are a joy to use, Prismacolors are the
right choice for you.
Conclusion and Closing Thoughts-
With this review, I did my best to remain neutral when it comes to the facts. Which pencil is best for you, your kids or your students will in the end come down to your personal opinion. As an artist who loves working with all kinds of art supplies, I thought this review would help give a broad overview and a general guide to choosing the right supplies for the right purposes. In the end, the customer will always have the last say in what they think and enjoy. Here at Programit we aim to provide the best service we can, including giving our customers the most truthful representation of what we keep in stock.
To sum up my findings, here are three supplies that stood out to me when I was researching and testing for this review:
The Nexx Kre-a-tiv Colour Pencils were a great blend of budget-friendly and quality, making them the best-rated school supply in this review. If you are looking for a casual-use, fun supply that won’t break the bank, these pencils are a great option for you, your kids or your students.
The Faber-Castell Black Edition Colour Pencils were the best all-rounder, able to rival much more expensive art supplies in quality and design. If you enjoy being creative, or you need a great quality gift for the creative person in your life, these pencils are an amazing supply that I recommend.
Lastly, although the Prismacolor Premier Colour Pencils are by far the best in quality, they show how not every pencil is right for every person. With quality and comfort comes a price, but if you are someone looking for quality and results, these pencils might be right for you.
I hope this review helps you gain insight into the wide range of coloured pencils available, and helps you think critically about the right stationery and art supplies for you.
Artwork Gallery
Here are some illustrations made with the Faber-Castell Black Edition Pencils:
These illustrations were made using the Prismacolor Premier Colour Pencils:
Artist Vocabulary-
Not everyone who reads this review will have the same level of art experience and vocabulary. I also find that I tend to make up terms that seem to fit my personal experience. Here are some of the terms I may have used in this review that people might not be familiar with:
Blending:
The idea of blending is to create a seamless transition from one colour to the next. This can be done by colouring lightly and putting two colours side by side, overlapping the colours in the middle. After the initial light layer, more layers are added over the top. Each next layer is made by adding more and more pressure until the colour pencils seamlessly mix in the middle.
Burnish:
To polish and blend the coloured pencils by pressing hard and going over the area where the two colours merge. The burnishing layer is the last layer of colour pencil used to complete the blend.
Opacity and Transparency:
When the pigment inside the pencil lead is good, it can cover toned or darker paper. This means that the pencil is opaque, able to cover over other pencils and surfaces. Transparent pigment usually allows the white of the paper to shine through, but also often indicates a lot of filler within the lead.
Pencil Anatomy:
The pencil barrel refers to the outer coating and wood exterior of the pencil. The lead core refers to the inner lead content, the coloured part of the pencil. Pigment refers to the amount of colour the pencil gives off when in use. High-quality pigment will help with blending and colour coverage. Filler pigment is an extender used to make the pigment cheaper, but also significantly lowers the quality of the pencil.
Speckling:
Speckling occurs when a coloured pencil creates a texture that leaves white spots in the coloured area. These tiny white spots don’t always indicate bad quality but can be present in lighter pigments, such as light blue, light green and yellow. If even darker colours cause speckling, it can indicate bad quality pigments, or filler pigment causing the pencil not to colour in certain areas.
Swatch/Swatching:
The act of testing an art supply on an organized, numbered sheet of paper. This is done to see the specific colour, as well as link that number with its numbered code or colour name. The biggest reason this is done is to see the true colour of the supply, as the caps or coloured packaging rarely captures the colour as it is seen on paper. Sometimes swatch pages come included with the art supply, but some artists like to design their own.
Toned Paper:
A paper type specifically used by artists that has a slightly textured grain and coloured surface. Toned paper can be brown, blue, black, green, grey and an array of other colours. It is much higher quality than colour cardstock or board.