Make Ink: a Guide to Natural Inkmaking Reviewed

Make Ink: A Forager’s Guide to Natural Inkmaking is a beautiful guide to making your own inks written by Jason Logan. Published in 2018, the book includes a guide to foraging for plants (and pieces of metal) that you can use to make ink, about 90 pages of recipes, and a final section on how to test ink along with examples of ink art and more info on natural inks.

Beautifully illustrated throughout, the book includes information on Logan’s discovery of natural inkmaking and how he started The Toronto Ink Company. The book concludes with a conversation between Logan and novelist Michael Ondaatje.

Make Ink is a valuable guide to natural inkmaking but is also a beautiful book that would make a great gift or look great on a coffee table. The compelling images, selection of artist’s work in ink, and recipes makes it a book you’ll return to over and over.

Make Ink: A Forager’s Guide to Natural Inkmaking
By Jason Logan
Hardcover, 193 pages, published 2018 by Abrams
Listed at $35 but often available for $22-$30

Keep reading for pictures of the book, and more ideas on natural inkmaking

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Images from Make Ink

Table of contents

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Jason Logan on Ink

From page 23:

I am often asked what exactly ink is. It’s not paint—which is a liquid color used mainly for creating images or covering surfaces. What distinguishes ink from other art supplies is its use as a tool for communication. People have been leaving marks with berries, burnt sticks, or colored rocks since the dawn of humanity—but the use of ink as a transmitter of language can be traced back to the first evidence of civilization in China or Mesopotamia: most often on shards of pottery, featuring markings that historians say were first mostly account ledgers. But ink quickly became more than a decorator or calculator… In fact, ink and pen were as vital to the growth of civilization as the wheel or the cultivation of wheat. Gain the ability to permanently mark symbols on a flat surface meant that ideas could be saved, transported, and shared. Recipes, mathematical formulas, banking, poetry, music, diagrams, history, philosophy, and stories are inseparable from the history of ink.

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Other Guides to Natural Inks and Dyes

There are a few other guides to foraging and making your own inks and dyes from natural materials.

Botanical Inks: Plant-to-Print Dyes, Techniques, and Projects

This 2018 book covers how to make dyes and inks with plants. More focused on dyeing fabrics and other techniques, the book also includes information of making your own ink.

Written by Babs Behan, the book is listed at $23 but generally available for less.

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Wild Color: The Complete Guide to Making and Using Natural Dyes

A guide to dying (not making ink), Wild Color outlines the equipment needed and details 65 plants that can be used to make natural dyes. Listed at $25 but typically available for less, the book was published in 2010 and written by Jenny Dean.

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Do you have a favorite guide for making natural inks or dyes? Let us know in the comments.

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Review: Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters

Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters is a classic book by Robert Beverly Hale. Known for his teaching on artistic anatomy, Hale was also curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and taught at the Arts Student League of New York, Columbia University, and other schools.

Presented as a series of lectures on 100 drawings, Drawing Lessons takes students through different topics including Line, Light and Planes, Mass, Position, Anatomy, and then bringing all the skills together.

Each topic / chapter begins with an introduction and proceeds through example illustrations. Each illustration, presented in black and white, has a full page image and a smaller detail image where various points are highlighted in the text.

Overall, this is a great resource if just for the illustrations. While it’s a product of its time—the focus on all male “great masters” is dated—the book is useful for anyone looking to deepen and expand their understanding of drawing.

Originally published in 1964, the more recent 1989 edition is still available new or used at various online bookstores.

Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters: 100 Great Drawings Analyzed / Figure Drawing Fundamentals Defined
By Robert Beverly Hale
Published 1964 (Paperback edition 1989) by Watson-Guptill Publications
Listed at $25 but available for $5-15 used

Keep reading below for more images and info from the book.

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Images from the Book

Group of Figures by Luca Cambiaso

Standing Figure of a Nude Woman by Annibale Carraci

The two-page spread on Head of a Man by Albrecht Dürer

Tabulae Sceleti Et Musculorum Corporis Humani, 1747, by Bernard Siegfried Albinus

De Humani Corporis Fabrica, 1543, by Andreas Vesalius

Male Nude from Sistine Ceiling by Baccio Bandinelli

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Robert Beverly Hale on Drawing

From the introduction:

Drawing, like so many other skills, is a matter of being able to think of several things at once. Since the conscious mind seems to be able to think about only one thing at a time, the subconscious mind must take care of a good deal when we draw. So the process of learning to draw demands that we acquaint the subconscious mind with a certain amount of material, so that the subconscious can largely take over the control of our hand.

Actually, I am inclined to think that no artist can be called an accomplished craftsman until all matters of technique are so well learnt that they are part of his subconscious equipment. I know it is very difficult for an artist to express himself adequately unless this has been done.

Students and laymen, of course, are apt to confuse that technique is but na means to an end, and should never be confused with the end itself.

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Table of Contents

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Have you used this book or other drawing books? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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Georgia O'Keeffe on Making "Ordinary" Paintings

Full Bloom:The Art and LIfe of Georgia O’Keeffe is a comprehensive 2004 biography of the artist by Hunter Drohojowska-Philp. Chronicling O’Keeffe’s entire life and career, the book traces the artist’s roots, relationships, and rise to becoming one of the most prominent and successful American artists of the 20th century. Known for her desert landscapes inspired by New Mexico and West Texas, O’Keeffe also spent many years in New York City and summers in upstate New York near Lake George.

The book is a fascinating insight into O’Keeffe, her art, and much of the 20th century American art scene. With around 550 pages of text, it’s a thorough, detailed biography and also includes numerous photographs and reproductions of paintings and drawings by O’Keeffe. Below are a few excerpts from the book.

Georgia O’Keeffe in 1974 on making ‘ordinary’ paintings

“The truth is I’ve been very lucky. Stieglitz was the most interesting center of energy in the art world just when I was trying to find my way. To have him get interested in me was a very good thing. My going to Texas was lucky, and, of course, my finding [Abiquiu]. And then, somehow, what I’ve painted happened to fit into the emotional life of my time… Often, I’ve had the feeling that I could have been a much better painter and had far less recognition. It’s just that what I do seems to move people today, in a way that I don’t understand at all. Now and then when I get an idea for a picture, I think, how ordinary. Why paint that old rock? Why not go for a walk instead. But then I realize that to someone else it may not seem ordinary.”

— from page 518

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O’Keeffe on the 1931 painting Cow’s Skull, Red, White and Blue

Painting is pictured above at left.

“As I was working I thought of the city men I had been seeing in the East. They talked so often of writing the Great American Novel—the Great American Play—the Great American Poetry.

People wanted to “do” the American scene. I had gone back and forth across the country several times by then, and some of the current ideas about the American scene struck me as pretty ridiculous. To them, the American scene was a dilapidated house with a broken-down buckboard out front and a horse that looked like a skeleton. I knew American was very rich, very lush. Well, I started painting my skulls around this time…I had lived in cattle country—Amarillo was the crossroads of cattle shipping, and you could see the cattle coming in across the range for days at a time. For goodness’ sake, I thought, the people who talk about the American scene don’t know anything about it. So, in a way, that cow’s skull was my joke on the American scene, and it gave me pleasure to make it in red, white, and blue.

—from page 332

O’Keeffe on her reluctance to have a retrospective at MoMA in 1946:

“I must say to you again that I am very pleased and flattered that you wish to do the show for me. It makes me feel rather inadequate and wish that I were better. Stieglitz’s efforts for me have often made me feel that way too—The annoying thing about it is that I can not honestly say to myself that I could not have been better.

However—we need not go into that. But I do wish to say that if for any reason you wish to change your mind feel assured that it will be alright with me—For myself I feel no need of showing. As I sit out here in my dry lonely country I feel even less need for all those things that go with the city… When I say that for myself I do not need what showing at the Museum means—I should add that I think that what I have done is something rather unique in my time and that I am one of the few who gives our country any voice of its own—I claim no credit—it is only that I have seen with my own eye and that I couldn’t help seeing with my own eye—It may not be painting but it is something—and even if it is not something I do not feel bothered—I do not know why I am so indifferent.

— from page 413-414

O’Keeffe on flying in 1941

O’Keeffe’s massive painting Sky Above Clouds IV, from 1965, is depicted at the bottom right of the image above.

“It is breathtaking as one rises up over the world one has been living in—It is very handsome…like marvelous rug patterns of maybe “Abstract Paintings.” The world all simplified and beautiful and clear-cut in patterns like time and history will simplify and straighten out these times of ours. 

What one sees from the air is so simple and beautiful I cannot help feeling that it would do something wonderful for the human race—rid it of much smallness and pettiness if more people flew.”

—from page 396

Full Bloom: The Art and Life of Georgia O’Keeffe
By Hunter Drohojowsk-Philp
633 pages, 2004, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc

The book is available new and used.

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You might also enjoy:

Centering by M.C. Richards

Ben Okri: A Time for New Dreams

Amy Sillman on Painting

See all Inspiration posts by clicking here.

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The Best Chunky Colored Pencils for Drawing and Sketching

Chunky colored pencils are some of my favorite drawing tools. They can be used for detail work or for covering large areas quickly. They’re also great for kids or anyone who likes a thicker pencil.

My go-to favorite used to be Prismacolor Art Stix, but since being discontinued a few years ago, I’ve had to find replacements. This post covers all the thick, chunky, and oversized colored pencils I could find.

Top Pick: Cretacolor Megacolors

The Cretacolor Megacolors set of 12.

Cretacolor Megacolors are oversized colored pencils with a quality wood pencil surrounding a 6.4mm core of buttery smooth color. These pencils can make intense blocks of color, and are easy to sharpen. The back end is finished and sealed. All in all, a great pencil!

Available in sets of 12, 24, and 36 or individually, these are my top pick for big colored pencils. Prices range from $18-20 for a set of 12 to $53-55 for a set of 36 or about $2.50 per individual pencil. Cretacolor also makes a set of 12 metallic colors in the same thick pencil style. (Shop metallic pencils at Blick.)

Cretacolor Megacolors test pages

Cretacolor Megacolors on white paper.

Cretacolor Megacolors on black paper.

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Table of Contents

• Top Pick: Cretacolor Megacolors

• Runner Up: Koh-I-Noor Woodless Pencils

• Lyra Color Giants

• Stabilo Woody

• Caran D’ache Fluo

• Prismacolor Art Stix (discontinued)

• Summary

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Runner Up: Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colour Pencils

The Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colour Pencils set of 24.

The 24-color set comes in two stacking trays that slide into the original cardboard packaging.

The Koh-I-Noor Woodless Pencils are made of colored lead sealed in a plastic finish. These pencils are smooth, easy to sharpen, and fun to use. They are the closest to the Prismacolor Art Stix, but with the sealed sides, they can’t be used horizontally to make wider marks.

While great to use, one drawback is these are prone to breaking. A few were broken in shipping and more broke from pressing too hard. But even when broken, the pieces can be sharpened and used. Just be gentle with this.

Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colour Pencils are available in sets of 12 for around $10 or 24 for $15, or they can be purchased individually for $1.25.

Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored Pencil test pages

Koh-I-Noor woodless colored pencils on white paper.

Koh-I-Noor woodless colored pencils on black paper.

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Lyra Color Giants

The Lyra Color Giants set of 12.

Lyra Color Giants are large wooden pencils with a 6.25mm core with an unfinished end. They are similar to the Cretacolor Megacolors, but I found the lead to be stiffer and harder to use. You may prefer this hardness for detail work, but it was a drawback for me.

Overall, the Lyra Color Giants felt like school grade pencils and just weren’t as smooth as the Cretacolors.

The pencil are available in packs of 6 ($9), 12 ($18) or 18 ($34) and also a variety of special packs such as metallic colors, skin tones, or triangular versions.

Lyra Color Giant test pages

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Stabilo Woody Pencils

Stabilo Woody set of 10 colors and sharpener.

Stabilo Woody 3-in-1 pencils are an interesting entry. Soft, waxy, and definitely chunky, these are designed for kids but some professional artists love them for their smooth quality and flexibility: in addition to being similar to colored pencils and wax crayons, they are also water soluble. The Woodys are definitely and interesting drawing tool for artists of all ages

Stabilo Woodys are so large that they come with their own sharpener. Available in sets of 6 ($19), 10 ($22) or 18 ($41) and also 6 pastel colors or individually for around $3 each.

Stabilo Woody test pages

Stabilo Woody test on white paper.

Stabilo Woody test on black paper.

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Caran D’Ache Fluo

Caran D’ache Fluos are a series of 4 colored pencils with 4.5mm cores that are available in fluorescent pink, green, orange, and yellow. They are a fun addition to your colored pencil kit, but not a full-color set.

The Caran D’Ache Fluos are available for $4 each.

Caran D’Ache Fluo test pages

Caran D’Ache Fluo on white paper.

Caran D’Ache Fluo on black paper.

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Discontinued Favorite: Prismacolor Art Stix

Prismacolor Art Stix were blocks of solid colored pencil. Similar in shape to pastels but not powdery like a pastel, they could be used to draw or rubbed sideways to cover large areas of paper. The lead and colors were the same as regular Prismacolors. Originally made in 48 colors, the Art Stix were discontinued in 2020 or 2021. Hopefully Prismacolor will bring them back! Definitely pick some up if you see them for sale anywhere.

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Conclusion

This post has covered a variety of thick, large, and chunky colored pencils. The top pick is Cretacolor Megacolors for their intense, smooth colors are overall quality but there are a variety of options that may be perfect for your studio.

What is your favorite colored pencil? Let us know in the comments.

You might be interested:

Colored Pencil Buyer’s Guide

Best Mixed Media Drawing Pads

Best Black Paper Drawing Pads

Gift Guide for Painters

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The Best Black Paper Drawing Pads and Sketchbooks

Black paper makest colored pencils, markers, gel pens, gouache and other media just pop off the page. If you’ve never tried it, you should definitely try some in your studio.

For this guide, 11 different pads and sketchbooks were tested and compared for quality of paper, ability to handle a variety of media, and price. There were some clear favorites and a range of papers that are worth exploring. First a quick overview, and then more info on each pad tested.

What we recommend:
Best everyday drawing pads:
Top Pick: Canson XL Black Drawing Pad
Strathmore 400 Artagain Black Drawing Pad is also great

Best for finished artwork / thicker, more vesatile paper:
Top upgrade pick Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pad
Fabriano Black Black
Clairefontaine PaintOn Black Pad
Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Watercolor Paper

The other papers tested were thinner and more expensive than our top pick, the Canson XL. All the pads are covered below. Shopping tip: Most of these pads are cheaper at Blick but you can find them at Amazon and many other stores.

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TOP PICK: Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook

The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook is our top pick for an everyday sketchbook.

The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook is our top pick for an everyday black paper. It’s got enough body and heft that it feels almost professional grade, but it’s still affordable enough that it’s great for an everyday sketchbook or for use by students and kids.

The paper is made in France for Canson North America, and each sketchbook features 40 pages of 92 lb / 150 gsm paper. Try it with colored pencils, gel pens, metallic markers, or regular crayons. The paper has a matte black finish and it’s just thin enough that is can be folded or creased, but it does have a great body and feels like the perfect paper weight for an affordable sketchbook.

These sketchbooks have a cardstock cover, heavy board back, is spiral bound on the long side, and each sheet is perforated for tearing out.

The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbooks
Spiral bound, available in 7x10” and 9x12”
40 sheets
92 lb paper
9x12” pad generally retails for around $8.50 or $0.21 per sheet

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UPGRADE PICK: Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pad

The Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pad is our top pick for professional-grade paper.

There are a few black paper pads tested that are great for professional-grade, finished artwork — or just if you like thicker paper — but the all-around favorite for an upgrade pick was the Strathmore 400 Series Black Mixed Media Pad. Made in the USA in Appleton, Wisconsin, each pad features 15 sheets of acid free, 184 lb / 300 gsm paper that is matte, thick, and wonderful for drawing, wet media such as ink or gouache, and can be used for collage or other techniques. And best of all, it’s a great paper that is also quite affordable. At the time of this writing, it was easy to find a 9x12 inch pad for around $6, or about $0.40 per sheet. If you like drawing on black sketchbook paper, order one of these pads and see what happens when you do the same thing on thicker paper.

Each pad is glue-bound on the top edge and has a thin cover and hard cardboard back. The pages removed easily but you may need to cut off a bit of the glue edge for finished artwork.

Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pads
Glue bound, available in 6x8”, 9x12”, 11x14”, 18x24”
184 lb / 300 gsm paper
15 sheets per pad
9x12” pad generally retails for $6.00 or $0.40 per sheet

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Table of Contents

1. Top Pick: Canson XL Black Drawing Pad

2. Upgrade Pick: Strathmore 400 Black Mixed Media Pad

3. Best for Watercolor / Ink / Wet Media: Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Black Watercolor

4. Best for thick and smooth cardstock: Fabriano Black Black

5. Also great: Clairefontaine PaintOn Black Pad

6. Best recycled option: Strathmore 400 Artagain Drawing Pad

7. Best for Pastel: Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Paper

8. Not worth it: Arteza Black Drawing Pad, Faber-Castell Black Sketchbook, Conda Black Sketchbook

9. Best for guestbooks or sketching: Fabriano Hardcover Black

10. Summary

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The top two picks are great, but there are a few more pads that we recommend and might work for you in the studio:

Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Black Watercolor: Best for Watercolor / Ink / Wet Media:

The Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress is a really interesting black watercolor paper that is great for wet media and collage.

Another great upgrade / professional grade pick is the Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Black watercolor paper from Legion Paper. Advertised at 140 lb / 300 gsm, the paper is 100% cotton, acid free, and feels and handles just like a high-grade watercolor paper, except it is black. Try this with watercolor, gouache, metallic inks and pens, or acrylics, this is a heavyweight paper that can do it all. It feels thicker and more absorbent than our top upgrade pick, the Strathmore 400 Mixed Media paper, but it’s great for wet media.

Each pad is glue bound on the top edge with a cardstock cover and heavy cardboard back. During testing, the final few pages got a bit hard to remove from the glue top so definitely plan to cut them off and you may need to cut off the glue edge so that it matches the look and feel of the other three edges. The pads typically cost around $18 for a 9x12 inch which is a lot for a drawing pad, but a fair price for watercolor at about $1.20 per sheet.

Stonehenge Aqua Black Watercolor Pads
Glue bound, Cold press available in 7 sizes, square or rectangular, ranging from 2.5x3.75” to 10x14”
Glue bound, Hot press available in 4 rectangular sizes ranging from 2.5x3.75” to 10x14”
15 sheets per pad
140 lb / 300 gsm paper
9x12” generally retails for $18.00 or $1.20 per sheet

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Fabriano Black Black: Thick and smooth cardstock that is great for drawing

The Fabriano Black Black pad is a great option for dry media, pens, and has a similar feel to cardstock.

The Fabriano Black Black is a great option for a thicker drawing paper that feels like smooth cardstock but still takes dry media really well. A word of advice: don’t use any wet media on this paper as it will buckle and bubble when exposed to water or anything wet. But it’s still great for pens, markers, colored pencils, and crayons. It doesn’t work as well with glue if you were thinking of using it for collage though, as the smoother paper really resists any glue.

Made in Italy, the Black Black pads are glue at the top and have a thin paper cover and cardboard back. Each sheet peels out quite cleanly from the glue top.

Fabriano Black Black pads
Glue bound, available in 8x8”, 9x12”, and 11.75x16.5”
20 sheets
300 gsm
9x12” generally retails for $12.50 or $0.63 per sheet

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Clairefontaine PaintOn Black Pad: Another great option for thicker paper

The Clairefontaine PaintON Black Mixed Media Pads is a great option for finished, pro grade drawings, paintings, and collage.

The Clairefontaine PainON Black Mixed Media Pad is another great option for finished or professional grade artworks. The paper is double sized and works with wet or dry media, and is great for sketching, ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, pastel, or for glue / collage. The paper is made in the Netherlands but the sketchbook also says “Made in Morocco” so maybe it is assembled there.

The pads are glue-bound at the top and each pad features 20 sheets of 250 gsm paper. It’s a bit lighter than the other “pro grade” papers, but the paper is still thick, heavyweight and is absorbent. It’s really a great pad but it is on the expensive side, around $19 for a 9x12 inch pad or almost $1 per sheet.

Clairefontaine PaintOn Black Mixed Media Pads
Glue bound, available in 6x8”, 7x10” and 9x12”
20 sheets per pad
115 lb / 250 gsm paper
9x12” generally retails for $18.99 or $0.95 per sheet

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Strathmore 400 Artagain Drawing Pad: Great drawing paper made from recycled content

The Strathmore 400 Series Artagain drawing pad has black paper made from 30% post-consumer fiber.

The Strathmore 400 Series Artagain Drawing Pad is a great recycled paper option for an everyday black paper sketchbook. Made in the USA, it has acid-free, 60 lb /160 gsm paper made with 30% post-consumer fiber. It has a slightly glossier, smoother finish than the Canson XL Black paper and even though it is 60 lb weight, it is still a decent thickness for drawings and sketches. This paper is best with dry media.

Each pad is glue bound at the top edge and pages remove easily. If you like this paper, you can also find it in rolls, which is great for banners, huge drawings, or if you want to work with a custom size.

Strathmore 400 Artagain Black Drawing Pads
Glue bound, available in 6x9”, 9x12”, and 12x18”
24 sheets per pad
60 lb paper
9x12” generally retails for $6.50 or $0.27 per sheet

This paper is also available in a 42” wide, 10 yard roll (shop at Amazon)

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Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Paper: Best for pastel / charcoal or for textured paper

The Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Pad features 24 sheets of black paper with one side more textured.

The Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Pad is your best option for a more textured paper. It features a dual sided paper with a woven texture on the top side and a flatter surface on the back side. The paper is matte black and not shiny. It’s made in the USA with materials from France, including some cotton.

The pads are glue bound on the top edge and have 24 sheets per pad with 98 lb / 160 g paper.


Canson Mi-Teintes Black Pastel Pad
Glue bound, available in 9x12” pad or loose sheets
98 lb / 160 gsm paper
24 sheets per pad
9x12” generally retails for $8.50 or $0.35 per sheet

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Not worth it: Arteza Black Drawing Pad, Faber-Castell Black Sketchbook, Conda Black Sketchbook

The next three pads didn’t stack up to the quality and affordability of the Canson XL Black Drawing pad. They feature fewer pages with thinner paper, but if you prefer a ring binding on the top edge, a few of these may be right for you for an everyday pad that you can carry around for sketches or prepatory work.

Arteza Black Drawing Pads

The Arteza Premium Black Paper Sketch Pad is a good competitor to our top everyday pick, but generally is more expensive.

The Arteza Premium Black Sketch Pads generally come in a 2 pack and feature 30 sheets of 9x12 inch paper with a ring binding and perforation at the top. The paper is matte black, a bit absorbent, and best for dry media such as pastels or colored pencils. The paper and notebook are a great option if you like ring binding at the top, but even in a two pack, they are slightly more expensive than the Canson XL Black Drawing Pads. These pads were manufactured in China for the US-based Arteza company.

These pads are great option for students, kids, or anyone looking for an everyday black paper sketch pad.

Arteza Black Drawing Pad
Spiral bound, available in 9x12”
90 lb / 150 gsm paper
30 sheets
9x12” two pack generally retails (60 sheets total) for $20 or $0.33 per sheet

Faber-Castell Black Sketchbook

The Faber-Castell Black Paper Sketch Pad had the thinnest paper tested and while it might be ok for kids, artists of any age will be better served by getting a higher quality sketch pad.

The Faber-Castell Black Paper Sketch Pad was the thinnest paper tested. Made in China for Faber-Castell USA, it doesn’t indicate the paper weight but it’s not much thicker than printer paper. It is, however, made with 50% post-consumer recycled fiber. Advertised mostly as a sketch pad for kids, I think they’d be better served with the Arteza pad above, or our top pick the Canson XL. But at 25 sheets with a tape binding, this is lightweight and easy for anyone to carry around.

Faber-Castell Black Sketchbook
Glue bound, available in 9x12”
25 sheets
9x12” generally retails for $7 or $0.28 per sheet

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Conda Black Sketchbook

The Conda Black Paper sketchpad has 40 sheets and is ring bound at the top.

The Conda Black Sketch Pad is another cheaper option with thin, somewhat glossy paper. Advertised as 90 lb / 150 gsm paper, it feels thinner and lighter than that. The 40 sheet sketchbooks are ring bound at the top with unperforated pages. The Arteza or Canson XL are better options. There is no indication on the pad as to where it is manufactured.

Conda Black Sketchbook
Spiral bound, available in 9x12”
90 lb / 150 gsm paper
40 sheets
9x12” pad generally retails for $11 or $0.27 per sheet

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Fabriano Hardcover Black: Best for guestbooks or sketching

The Fabriano Hardcover Black Drawing book is a premium landscape-style notebook (or a relatively skinny page on the tall side) that is marketing as a drawing pad but most likely conceived as a guest book for signatures. It has a premium front and back cover that feels like fabric-covered cardboard, and 40 pages of slightly textured 90 lb / 190 gsm drawing paper. The paper itself is nice and great for drawings, but at this price, you’d be better served by any other cheaper sketchbook or just going for one of the premium pads. But if you like the nice cover (it is really nice and a fun sketchbook to use!) then go for it.

Fabriano Hardcover Black
Spiral bound, available in 6x6” or 8.25x11.75”
90 lb / 150 gsm paper
40 sheets
8.25 x 11.75” generally retails for $35.00 or $0.88 per sheet

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Summary

There are a lot of great options for black sketchbooks and drawing pads. After testing, the top two favorites were the Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook for it’s mix of quality and low price, and the Strathmore 400 Mixed Media Paper for it’s great quality, low price, and suitability for professional-grade artworks. But there were a variety of options for every budget. No matter what you go with, black paper is a great thing to experiment with and may just become your favorite type of drawing paper.

What is your favorite black paper for drawing, sketching, or painting? Let us know in the comments.

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Gift Guide for Artists who Paint and Draw

This guide has more than 30 ideas for artists who paint, draw, and create. Most suggestions are priced between $25 and $100, along with a few higher ticket items. There are plenty of ideas for the painter or artist in your life, or perhaps you’ll find a gift for yourself. In general, this guide focuses on high-quality art supplies, equipment, and books.

Note: This site uses affiliate links for sites such as Amazon and Blick. If you click the links and complete a purchase, we may receive a percentage at no extra cost to you.

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Blick Noir French Easel

The Blick Noir French Easel.

Perfect for in the studio or on the go, this black French-style wooden easel from Blick is stylish, functional, and a great deal. The easel combines a sketchbox, easel, and canvas carrier into one unit. Folded, it measures a compact 22 x 16 x 6.5 inches, and it can extend up to 73” tall and accommodate canvases up to 34” tall. It weighs about 10 lbs. This is a great easel for someone setting up an at-home studio and can be carried or folded down for painting in plein air. It retails for around $100.

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Golden A-Z Acrylic Explorers Kit

The Golden A-Z Acrylic Explorer Kit.

This popular set introduces artists to a variety of products Golden Acrylics—the company bills it as a workshop in a box and it basically is. It includes heavy body (i.e. thick) acrylics, fluid acrylics, high flow acrylics as well as pastes, gels and mediums. It’s a great intro to Golden’s high quality product line, and can really expand an artist’s skill set. The kit retails for around $28 and includes 4 tubes of paint, 5 small bottles of paint, 4 tubes of different mediums and a bottle of clear painting medium.

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Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook

The Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook.

The Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook from Bee Paper is a favorite mixed media pad that came out on top in our recent review of mixed media pads. It can do everything from light watercolor to ink to marker, colored pencil, and anything else. The sketchbooks are available in a variety of sizes (9x12” is a great option) and has a stiff cardboard back and a leatherette cover with a wire binding for easy turning of pages. The 93 lb / 150 gsm paper is light cream color and is a pleasure to use, and the books range from 6x4 inches to 14x17 inches, with 50 or 60 pages per book.

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Williamsburg Oil Paint Sets

The Williamsburg Oil Paint Signature Series has 9 colors in 11 ml tubes.

Williamsburg is known for its intensely pigmented, handmade oil paints that are the favorite paints of many professional artists. Available individually or in a variety of sets, try the Signature Series set of 9 for an introduction to these wonderful oil paints. An oil painter will appreciate this, or any set of the high quality Williamsburg paints. The Signature Series set has 9 tubes with 11 ml of paint each, or about 1/3 of an ounce.

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The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

This classic, first published almost 30 years ago, helps artists, writers, and creative types unlock their full potential. Through a series of exercises, such as a letter to yourself and the famous “morning pages” of free writing (visual artists can just substitute sketching) everyone can discover their creative path in an open-ended way that accommodates everyone. At times a bit new age-y, this book is still worth a read for the ideas and exercises. The book grew out of a series of workshops that Cameron ran, and the book feels like you are in the room with Cameron’s gentle but insistent guidance.

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Faber-Castell 9000 Series Drawing Set

Faber-Castell 9000 Series Drawing Set.

Faber-Castell makes some of the best pencils and is the choice of professionals and serious artists. It’s easy to just reach for the signature green pencils first. This set of 12 pencils from F-C’s signature 9000 series has one pencil each ranging from the soft and dark 8B up to 2H. There’s also a set for designers that ranges from 5B to 5H. The sets come in a hinged metal tin or a soft bag and usually retail for around $15-$20. This is the perfect set for anyone who loves to draw. Pair it with a sketchbook and a sharpener for a perfect gift.

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Tote Bag for Tools, Pencils, and Brushes

JJRing Nylon Tote Bag

Every artist can use a little organizational help, and a tote bag keeps everything is at hand and easy to find. The JJRing nylon art/craft bag is has a 16 pockets, is available in eight colors, and is a great value, typically priced at $15 to $25.

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Caran D’Ache Luminance Colored Pencils

The Caran D’Ache Luminance pictured here in the 20 pencil box.

The ultra-premium Luminance colored pencils are a joy to use and the entire set is 100 percent lightfast, which means that the pigments are designed to withstand UV rays. Under museum conditions, these colors will hold up for at least 100 years. The Luminance (and the Derwent Lightfast) were our top picks in a recent test of colored pencils based on the color intensity, quality, and the lightfast ratings. The Luminance also has an easy-to-use cardboard box where each pencil is inset into foam, so the pencils don’t jumble around. Prices range from a set of 20 pencils for $55 to a set of 76 pencils for around $225.

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The Story of Painting: How Art Was Made

The Story of Painting: How Art Was Made from DK.

This 2019 book covers the entire 25,000 year history of painting with illustrations, texts, and guides to technique, composition, and subject matter. It’s a great overview for a beginning painter, or a wonderful reference book for the more experienced artist. The details, images, and texts make this more than just a coffee table book. It’s available in hardcover for around $25.

The book includes detailed examinations of numerous paintings.

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Utrecht Artists’ Watercolor Paint Box

The Utrecht Watercolor Box is a complete painting kit.

This set has everything an artist needs to get started with watercolor painting and it’s made by Utrecht, the Brooklyn, NY company known for high quality, artist-grade paints and mediums. It comes in a beechwood box and includes a 9x12” watercolor block, four brushes, a flat knife, a needed eraser, plastic palette with 24 wells, and 18 tubes of watercolor paint. The box usually retails for around $225.

Utrecht also sells smaller sets of just watercolor paints.

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Anker Soundcore Q20 Noise Cancelling Headphones

The Anker Soundcore Q20 Noise Cancelling Headphones.

Over-ear noise cancelling headphones can really help you focus on your work, especially if you work in a shared or noisy environment. There are a lot of options for this type of headphone, but the Anker Soundcore Q20 strike a balance between quality and affordability, especially considering they will probably get covered in paint at some point. These headphones have an impressive 40 hour playing time, and a dynamic sound quality that while not quite audiophile level, really deliver a lot for the $50 price tag.

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Liquitex Acrylic Gouache

The Liquitex Acrylic Gouache 12 color essentials kit.

Gouache is a type of opaque watercolor paint, and the Liquitex Acrylic Gouache is an interesting twist on this product that is really nice to use. Think of it as a matte acrylic paint that is fluid right out of the bottle and will result in a matte finish that doesn’t show brush strokes or cracks. It’s become a favorite acrylic paint of many. It’s available in small squeeze bottles—to use, just press out what you will need on a tray or palette. The colors are available individually or in a variety of sets. Try the 12 color essentials set for around $55 or the fluorescent set is also fun.

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Blick Super Value Bulk Canvas Pack

The Blick Super Value Bulk Canvas Pack has 40 16x20” pre-primed canvases.

Almost a gag gift for the extreme size, this bulk pack of 40 stretched canvases are great for anyone who paints a lot. These 16x20” canvases are pre-primed with acrylic gesso on 5/8” thick stretcher bars. At around $120, these canvases work out to about $3 each—an incredible value. And a gift like this will provide plenty of surfaces for an artist to get to work.

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Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paint

Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paint.

Water mixable oil paint is an interesting innovation made by a variety of manufacturers. It allows you to thin paint with water (although most companies do make some mediums as well) but more importantly, you can clean up this paint with water and soap. This makes it so much easier to keep hands, brushes, palettes, and everything clean, especially if you are painting at home. Winsor & Newtown makes a great line of water mixable oil paint called Artisan, and it’s available individually and in sets. The set of 10 colors in the smaller 0.7 ounce tubes is a great introduction to this line.

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Foam Daubers

Foam daubers aka sponges on a stick.

These sponges on a stick are a fun craft tool for artists of all ages. Variously known as spouncers, daubers, or stick sponges, these are a great way to add polka dots and round shapes to any surface. Use with acrylic, watercolor, or inks. Available in bulk packs for around $10–20, they are a great tool for any artist.

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Create Dangerously: The Power and Responsibility of the Artist by Albert Camus

Create Dangerously by Albert Camus.

This 1957 speech by the Nobel Prize winner was first published as a standalone text in 2019 in this small, pocket-sized book. A call to arms for artists to participate in society, it’s an interesting read for anyone considering a career in the art or who is interested in what role artists might take in civic discourse. The paperback usually retails for $8.

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Canson XL Black Drawing Pad

The Canson XL Black Drawing Sketchbook

A sketchbook with black paper is a fun way to mix things up in the studio. Pair it with opaque colors from pens or pencils, and you’ve got a whole new way to approach color and design. A studio favorite is the student-grade Canson XL Black Drawing Pad. Each pad features 40 pages with 92lb black paper, with micro-perforations at the side if you want to remove a drawing for framing or other purposes. Available in 7x10” or 9x12”, expect to pay $7 to $10 for these pads. For a great gift, pair this with gel pens or colored pencils.

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X-Acto Basic Knife Set and Case

The X-Acto Basic Knife Set with case.

Every artist needs X-Acto knives at some point, and this basic set of 3 knives and 10 replacement blades is a great introduction to the variety of blades from this venerable company. Use this for trimming watercolor paper, collages, or any art and hobby purposes, these will get used all the time. This set typically retails for around $23. Pair it with a cutting mat (see below) for a great gift.

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Self-Healing Cutting Mat

Alvin Cutting Mats are one option for self-healing cutting mats.

Self-healing cutting mats are a great way to protect both your tables from cuts and it helps your knife blades stay sharp longer. Available from a variety of manufacturers (Alvin, Blick, Cricut, X-Acto etc) the main thing is to pick the size and color that works for your space. Traditionally available in green and black from Alvin, there are now a variety of colors and sizes. For at-home use, an 18x24” mat or 24x36” sizes are usually best, but you can go bigger or smaller. In addition to cutting, these make great surfaces for using liquid or hot glue, or for moving around drawings or paintings that are not yet dry. The larger sizes are also useful for covering tables used for drawing, painting, and crafts.

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Arches Watercolor Blocks

Arches watercolor blocks come in a variety of paper thicknesses and finishes.

Arches makes some of the best watercolor paper and watercolor blocks are a great way to try out their paper. Sealed on the side with glue, each sheet stays in place and won’t warp, and can then be cut off using a dull knife. Then the next sheet is ready to go. These come in hot and cold press in a variety of thickness. Cold press paper has a bit more texture and the mid-weight 140 lb / 300 gsm paper is a good place to start, such as an 8x10 block of 20 sheets that retails for around $33. Pair this with a high-quality set of watercolors (such as Sennilier, Utrecht, etc) and you’ve got a great gift for a watercolor artist.

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Sennelier Watercolor Travel Set

Sennelier La Petite Watercolor Travel Set

Sennelier makes some of the best watercolors that are rich in hue, depth, and just enough transparency. They are a pleasure to use and when paired with a watercolor block (see above) make a great gift. This travel set includes 12 tubes of watercolor paint and a small palette for adding water. The tubes hold 10ml or .33 oz of watercolor paint, which can go a long way—especially if they are mixed with water and used wet on wet. It’s a great introduction to the Sennelier line of watercolors, and generally retails for $35-$40.

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JBL Bluetooth Speaker

The JBL Flip 4 portable bluetooth speaker.

It’s always great to have music or podcasts in the studio, and a portable bluetooth speaker makes it easy to play anything from your phone, tablet, or laptop. The JBL Flip 4 is slightly older (meaning it’s available at a discount) but is still a great option that sounds great, is easy to pair with devices, and comes with long-lasting build quality. For something bigger and louder, check out the JBL Charge line of speakers. The JBL Flip 4 is waterproof, available in a variety of colors, and usually retails for around $90.

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Studio Designs Fusion Center Drafting Table

Studio Designs Fusion Drafting Table and Stool. (Cabinet is not part of the set).

Studio Designs is known for high quality but affordable studio furniture (I’ve been using the Graphix II Workstation for years) and the Fusion Center is a great introductory table and stool for artists who draw, paint, or craft. Featuring a work area that is just under 24 x 35 inches, the table can adjust from flat to a 60 degree angle. There’s also a pencil and brush rack, and a slide-out side table, giving the table an overall potential footprint of 24x48 inches, and the table is adjustable from 26.75 to 35.35 high. It’s a great first desk for the serious hobbyist or art student who is ready for their own dedicated table. It typically retails for around $125.

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Daybook: The Journal of an Artist by Anne Truitt

An older edition of Daybook by Anne Truitt.

This classic journal by the American sculptor has been in print continuously since it was published in the early 1980s. In it, Truitt details her daily observations about artmaking as well as her history as an artist and mother. It’s an enlightening read that ranges from the mundane, to money concerns, to the theoretical underpinnings of her works and how she made them. It’s available new and used, including a recent digital edition that includes Daybook and two more books of Truitt’s journals. For more, check out this excerpt of the book. Daybook is available in paperback for around $15.

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Holbein Artist’s Gouache Set

The 12 color set of Holbein Artists’ Gouache.

Gouache is the opaque version of watercolors and Holbein makes some of the finest gouaches around. These professional grade paints are vibrant, dry to a matte finish, and can be thinned with water if less intensity is desired. The colors are available individually or as sets, ranging from five colors for around $30 to all 84 colors for over $700. A set of 12 or 18 colors makes a great introduction to this line of colors and in the smaller .2 ml tubes, these sets range from $44 to $53.

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Pentel Pocket Brush

The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen with two refills.

The Pentel Pocket Brush is a portable, easy-to-use, and refillable brush pen that can lay down a super-fine line or a heavier stroke. Perfect for travel and on the go ink sketches, it can also be used in the studio for finished work. It’s good for painting, cartooning, and more, and is available with gray, black, or sepia-colored ink. The brush and two refills typically retails for around $13, and refills are about $3 for a two pack. Pair this with a mixed media sketchbook (such as the Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook) and you’ve got a great gift.

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Alice Neel: People Come First

Alice Neel: People Come First is a 2021 monograph published by the Met Museum.

This 2021 monograph focuses on Neel’s history, social activism, and portraits. Published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and based on the blockbuster exhibition there, the hardcover book includes high-quality reproductions and essays on Neel and her work. A sense of life was in every mark that Neel made and this book is a deep look into a fascinating artist and her body of work.

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Sennelier Abstract Kit

The Sennelier Abstract Acrylic Paint Kit with 8 tips.

Sennelier Abstract acrylic paints are a new twist on painting. The paint can be squeezed out on a palette like any other paint, or try the various tips directly on these plastic pouches to squeeze paint right out of the bag. It makes the act of painting physical and immediate, and can open up a new way of working for any artist. The set includes 5 paints and 8 tips, and typically retails for around $35.

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Blick Studio Black Cotton Canvas

Blick Studio Black Cotton Canvas are pre-primed and stretched and ready to paint.

Black primed canvases are a completely different way to approach painting, and these pre-primed and stretched cotton canvases from Blick allow you to get right to painting in acrylic or oil. Available in 5 sizes ranging from 8x10 inches to 20x24 inches, these canvases have a traditional 3/4” deep stretcher bar and are suitable for hanging or framing. Pair these with an acrylic or oil painting set for a great gift.

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Golden Fluid Acrylics Set

The Golden Fluid Acrylic Set includes 10 paints.

Golden fluid acrylics are high flow, thin paints for artist that spray, brush, stain, or paint. They are highly saturated with pigment and they are almost ink-like in how they lay down and dry. They are a great way to mix things up and can be used with various mediums or thinned even further with water. The set of paints includes 10 colors in 1 oz jars and usually retails for around $42

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Blick Super Value Hardbound Sketchbook

The Blick Super Value Hardbound Sketchbook two pack.

Hardbound sketchbooks are great ways to keep all your sketches, thoughts, and notes in one place and this 2 pack is simply an incredible deal. At around $12 for two sketchbooks, it’s the same price you’ll pay for one hardbound sketchbook at other stores. The 65 lb paper measures 8.5x11 inches and is smooth, white, and acid free.

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Caran D’Ache Pablo and Supracolor Gift Box

The Caran D’Ache Pablo and Supracolor box set.

This handsome wooden box has a full set of Caran D’Ache Pablo colored pencil and Supracolor water-mixable colored pencils. The two lines blend together easily, giving you an unlimited range of possibilities for drawing, shading, blending, and working wet. At $464, it’s quite the statement gift but it includes 180 pencils, for an average cost of $2.58 each.

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Other Gift Ideas

Classes: A set of classes at a local studio or art studio can be a great gift.

Magazine Subscriptions: Magazines are great sources of ideas and inspiration.

Tours, Trips, or Conferences: Look for painting-specific travel tours, retreats, or conferences.

What are your favorite gift ideas for artists? Let us know in the comments.

Gift Guides

Check out these posts:

Gift Guide for Potters

Gift Guide for Young Artists and Creative Kids

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Best Mixed Media Sketchbooks and Drawing Pads

Mixed media pads are a real upgrade from a regular drawing pad, and they don’t cost too much more. They have thicker and more versatile paper that can handle wet media such as ink and watercolor, and the thicker paper is just more pleasurable to use. They are ideal for drawings, sketches, note-taking, prepatory paintings, student work, and might just be thick enough to use for final drawings. They will also work ok for the occasional watercolor, but none of these is a true watercolor pad.

To find the best option, nine mixed media sketchbooks and pads were evaluated. Testing included a variety of media during a two-month period and my top picks are posted below followed by an overview of each pad. The pads were compared on how they handled different media including watercolor, overall construction and feel, and price, which ranged from $0.11 per sheet to around $0.50 per sheet.

The good news is that all the pads were fine and I’d definitely recommend choosing any of these over a drawing pad with thinner paper. Ultimately, what I was looking for was the best all around pad that could be carried around, thrown in a bag, and would produce great results.

TOP PICK: Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media

Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media Pad, our top pick for a mixed media sketchbook.

When considering overall quality, ability to handle wet media, and price, the best all-around option is the Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media Pad. It has smooth vellum paper with a good tooth, and the 117lb paper can handle watercolor, ink, and markers with ease. You do pay extra for this, around double the price of the budget options, but I feel that it is worth it if you are looking for a true mixed-media pad.

The Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media pads are available in three sizes. A 9x12”, 40-sheet pad typically costs around $12.50, or about $0.31 per sheet.

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BUDGET PICKS: Blick Studio or Canson XL

Blick Studio Mixed Media Pad.

If you are looking for an everyday sketchbook with mixed media paper, the Blick Studio or Canson XL pads are great options that check all the boxes except the paper will buckle when using watercolor or heavier applications of wet media. Not ideal, but for everything else, these are nice pads that typically cost $7 or $8 for a 60 sheet, 9x12” pad. They do cost a bit more than comparable drawing/sketch pads, but the thicker paper is worth it.

Canson XL Mix Media Pad.

Choose the Blick Studio Mixed Media Pad if you prefer a natural white paper, or the Canson XL if you want a bright white paper. The Canson XL also features a much thicker cardstock cover, so if you are rough on your sketchbooks, that’s a good option.

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UPGRADE PICK: Bee Paper Aquabee Super Deluxe

Bee Paper Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook.

For an upgrade pick, take a close look at the Bee Paper Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketchbook. It’s got a thick, maroon-colored leatherette cover that feels like a fancy sketchbook, but with easy-to-use, lay flat wire binding. The 93 lb, natural white paper is great for everything except watercolor, which will cause it to buckle a bit. But even with that, the watercolor results are very nice. The Strathmore 300 Series may be the best all-around option but the Bee Paper sketchbook just feels nicer and looks better—and it doesn’t have an annoying image on the cover like Strathmore is so prone to do. It’s also a great option for giving a nice but functional sketchbook as a gift.

A 60-sheet, 9x12” Bee Paper Super Deluxe Sketchbook typically costs around $16.50, or $0.28 per sheet. On a per-sheet basis, it’s a bit cheaper than the Strathmore 300 but it has more sheets so it costs more.

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Paper Color Comparison

Comparison shot of the 9 pads tested.

This image shows all the pads together to compare the relative brightness of the paper and pad styles. These are all “white paper” pads and ranging from a bright white to what manufacturers call “natural white.” None of these is a true cream-colored paper. Note that the Fabriano Fat Pad and Strathmore 400 Pad are glued, while the other 7 have wire binding.

Bright White Paper: Bienfang, Canson XL, Grumbacher

White Paper: Fabriano Fat Pad, Strathmore 300 Series and 400 Series

Natural White Paper: Bee Paper Super Deluxe, Blick Studio, Strathmore Vision

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Table of Contents

• Top Picks

• Color Comparison

• Bee Paper Super Deluxe Mixed Media

• Bienfang Mixed Media

• Blick Studio Mixed Media

• Canson XL Mixed Media

• Fabriano Mixed Media Fat Pad

• Grumbacher Mixed Media

• Strathmore Vision Mixed Media

• Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media

• Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media

• Notes on Testing

• Summary

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Bee Paper Super Deluxe Mixed Media Pad

Tests with different media on the Bee Paper Mixed Media paper.

The Bee Paper Aquabee Super Deluxe Mixed Media Sketchbook is a high-quality pad made in the USA in Beaverton, Oregon. It features a stiff, maroon-colored, “leatherette” water-resistant cover and cardboard back, wire binding with perforated paper, and 93lb acid-free paper. The paper has an even tooth, which really brings out pencils, charcoal, and other dry media. In testing, the paper did buckle a bit with watercolor, but it stayed flat with ink.

These pads are available in a variety of sizes and they do feel like a real upgrade pick. They’re one of my favorite pads to carry around and to give as gifts, but I do wish the paper handled watercolor a bit better. The extra-thick cover protects the pad and makes it resilient for carrying around. Bee Paper offers these pads in a variety of shapes and you also can buy the paper as loose sheets.

The 9”x12” 60 sheet pad typically retails around $16.50 or $0.28 per sheet. These pads do come at a premium price but I believe that Bee Paper delivers a lot of value for that price in a handsome-looking sketchbook.

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Bienfang Mixed Media Pad

Tests with different media on the Bienfang Mixed Media paper.

The Bienfang Mixed Media sketchbook is a thinner notebook-style pad made in Canada for Bienfang / Speedball. It features a thin, glossy-paper cover, cardboard back, spiral wire binding, non-perforated pages, and 90 lb acid-free paper. The paper has a sort of broad tooth that I didn’t mind but is a bit different from other sheets.

With 40 sheets, this pad is on the thinner side, making it easy to slip in a bag or backpack to carry around. The bright white paper has a nice body to it and though the spiral wire binding signals to me that this is “student grade,” I ultimately did like using this paper and pad. I don’t mind that the paper is not perforated, but that may matter to you. It seems like an ideal student sketchbook.

These pads are available in three sizes for as low as about $6.25 for a 9x12” pad, or $0.15 per sheet.

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Blick Studio Mixed Media Pad

Tests with different media on the Blick Studio Mixed Media Pad.

The Blick Studio Mixed Media Pad is a traditional style art pad with a cardstock cover, cardboard back, wire ring binding, and perforated sheets with 80lb, natural white paper. It’s made in the USA for Blick, but I couldn’t find info on exactly where it’s made. The paper is smooth, almost vellum-like but still has a slight, even tooth that shows up with broad strokes such as the chunky Art Stix colored pencils. The perforations are quite close to the wire ring which some online reviewers find annoying but it is an efficient use of paper.

I haven’t always been impressed with Blick store-brand products, but this pad really overdelivered. It handled watercolor well even though it was the thinnest paper tested. It’s also an incredible value and the most affordable pad tested. A 9x12” 60 sheet pad retailed for around $6.70 or $0.11 per sheet.

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Canson XL Mix Media Pad

Canson XL Mix Media tested with different media.

The Canson XL Mix Media Pad has a very sturdy cardstock cover, cardboard back, and perforated, bright white, acid free 98lb paper. It’s made in the USA with materials from France by the Dixon Ticonderoga Company in Wisconsin (The same company that makes Strathmore papers.) These pads are a great value and in the past few years, are often available in a 2-for-1 sale at the beginning of the school year.

The paper has a nice thickness, even tooth, but did buckle a bit with watercolor. They are right in the same price range and quality as the Blick Studio and Strathmore Vision pads, but pick this pad if you want bright white paper as opposed to a natural white.

These pads are available in 6 sixes and you can also buy the paper loose and in rolls, or one size is available with rough paper. These pads are a good deal, with a 9x12” 60 sheet pad typically costing $7.85 or $0.13 per sheet.

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Fabriano Mixed Media Fat Pad

The Fabriano Mixed Media Fat Pad with different media.

The Fabriano Mixed Media Fat Pad truly delivers on its name. It is a 150-sheet pad of 108lb acid-free paper. Made in Italy, it has a paper cover designed to fold back, a stiff cardboard back, and glued pages at the top that can be peeled off individually or in chunks. This is not really a notebook that would be comfortable to carry around (it’s about 1.5 inches thick) but it’s great for individual sheets or to be divided up into multiple pads.

The paper has a rougher tooth that really brings out pencils, pastels and colored pencils, and it only buckled slightly with watercolor. I’ve always had a soft spot for Fabriano paper and while this pad is a great addition to any studio, I’d personally still also want a wire-ring notebook that is more suitable for carrying around.

The Fabriano Mixed Media Fat pad is only available in one size, 9x12” or 22.75cm x 30.5 cm. Although it has a higher price, this is still a great value. A 9x12” pad retails for around $22 or about $0.14 to $0.15 per sheet.

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Grumbacher Mixed Media Pad

Different media tested on the Grumbacher Mixed Media Pad.

The Grumbacher Mixed Media Pad is distinguished by its innovative “in & out” tabbed pages that can be removed and reinserted in the wire ring binding without tearing. It’s innovative but not something I’m sure I need—the pages are also perforated to remove the side tabs. The paper itself is 90lb, acid free, and has a rougher tooth. Even though it’s advertised as 90lb paper, it felt thicker to me and it handled watercolor very well. The pad is made in the USA for Grumbacher / Chartpak, Inc.

These pads are available in four sizes, with a 9x12”, 50 sheet pad typically costing around $11.50 or $0.23 per sheet. This is more expensive then a lot of the pads tested, but it’s worth it if you want a sketchpad that can also double as a pad for light watercolor washes and other wet media.

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Strathmore Vision Mixed Media Pad

The Strathmore Vision Mixed Media Pad is one of three Strathmore pads in this test and would be the more entry-level / everyday option of the three, comparable to the Blick Studio or Canson Xl pads. It has 98lb, perforated acid free paper, wire binding, cardboard back and two covers: the top glossy cover can be removed to expose a steel blue, mixed-media cardstock cover that can be customized if desired. The pad is made by the Dixon Ticonderoga Company in Wisconsin, USA.

The paper has a smooth, vellum surface, fine grain tooth and when using the chunky Art Stix colored pencils, I did notice some vertical lines in the paper from the manufacturing process. The paper buckled a bit with watercolor.

Part of a line of entry-level Strathmore Vision papers, these pads are available in three sizes. A 70-sheet, 9x12” pad typically costs around $10 or around $0.14 per sheet.

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Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media Pad

Different media tests on the Strathmore 300 series Mixed Media Pad.

The Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media Pad is the best option for an affordable pad that can really handle watercolor and wet media. The 40 sheet pad has 117lb, acid-free paper with perforated sheets, and a smooth vellum surface. In my tests, the paper didn’t buckle at all with light watercolor applications. The paper is made in the USA with materials from France by the Dixon Ticonderoga Company (The same company that makes Canson XL pads.)

This paper has a smooth, even tooth that looks great with dry media. I typically gravitate towards a pad with a rougher tooth but I’m glad I did a test: this has become my new favorite everyday pad because of it’s thicker paper, ability to handle wet media, and affordable price.

These pads are available in 3 sizes and a 9x12”, 40-sheet pad typically costs around $12.00 or about $0.30 per sheet.

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Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Pad

Different media tested on the Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Pad.

The Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Pad is not an everyday, wire-bound pad for carrying around, but it is an affordable way to get 15 pages of thick paper appropriate for final artworks. It has 184lb, acid free heavyweight paper that is glued at the top. It is manufactured in the USA with materials from France by the Dixon Ticonderoga Company of Appleton, Wisconsin.

This paper has a smooth, vellum surface with a medium grain, and it didn’t buckle with watercolor. It’s much more expensive on a per-sheet basis than other pads in this test, but if you are experimenting with with mixed media or making final drawings or paintings, this is a great paper to add to the mix. For just watercolor, I’d probably switch to a true watercolor paper but this is wonderful for colored pencils, ink, and finished artworks in all sorts of dry and semi-wet media.

This paper also is available in 8-yard rolls, and the pads are available in 4 sizes. A 9x12”, 15-sheet pad typically costs around $7.50 or about $0.49 per sheet. If you like this paper but want an even thicker version, check out the 500 series pads with 12 sheets.

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Notes on Testing

For this post, nine mixed media pads were evaluated and tested over a period of two months. The pads were compared on overall quality and features, paper type and quality, and tested with pencil, colored pencils, Sharpie markers, ink pen and watercolor.

In the tests pictured above, the materials used were:

• Prismacolore Ebony Pencil

• Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

• Sharpie Marker

• Prismacolor Art Stix

• Pentel Brush Pen with ink

• Holbein Cobalt Blue Hue Watercolor

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Summary

Mixed media pads have become my go to, carry-around sketchpad. I like the thicker and more versatile paper. I had tended to choose the Canson XL pads in the store, but I wanted to test a wide range of pads to see which was the best all around pad. The 9 pads include 7 wire ring pads and two that were glued at the top.

After testing, I definitely revised my previous assumption. Though they were all nice pads with great features, moving forward, I’ll be using the Strathmore 300 Series Mixed Media pad as my everyday sketchbook. I’m also partial to the Grumbacher and Bee Paper Pads, for features such as upgraded paper and an overall pleasurable feel when using. For a budget pad, I’d go with the Blick Studio or Canson XL pads.

What is your favorite everyday sketchbook? Do you like mixed media paper or another option? Let us know in the comments.

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Colored Pencil Buyers Guide

For this post, 15 colored pencil brands were tested including 11 artist-grade pencils and 4 student grade. The goal was to find the best pencil for artists, along with the best set for coloring book enthusiasts and students. Special attention was paid to lightfastness ratings, which helps gauge how long the colors will stay vibrant and true. Other considerations included color range, vibrancy, materials, ease of use, shininess or “wax bloom,” if pencils are available individually, and cost.

I was hoping this head-to-head test would result in one clear favorite, but instead I’d be very comfortable recommending six of the pencils tested including (in alphabetical order) the Caran D’Ache Luminance or Pablo; the Derwent Coloursoft or Lightfast; Faber-Castell Polychromos; Holbein Artists’ Colored Pencil; and Prismacolor Premiers. Any of these, or a combination of these pencils, will give you everything you need in the studio. Other pencils will work too, but these six lines stood out for their bright, vibrant colors and lightfastness qualities that indicate artist-quality pencils.

But if you want a judgement, here’s my top picks.

Best Artist-Grade Pencil: Derwent Lightfast

After testing and comparing , the best artist-grade pencil is Derwent Lightfast. It’s a chunky, round-barreled, oil-based pencil with 100 colors that are all lightfast, which means they should hold up under museum conditions for 100 years or longer. The colors lay down with a matte quality with good vibrancy and ability to blend or smudge. The Lightfast line was a bit cheaper than the other 100% lightfast line, the Caran D’Ache Luminance. The Derwent Lightfast colors do have a more muted color palette than other sets, but overall these are the best pencils for artists who want their work to stand the test of time.

Derwent Lightfast 24 count tin

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Best All-Around Artist Pencil: Faber-Castell Polychromos and Prismacolor Premier

Faber-Castell Polychromos 24 count tin

Faber-Castell Polychromos and Prismacolor Premiers are some of the most popular colored pencils and when considering quality, lightfastness, and price, I felt that a combo of these two would be best for most artists. Prismacolors are soft, waxy and have vibrant, intense colors. They are also affordable, have decent lightfastness, and really show up on black paper. The Faber-Castell Polychromos are a harder, oil-based pencil that is more matte, easier to layer, stays sharper longer, and can still achieve saturated colors. (I also liked the Caran D’Ache Pablo pencils, but felt Polychromos gave a similar result at a lower price) A combination of Polychromos and Premier will give you the best of both worlds and if lightfastness is a concern, both manufacturers provide lightfast ratings. (Prismacolor Premier shopping links in next section)

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Best for Adult Coloring or Advanced Students: Prismacolor Premier

This is a harder distinction, as most of the student-grade (and cheaper) pencils tested were not as vibrant and pigment-rich as the artist-grade pencils. The Staedtler Ergosoft are a quality pencil designed to resist core breakage, and the Arteza Experts have lots of colors at a budget price but both of these have colors that lack intensity and depth. With that in mind, I think most artists and hobbyists would be happy with a soft, waxy pencil such as Prismacolor Premier. The main drawback with Premiers is that their soft cores are prone to breaking. But given that they cost less than $1.00 per pencil when purchased in sets, I’d choose the bright, saturated colors over the occasional broken core. The Premiers are a great option for coloring book enthusiasts or artists of any age. Even younger children will appreciate the bright colors and soft quality that is way more fun to use than the standard Crayola schoolroom pencils. And the Premiers are the best colored pencil to use on black paper of any set tested.

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Comparison Charts

All the pencils tested in alphabetical order. Test was done on Canson XL 98lb Mix Media paper, 11x14” size.

All the pencils tested in alphabetical order. Test was done on Canson XL Black 92lb Drawing Paper, 9x12” size.

Before jumping into individual reviews I wanted to share these comparison charts, which played a big role in analyzing the performance of colors versus each other. All of the pencils tested look ok on white paper. What’s harder to see is that the waxier pencils can develop shininess or “wax bloom” especially when viewed from the side, while the oil-based pencils have a more matte quality that looks good from all angles. Avoiding wax bloom is one of the main reasons to upgrade to artist-quality pencils.

On black paper, you can really see the difference in the pigment intensity in the artist-grade brands. To my eye, the pencils from Caran D’Ache, Derwent, Faber-Castell Polychromos, Holbein, and Prismacolor Premiers really stood out. The waxy, soft Prismacolor Premiers seemed to “pop” the most on the black paper.

A note on images: All the color charts in this test were made on the same paper, photographed at the same time, and edited exactly the same. They should be “true” to each other. White paper tests were done on Canson XL 98 lb Mix Media Paper; Black paper tests were done on Canson XL 92 lb Black Sketching Paper.

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Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Comparison Charts

• Artist’s Grade Colored Pencils Reviews:

  Blick Studio Colored Pencils; Caran D’Ache Luminance; Caran D’Ache Pablo; Derwent Coloursoft; Derwent Lightfast; Faber-Castell Polychromos; Holbein Artists’ Colored Pencil; Lyra Rembrant Polycolor; Prismacolor Premier; Prismacolor Verithin; Tombow Irojiten

• Student Grade Colored Pencil Reviews

  Arteza Expert; Crayola Colored Pencils; Faber-Castell Grip EcoPencil; Staedtler Ergosoft

• Lightfastness Background and Information

• Oil vs Wax in Colored Pencils

• Testing Methodology

• Summary

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Artist Grade Pencil Reviews

These reviews detail individual characteristics of 11 different brands and models of colored pencils aimed at professional artists. Artist-grade pencils have a richer pigmentation, 72 or more pencil colors, are made with higher-grade materials and pigments, and can be purchased individually as “open stock” in stores and online. The following reviews are presented in alphabetical order.

Blick Studio Artists' Colored Pencil 24 Count Tin

Blick Studio Artists' Colored Pencil 24 Count Tin

The set comes wrapped in plastic underneath the lid

Blick Studio Artist's’ Colored Pencils

The Blick Studio Artists’ Colored Pencils 24 count on white paper.

Blick Studio Artists’ Colored Pencils are available online and at Blick stores in North America. Made in the Czech Republic, the round pencils are economical and available in a range of 91 colors both in sets and open stock. The 24 count set tested came in a metal tin with a plastic tray liner. Blick produces a variety of sets, so that is an advantage if you are looking for smaller sets in a narrow color range, such as Landscape or Portrait.

The cores are on the stiffer side and harder to blend than other brands, but they do hold a decent point and there were no issues with breakage. Coverage was best on white paper while disappointingly, the colors were more muted on black paper.

The Blick Studio Artists’ Colored Pencils 24 count on black paper.

These pencils are thicker than Prismacolors but not as chunky as Derwent pencils, I’d estimate somewhere around 7.8mm in thickness. For lightfastness, only about 27 percent of the line rates as a top Lightfast 1 or 2 rating. For the economical price, this is ok, but the majority of the pencils would not be suitable for artists concerned with artwork longevity.

To conclude, these are fine pencils, especially if you are on a budget. But with so many options on the market, I would look to other economical brands that are a bit softer and more vibrant, such as Prismacolor Premiers. But these would be great colored pencils for a student, older child, or someone looking for high-quality pencils for adult coloring books.

Blick Studio Artists’ Colored Pencils typical pricing:
12 count: $12.22 ($1.02 per pencil)
24 count: $17.67 ($0.73 per pencil)
36 count: $25.74 ($0.72 per pencil)
48 count: $33.49 ($0.70 per pencil)
72 count: $49.49 ($0.69 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $1.21 per pencil

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Caran D'Ache Luminance 20 count set

Caran D'Ache Luminance 20 count set

Caran D'Ache Luminance comes in a cardboard box with a foam tray liner

Caran D’Ache Luminance

Caran D’Ache Luminance 20 count set on white paper.

Caran D’Ache Luminance are premium, 100% lightfast, oil-based colored pencils made in the Switzerland and available in sets or individual pencils. In 2020, the line was upgraded to a total of 100 colors. Every pencil has a lightfastness rating of I or II, meaning that the under low-light museum conditions, the colors will stay true for at least 100 years. It’s an impressive set only rivaled by the Derwent Lightfast line. The manufacturer claims 80 percent of the line is a Lightfast 1 rating, while 20 percent is Lightfast 2.

Caran D’Ache Luminance 20 count set on black paper

The round pencils are chunky and light in the hand, and the cardboard box has a foam liner which is easy to use and protects the pencils. The lead is highly pigmented with beautiful, intense color on both white and black paper. The colors lay down evenly and stay matte, with no glossy “wax bloom.” They are also a joy to layer. I found that I really liked the look of the color on the page, finding it intensely pigmented with a matte, slightly chalky pastel quality.

The tradeoff of working with 100% lightfast pencils is a more muted palette. There’s a good range of colors but you won’t find any neons or colors like that. The core on the Luminance line is also on the harder, chalkier side. When pressing hard, this resulted in quite a few small bits gathering on the side of the pencil lead and crumbling off onto the page. It didn’t ruin any drawings, but I had to keep a dry brush handy to clean the page and occasionally, the tip of the pencil. To me, this was the main drawback on this line and why I went with the Derwent Lightfast as the top pick.

The Derwent Lightfast line would be the main competition for the Luminance. In comparing the two, I find the Luminance colors to be more matte and chalkier, while the Derwent Lightfast is just a tinge waxier. These are expensive pencils, there is no doubt about that, perhaps best reserved for artists and serious hobbyists. Some of the colors, such as the Anthraquinoid Pink and Russet are truly extraordinary colors on black paper.

Caran D’Ache Luminance colored pencils typical price
12 count: $40.83 ($3.40 per pencil)
20 count: $55.19 ($2.76 per pencil)
40 count: $110.99 ($2.77 per pencil)
76 count $233.69 ($3.07 per pencil)
80 count wood box: $349.99 ($4.37 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $4.71 per pencil

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Caran D'Ache Pablo Colored Pencils 18 Count Tin

Caran D'Ache Pablo Colored Pencils 18 Count Tin

Caran D'Ache Pablo has a hinged tin case

Caran D’Ache Pablo Colored Pencils

Caran D’Ache Pablo 18 count set on white paper

Caran D’Ache Pablo colored pencils are Swiss-made with a hexagonal, cedar barrel that is thinner than the other Caran D’Ache offering, the Luminance. These wax-based pencils are neither hard nor soft but instead have a classic kind of colored pencil feel that results in a beautiful lay down on paper. The complete line has 120 colors. Rather than a lightfast rating, these go by the older 1, 2 or 3 stars method. Forty Five (37.5%) of the 120 colors have the top, 3-star lightfastness rating, 68 (56.6%) have a 2 star rating, and 7 (5.8%) have a 1 star or lowest lightfastness rating.

The 18 count tin tested had a good range of colors that worked well on both white and black paper. The core will hold a good point and the pencils are a pleasure to use, with the ability to stay light or quickly build up intense color. There were no problems with lead breaking or issues while sharpening.

Caran D’Ache Pablo 18 count set on black paper.

The Pablo line would fit well in anyone’s studio. Drawbacks include the relatively high price and the star rating system which doesn’t exactly conform to the latest lightfastness standards. You may need to do your own testing to determine if these pencils will hold up. When thickly applied, these pencils can be subject to the glossiness known as “wax bloom,” but careful work or avoiding excessive layering should prevent that problem.

In testing, I really enjoyed using these pencils but in the end, I feel that the Faber-Castell Polychromos offer similar results at a slightly lower price. But, with an impressive 120 color system and impeccable craftsmanship, these are a good deal at less than $2 per pencil when bought as the set.

Caran D’Ache Pablo colored pencils typical prices:
12 count set: $21.80 ($1.82 per pencil)
18 count set: $30.44 ($1.69 per pencil)
30 count set: $63.19 ($2.11 per pencil)
40 count set: $68.99 ($1.72 per pencil)
80 count set: $170.37 ($2.13 per pencil)
120 count set: $209.99 ($1.75 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $2.80 per pencil

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Derwent Coloursoft colored pencils 24 count tin

Derwent Coloursoft colored pencils 24 count tin

Derwent Coloursoft colored pencils 24 count tin

Derwent Coloursoft Colored Pencils

Derwent Coloursoft 24 count set on white paper.

Derwent Coloursoft are UK-made colored pencils with a round, 8mm barrel. As advertised, these are soft pencils with a crayon-like lay down similar to Prismacolor Premiers. One of the more affordable colored pencils in Derwent’s lineup, these worked equally well on black and white paper with an especially intense white on black paper.

For artists concerned with lightfastness, these are decent. Derwent uses the 1 through 8 blue wool lightfastness scale, 8 is the best, 7 is very good, and 6 is good. Twenty seven out of 72 are rated 8, 13 are rated 7, and 7 more rate a six. Overall, that’s 47 out of 72 pencils that rate top lightfastness. Derwent also provides complete lightfast ratings (click here) along with information such as which pencils are vegan. The company seems responsive to offering the most information possible on their pencils, which is much appreciated.

Derwent Coloursoft 24 count set on black paper.

In use, I did experiencing one lead breaking a few times, but this is to be expected with softer leads. And with heavy application, the dreaded wax bloom can develop. I also noticed that some pencils felt a bit harder than others, so there is some variation within this line.

Overall, this is a great set of colored pencils. I love thicker, chunkier pencils so these felt good right from the beginning. And I appreciate the straightforward lightfastness info from Derwent. If that’s of concern to you—purchase the individual pencils that have top lightfastness ratings. In the end, Prismacolor Premiers offer a lot of the same results at a lower price than the Coloursofts, but these pencils do have a wider barrel and higher “build quality” that feels great in the hand and most importantly, the colors look good on paper.

Derwent Coloursoft Colored Pencils typical prices:
12 count: $18.59 ($1.55 per pencil)
24 count: $38.84 ($1.62 per pencil)
36 count: $49.99 ($1.39 per pencil)
72 count: $89.52 ($1.24 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $1.61

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Derwent Lightfast Colored Pencils 24 count tin

Derwent Lightfast 24 count tin

Derwent Lightfast 24 count tin

Derwent Lightfast Colored Pencils

Derwent Lightfast 24 count set on white paper.

Derwent Lightfast is a line of oil-based colored pencils made in the UK where each of the 100 colors is in the top-rated Lightfast I or Lightfast II category. A direct competitor to the Caran D’Ache Luminance line, the Lightfast have a similar chunky feel with lightly finished, unpainted cedar barrels. The oil-based lead is on the harder side (like all oil-based leads) and in conforming to the Lightfast standards, these are more of an earth tone line of colors.

The main selling point of these is their lightfast ratings: 62 of the 100 are rated Lightfast I and 38 are Lightfast II. Derwent even provides a breakdown here.

Derwent Lightfast 24 count set on black paper.

A super-sharp tip will break under pressure, but overall I found that these pencils kept a good point and would provide a lot of coverage before needing to be sharpened. There were no issues with lead breakage during sharpening. In comparing to the similar Caran D’Ache Luminance, (which developed lots of crumbs under heavy pressure,)the Lightfast had a cleaner lay down. But it still was not as smooth as a soft wax-based pencil such as the Derwent Coloursoft or Prismacolor Premier.

In comparing all the harder oil-based lines (Caran D’Ache Luminance and Pablo, Faber-Castell Polychromos, Holbein, and Lyra) I felt that these had one of the best feels while drawing and though the colors were more muted than most of those other sets, this was the top pick because of the 100% lightfast rating. However, you could also pick and choose colors from various sets to build your own lightfast palette.

In use, these were not as chalky as the Luminance, but still had a matte quality to a heavy application without any shine or gloss. Surprisingly, I felt that these didn’t “pop” as much on black paper and some of the earth tones seemed to fade a bit on white paper. But overall, I really like the chunky 8 mm Derwent barrel and certain colors were real favorites such as Heather, Venetian Red on black paper, and the Mallard Green on white paper.

Derwent Lightfast colored pencil typical prices:
12 count: $26.66 ($2.22 per pencil)
24 count: $57.49 ($2.40 per pencil)
36 count: $82.11 ($2.28 per pencil)
72 count: $176.99 ($2.46 per pencil)
100 count: $235 ($2.35 per pencil)

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Faber-Castell Polychromos 24 count tin

Faber-Castell Polychromos 24 count tin

Faber-Castell Polychromos has a hinged tin

Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils

Faber-Castell Polychromos 24 count set on white paper.

Faber-Castell Polychromos are an oil-based colored pencil made in Germany. Favored by many artists, there are 120 colors in the series and while these are on the thicker side, they seemed a millimeter or two thinner than the Derwent pencils. The 24 count set tested had a classic range of colors and came in a hinged tin with a plastic liner tray.

Lightfastness for the Polychromos is rated on a 3 star scale by the manufacturer: 100 colors have the best 3 star rating and 20 have a 2 star rating. What this means in terms of lightfastness by the latest standards is unclear, but there is no doubt that this is the pencil that many artists swear by and are comfortable using.

As with all oil-based colored pencils, the Polychromos has a harder lead that holds a point well and provides good coverage before needing to be sharpened. The colors are intense and looked great on white paper but seemed a bit more muted on black paper when compared to other top pencils. The colors are matte on the page but when viewed at an angle, I did see a few developing the dreaded “wax bloom” shininess when viewed at an angle.

Faber-Castell Polychromos 24 count set on black paper.

These pencils are easy to layer, have a good color palette, and really just give you everything you need in a colored pencil. I could see how these could become my go-to studio pencils, but I would want to do my own lightfastness tests to determine which colors were best for final drawings. It would be great to see Faber-Castell embrace the latest Lightfastness standards (now about 15 years old) and provide testing results on their pencils such as the info provided by Derwent, Caran D’Ache, and Prismacolor.

In the scheme of things, the Polychromos are a good value, costing about $1.40 each when purchased in sets or $2.25 individually. This is a lot more than Prismacolors, but quite a bit cheaper than artist-grade pencils from Caran D’Ache or the Derwent Lightfast series. If you’ve only ever used soft colored pencils such as Prismacolor or cheaper student-grade pencils, the Faber-Castell Polychromos are a good introduction to premium pencils. For many artists, it’s been the go-to colored pencil for decades. Based on the relatively low cost when compared to other brands, and above average lightfastness, these were my all around pick for best colored pencil.

Faber-Castell Polychromos typical prices:
12 count: $16.40 ($1.37 per pencil)
24 count: $32.80 ($1.37 per pencil)
36 count: $49.20 ($1.37 per pencil)
60 count: $82.08 ($1.37 per pencil)
120 count: $176.98 ($1.47 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $2.23 per pencil

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Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils 12 count tin

Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils 12 count tin

Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils has a hinged tin

Holbein Artists’ Colored Pencils

Holbein Artists’ Colored Pencil 12 count set on white paper.

Holbein Artists’s Colored Pencils are oil-based pencils made in Japan. There are 150 colors in the line, and the 12 count set tested came in a hinged tin with a corrugated paper liner.

In appearance, the Holbein look very similar to the Faber-Castell Polychromos and they also follow the same 3 star Lightfastness rating. As in the Polychromos, star ratings are displayed on the barrel. For Holbein, the star rating breaks down to 72 pencils with the top 3 star rating, 60 pencils with 2 stars, 12 with 1 star, and 6 newer colors that are not rated.

Holbein Artists’ Colored Pencils 12 count set on black paper.

The Holbein colored pencils have a soft and smooth lay down. The core is softer than the Polychromos but not soft like the waxier Prismacolor Premier or Derwent Coloursoft. The colors look best on white paper, they were a bit muted on black paper.

In North America, Holbein colored pencils can be hard to find but they are available online. They are on the more expensive side, costing over $3 each unless you buy the complete 150 count set. Based on price, I would choose the Polychromos or the Pablo over these, but if the Holbeins were cheaper they would definitely find a place in my studio. As the prices stand, I’d be more inclined to choose one of the 100% lightfast lines over these, or go with the Polychromos or Pablo lines.

Holbein Artists’s Colored Pencils typical prices:
12 count: $39.48 ($3.29 pencil)
24 count: $78.72 ($3.28 per pencil)
36 count: $117.72 ($3.27 per pencil)
50 count: $158.40 ($3.17 per pencil)
100 count: $316.00 ($3.16 per pencil)
150 count: $425.00 ($2.83 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $3.16 per pencil

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Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor 24 count tin

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor 24 count tin

Cardboard sleeve slides off tin

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor has a hinged tin

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Colored Pencils

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor 24 count set on white paper.

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Colored Pencils are a line of oil-based pencils made in Germany. There are 72 colors in the line and the 24 count set tested came in a hinged tin with a plastic liner.

Oil-based pencils are known for their hardness but these were definitely the hardest colored pencils in this test. The result is a beautiful matte surface with no gloss or wax bloom, but the drawback is it can be hard to lay down the color or build up areas of intensity. The Polycolors look good on white paper, but either due to the hardness or possibly a lack of pigment intensity, the colors faded away on black paper, seeming on par with student-grade pencils.

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor 24 count set on black paper.

For lightfastness, the Polycolors use the 3 star system with 47 colors receiving the highest 3 star rating, 21 with 2 stars, and 4 with 1 star. The star ratings are not included on the barrel of the pencil. The barrels are on the narrow side with a clear, natural color with the color displayed on the endcap.

Pricewise, these are right in the range of standard artist-grade pencils, costing about $1.25 to $1.50 in sets or $2 individually. The Polycolors have the 2nd thinnest barrel of the oil-based pencils tested, so if that’s your preference you may want to check these out. But overall, due to the somewhat limited color palette and the hard lead, I don’t recommend these pencils.

Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Colored Pencils typical prices:
12 count: $16.20 ($1.35 per pencil)
24 count: $38.15 ($1.59 per pencil)
36 count: $43.59 (1.21 per pencil)
72 count: $97.99 ($1.36 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $2.00

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Prismacolor Premier 24 Count Tin

Prismacolor Premier 24 Count Tin

Prismacolor Premier 24 Count has two trays that stack in the hinged tin

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

Prismacolor Premier 24 count set on white paper.

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils are wax-based pencils made in Mexico for the US-based Newell Office Products. Known for bright, intense colors, there are 150 colors in the Premier line. The 24 count set tested came in a metal tin with a removable lid, and two plastic trays.

Prismacolor Premier spans the range of an artist pencil that is also used by hobbyists, adult coloring book fans, and kids. I would recommend Premiers for anyone, even kids as young as 8 or 10. The colors look great on white and black paper. In testing, they were the brightest, most intense colors on black paper.

Prismacolor Premier 24 count set on black paper.

Known for it’s waxy, soft cores and crayon-like laydown, many online forums reviewing artists coloring pencils will compare Prismacolor Premiers vs Faber-Castell Polychromos as the two most popular artist-grade pencils. In the United States, you can’t walk into an art store without seeing a large display of these pencils and other Prismacolor products. I have long used these myself and many of my artist friends do too. I will continue to use them but they have their drawbacks.

The main complaint against Prismas is broken cores. I have generally had good luck with these pencils over the years but I ordered a new 24 count tin for this test and one pencil (black) did have a broken core that took an inch of sharpening to resolve. A few others had minor breaks after the first sharpen (I only sharpen colored pencils by hand.) But this is the tradeoff with a soft core. The similarly soft Derwent Coloursoft was the only other pencil in this test that had some issues with breakage.

The other tradeoff, when considered as an artist-grade pencil, is the relatively low lightfastness rating. Prismacolors are very affordable, so they may actually overperform on the lightfastness charts relative to cost, but if you are using these in final drawings just be aware: 59 out of 150 (39%) are rated the best Lightfast I, 26 colors (17%) are Lightfast II, and 65 colors (43%) are rated below museum grade at Lightfast III through V. For individual colors, this chart from Prismacolor details the Lightfastness rating.

Another consideration with Prismacolors (and all wax-based pencils) is that they are not as good at layering and mixing colors as the harder and more matte oil-based pencils. And these colors will definitely get shiny and waxy with a heavy buildup.

With those caveats, the Prismacolor Premiers are a great deal, costing as little as $0.60 per pencil if you get the 150 count set, or $1.35 each when purchased individually. That’s a great value! I have long used these pencils and will continue to do so, but I will pull the Lightfast I and II pencils aside so that I can make drawings with the best possible materials. If you are not as concerned about Lightfastness, then these are great pencils that are a pleasure to use and easily get intense, solid colors. Great for kids and adults, these are the most popular and top recommended pencil for a reason, and that’s why I recommend a combo of these and Faber-Castell Polychromos for artists, and recommend these alone as the top pencil for coloring book enthusiasts and students.

Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils typical prices:
12 count: $15.28 ($1.27 per pencil)
24 count: $22.03 ($.92 per pencil)
36 count: $29.59 ($0.82 per pencil)
48 count: $37.42 ($0.78 per pencil)
72 count: $53.98 ($0.75 per pencil)
132 count: $85.13 ($0.64 per pencil)
150 count: $90.14 ($0.60 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $1.35 each

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Prismacolor Verithin 24 Count Cardboard Box

Prismacolor Verithin 24 Count Cardboard Box

Prismacolor Verithin box converts to pencil stand

Prismacolor Verithin Colored Pencils

Prismacolor Verithin 24 count set on white paper.

Prismacolor Verithin Colored Pencils are a line of wax-based colors made in Mexico for the US-based Newell Office Products. The hexagonal barrels are thinner than the Premiers and the line has just 36 colors, but the Verithins are distinguised by a harder core that will hold a sharper point than the Premiers. Available in sets or individually, the 24-count set tested came in a cardboard box that can be converted to a stand. The line has just a total of 40 colors and the pencils come unsharpened.

Prismacolor Verithin 24 count set on black paper.

In testing, the colors are fine on white or black paper, but they are definitely less intense than the Premiers. In the head-to-head testing, the Verithins sort of fade away on black paper in a similar manner to student-grade pencils. But broad, intense coverage isn’t the main use for these pencils, instead think of them as harder pencils for detail work in combination with other pencils.

In terms of Lightfastness, 11 out of 36 are Lightfast I, 7 are Lightfast II, and the remaining 22 are rated below museum grade at Lightfast III through V.

The Verithins are affordable and would make a good complement to a set of Prismacolor Premiers. But, if a harder core was your goal, I would recommend trying a harder oil-based pencil such as the Faber-Castell Polychromos. Because of their relatively low-impact colors due to the core hardness, I wouldn’t recommend these as your only set of colored pencils.

Prismacolor Verithin Colored Pencils typical prices:
12 count: $8.35 ($0.70 per pencil)
24 count: $13.53 ($0.56 per pencil)
36 count: $18.89 ($0.52 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $1.08 each

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Tombow Irojiten Vivid 12 Count Set

Tombow Irojiten Vivid 12 Count Set

Tombow Irojiten Vivid set comes with a colored-pencil eraser and sharpener

Tombow Irojiten Colored Pencils

Tombow Irojiten Vivid 12 count set on white paper.

Tombow Irojiten Colored Pencils are wax-based pencils made in Vietnam for the Japanese brand Tombow. An interesting addition to this test, the pencils are sold as 12 count sets (such as the “Vivid” pack tested here) or in three 30-packs that build a “color library.” The tested set came in a plastic case with a Tombow “sand” colored pencil eraser and a small sharpener. The pencils are unsharpened and there are a total of 90 colors in the line.

Tombow Irojiten Vivid 12 count set on black paper.

The pencils have a hard core and are very good at holding a point. This makes light application a breeze, but it can be harder to get more saturated, intense colors. But, in the test the colors did look good on white paper and ok on black paper.

Regarding Lightfastness, there was no information I could find on the product or online. You would need to do your own testing to determine which colors are lightfast. The pencils will layer well and the neon colors of the Vivid set are particularly intense.

Given the lack of Lightfastness and set packaging, I wouldn’t recommend these as artist-grade pencils (though you can buy individual pencils.) But, these could be great for adult coloring books or as a gift set. I did really love the colored pencil eraser from Tombow, so it is nice that they package everything as an all in one set.

Tombow Irojiten Colored Pencils typical prices:
12 count set: $22.04 ($1.84 per pencil)
30 count set: $53.99 ($1.80 per pencil)
Individual / open stock: $2.39

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Student Grade Colored Pencils

The main goal of this test was to find the best, high-quality artist grade colored pencil. But I included these four sets in the testing because of other online reviews, and to determine if the artist-grade prices are really worth paying for. As can be seen in the head-to-head tests at the top of this post, these 4 sets look fine on white paper when compared to other brands, but the colors really fade away on black paper, indicating a lack of pigmentation. These options only come in sets, so if you can’t replace just one or two colors that you may use often. They also have middle-of-the-road lightfastness ratings (Arteza) or no lightfastness info at all. Some, such as Crayola, had very hard cores that were just not fun to use. I realize many are on a tight budget. If I had to pick one of these, I would say the Artezas for their many colors at a budget price. But in general, I think most people would be happier upgrading to Prismacolor Premiers or some of the other artist brands recommended above.

Arteza Expert 48 Count Tin

Arteza Expert 48 Count Tin has two stacking plastic trays

The tin is shipped in a cardboard box

Arteza Expert 48 Count Tin

Arteza Expert Colored Pencils

Arteza Expert Colored Pencils 48 count set on white paper.

Arteza Expert Colored Pencils are wax-based pencils made in China for the US-based Arteza. Available only in sets, this is a popular and well reviewed online brand that you might also find in stores. With Lightfastness ratings included on each pencil, this line has aspirations of being artist quality but after testing and reviewing, I would place these pencils in the student / hobbyist category. They simply aren’t intensely pigmented or have the lightfastness rating of an artist-grade pencil.

Arteza Expert 48 count set on black paper.

The round pencils are on the 8mm chunky side and have a soft quality that still seems a bit harder than Prismacolor Premiers. There were no issues while sharpening or with core breakage. These looked best on white paper, the colors were muted on black paper.

Some of the colors were a bit softer than others, and those softer colors usually had the most intense pigmentation. Others were a bit harder and that resulted in a lighter application.

The Arteza Experts were the only set tested that had a noticeable smell. It smelled like wood with a slight chemical undertone. It wasn’t bothersome, but was noticeable.

Regarding lightfastness, I couldn’t find much online but I did appreciate Arteza’s one through five “plus mark” ratings (essentially stars) displayed on each barrel and the inside of the tin. I hope that Arteza’s plus systems corresponds with a Lightfast I–V rating, but there was no indication of that. For the 48 count set, 2 pencils had the top rating, another 2 were rated two pluses, 27 pencils had 3 pluses (similar to a below-average Lightfast III), and the remaining 17 pencils were rated a 4 or 5. For the budget price, this middle of the road lightfastness is to be expected.

The entire line has 120 colors, and the pencils are sold in sets of 48, 72, or 120. They are not available individually. The pencils are very affordable but given the drawbacks of the below-average pigmentation and lack of lightfastness, I would recommend paying a bit more for Prismacolor Premiers.

Arteza Expert Colored Pencils typical prices:
48 count: $24.99 ($0.52 per pencil)
72 count: $34.35 ($0.48 per pencil)
120 count: $77.99 ($0.65per pencil)

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Crayola 24 Count Box

Crayola 24 Count Box

Crayola 24 Count Box

Crayola Colored Pencils 24 count on white paper.

Crayola Colored Pencils

Crayola Colored Pencils are an extremely affordable schoolroom classic with 100 wax-based colors. Although this review is focused on artist-grade colored pencils, I added these to see how they might stand up. After testing I would say they too hard to recommend to anyone. Even the youngest artists will appreciate using something that is softer and more vibrant.

Crayola Colored Pencils 24 count set on black paper.

The Crayola Colored Pencils have hard 3.3mm cores that are easy to sharpen and hold a point. They provide decent coverage but appear lighter on the page than other brands, even on white paper. On black paper, the lack of pigment with these pencils really shows. Even a heavy application did not result in saturated colors on the page.

One plus of the harder cores is that the colors really resist smudging, which might actually be a feature when thinking of young children. But in the end, even for the youngest children I’d recommend better quality pencils such as the student-grade options from Faber-Castell, Staedtler (see below), or even Prismacolor Premiers.

Crayola Colored Pencils typical prices:
8 pack: $2.02 ($0.25 per pencil)
12 pack: $2.42 ($0.20 per pencil)
24 pack: $4.62 ($0.19 per pencil)
36 pack: $8.35 ($0.23 per pencil)
50 pack: $8.87 ($0.18 per pencil)
100 pack: $14.97 ($0.15 per pencil)

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Faber-Castell GRIP Ecopencils

Faber-Castell GRIP Ecopencils

Faber-Castell GRIP Ecopencils

Faber-Castell Grip EcoPencils 24 count set on white paper.

Faber-Castell GRIP Colored EcoPencils

Faber-Castell GRIP Colored EcoPencils are a student-grade line of pencils made in Indonesia for Faber-Castell, the venerable German pencil company. Available in sets of 12 or 24, these are aimed at children, but they would work for adult coloring if you like a triangular pencil.

The pencils are unlabeled but the color on the barrel matches the core. Running along each side are grey or black “GRIP dots” that aim to give kids better control.

Faber-Castell GRIP EcoPencils 24 count set on black paper.

Using these on the page is fine, although like all student-grade pencils these have washed-out colors when compared to artist-grade pencils. These worked best on white paper. On black paper, I found these to be a bit more dull than the comparable Staedtler Ergosoft pencils.

There is no lightfastness ratings on these pencils as they are not really designed with artists in mind. The best price I found worked out to about $0.54 per pencil, putting them in the same range as the comparable Arteza Experts, however Arteza offers a significantly wider range of colors with their pencils.

The cardboard container is easy to use (as opposed to Crayola’s doubled-up box) but don’t expect it to last too long. If you press hard enough, these pencils will give good coverage. And they are easier to use than the ultra-budget Crayola. Just don’t think of these as a replacement for artist-grade pencils.

Faber-Castell GRIP Colored EcoPencils typical prices:
12 count: $6.50 ($0.54 per pencil)
24 count: $13.00 ($0.54 per pencil)

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Staedtler Ergosoft 24 Count

Staedtler Ergosoft plastic case coverts into a stand-up easel

Staedtler Ergosoft 24 Count

Staedtler Ergosoft 24 Count with outer packaging

Staedtler Ergosoft Colored Pencils

Staedtler Ergosoft 24 count set on white paper.

Staedtler Ergosoft 24 count set on black paper.

Staedtler Ergosoft are wax-based pencils with a distinctive plastic coating on the core made by Staedtler in Germany. The triangular pencils come in sets of 12, 24 or 36 with a distinctive plastic carrying case that can transform into a stand-up easel.

On the page, these pencils outperform their student grade , with good colors on white paper and decent, semi-saturated colors on black paper. The waxy cores are semi-soft and will achieve good coverage without too much effort. They are not as waxy—but also not as bright—as Prismacolor Premiers, but they did outperform the other student-grade pencils in this test. The cores are relatively narrow and are surrounded by a white plastic coating. It doesn’t affect use and the pencils I tested had no problems with breakage or sharpening.

Like the Faber-Castell GRIP, these do not have color names on the barrel, but the entire barrel matches the core color. The barrels themselves have a rubbery, grippy coating that is pleasant to use (and that I’d love to see on some artist-grade pencils!) There is no lightfastness rating as these are not intended as artist pencils.

Regarding cost, these are on the higher side for student-grade pencil, costing between $1.04 and $1.29 each. The line also has a limited set of colors, but the 24 count set tested did have a classic array of colors.

I would recommend these for adults looking for a quality coloring set in a distinctive case, but for artist-grade pencils I would say skip these and go with the cheaper and more intensely pigmented Prismacolor Premiers.

Staedtler Ergosoft Colored Pencils typical price:
12 count: $12.51 ($1.04 per pencil)
24 count: $26.16 ($1.09 per pencil)
36 count: $46.50 ($1.29 per pencil)

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Colored Pencils Comparison Chart

Click links in chart to shop at Blick.

Pencil	Number of Colors	Open Stock?	Materials	Typical Individual Price	Barrel Shape	Core thickness	Barrel thickness	Country of origin	Lightfastness
Blick Studio	91	Yes	Wax	$1.33	round	3.8mm	7.8mm	Czech Republic	27.5% LF1 or LF2
Caran D'Ache Luminance	100	Yes	Oil	$5.13	round	3.8mm	8mm	Switzerland	100% LF1 or LF2
Caran D'Ache Pablo	120	Yes	Oil	$2.66	hexagonal	3.7mm	6.7mm	Switzerland	94% 3 or 2 stars
Derwent Coloursoft	72	Yes	Wax	$1.77	round	4mm	8mm	UK	47% LF1 or LF2
Derwent Lightfast	100	Yes	Oil	$3.88	round	4mm	8mm	UK	100% LF1 or LF2
Faber-Castell Polychromos	120	Yes	Oil	$2.23	round	3.8mm	8mm	Germany	100 colors 3 star, 20 colors 2 star
Holbein Colored Pencils	150	Yes	Oil	$3.29	round	3.8mm	7.8mm	Japan	72 colors 3 star, 60 colors 2 star
Lyra Polycolor	72	Yes	Oil	$1.81	round	7.4mm	8mm	Germany	47 colors 3 star, 21 colors 2 star
Prismacolor Premier	150	Yes	Wax	$1.51	round	3.8mm	7.4mm	Mexico	56.7% rated LF1 or LF2
Prismacolor Verithin	36	Yes	Wax	$1.07	hexagonal	3mm	7mm	Mexico	50% rated LF1 or LF2
Tombow Irojiten	90	Yes	Wax	$2.39	round	3.8mm	8mm	Vietnam	No info
Student Grade Pencils
Arteza Expert	120	No	Wax	only sets	round	4mm	7.8mm	China	3.3% rated LF1 or LF2
Crayola Colored Pencils	100	No	Wax	Only in sets	round	3.3mm	7.2mm	Brazil	Not applicable
Faber-Castell GRIP EcoPencils	24	No	Wax	only in sets	Triangular	3.5mm	7.4	Indonesia	Not applicable
Staedtler Ergosoft	36	No	Wax	only in sets	Triangular	3.3mm	7.4	Germany	Not applicable

Lightfastness Background and Information

Lightfastness rates how colors will hold up over time, and are one way of gauging which pencils are right for you. Lightfastness is of utmost concern to artists who are selling their work, but should be a consideration for anyone who is making something they hope will last for the long term. It can be confusing to determine lightfastness, as different manufacturers use different standards, and manufacturer will even use different scales for their various lines. It’s frustrating. One option is to do your own test by making a chart, cover 1/2 of the color, and expose the other side to the sun for a period of weeks, then compare to the original colors.

Lightfast is rated I through V with LF I being the best with colors that will stay true for 100 years in low-light museum conditions. Another scale is the Blue Wool 1 through 8 scale, where 8 is the best. Finally, the older model still employed by many manufacturers is 1, 2 or 3 star scale, with 3 being the most lightfast. The star scale is hard to parse in comparison to Lightfast or Blue Wool, but a comparison of Lightfast and Blue Wool is below.

Although companies have been rating their pencils for decades, the official standards with a Lightfast I – V scale were first released in 2003 by the standards organization ASTM International (formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials) in collaboration with the Colored Pencil Society of America. If you join the CPSA, you will have access to the society’s proprietary testing results. Since this Lightfast standard was released, companies have developed premium pencil lines that conform to these standards and with every color receiving the top Lightfast I or II rating, such as the Derwent Lightfast and the Caran D’Ache Luminance lines.

Lightfastness Comparison

Description	ASTM Lightfast rating	Blue Wool rating	Normal Condition Longevity
Very poor lightfastness	V	1	less than 2 years
Poor lightfastness	IV	2 3	2–15 years
Fair lightfastness	III	4 5	15–50 years
Very good lightfastness	II	6	50-100 years
Excellent lightfastness	I	7 8	over 100 years

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Oil vs Wax in Colored Pencils

If you read through online forums and reviews, many will tout oil-based pencils as the “best.” Typically, the oil-based pencils do have harder cores, are easier to layer, and have a more matte appearance. They are also more expensive. But it’s not as if it’s an either/or situation with wax or oil. Manufacturers don’t release their proprietary core blends, but you can assume that every colored pencil is made with some wax in it. It’s just some also have an additional oil-based binder.

In general, I like drawing with softer pencils but I see the advantage of the oil-based pencils and I do really like the matte quality of the resulting color. In testing, I did note that wax-based lines such as Derwent Coloursoft and Prismacolor Premier are generally brighter and more vibrant, but also were more prone to the waxy build up and shiny quality known as wax bloom.

To get the best results, I recommend finding a combination of pencils that work for you. To start, I believe most artists should try the wax-based Prismacolor Premiers and the oil-based Faber-Castell Polychromos. If you want 100% lightfast, try the Derwent Lightfast line for an upgrade pick.

Of the six pencils I would recommend based on this test, two are wax based (Derwent Coloursoft and Prismacolor Premiers) and four also have oil in them (Caran D’Ache Pablo and Luminance, Derwent Lightfast, and Faber-Castell Polychromos).

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Testing Methodology

The first part of this test was deciding which pencils to test. My initial criteria was to look for pencils that have at least 72 colors in the line and are available for individual or open stock purchases. (As an artist, you know you’ll use certain colors more and it makes sense to be able to replace those as needed without buying a whole set.) From this initial criteria, I found 10 lines of pencils that met these qualifications. Next, I added Prismacolor Verithins to test as sort of detail pencil, and I also picked 4 well reviewed and popular student-grade lines for comparison to see if the artist grade pencils were really worth the extra expense. Next, I ordered all the pencils online to see if shipping would cause any problems with breakage. I tried to buy 24 count sets for comparison sake, but had to modify based on ability and how pencil sets are packaged.

After receiving the pencils, I made doodles and sketches, and sharpened the pencils by hand. I also researched manufacturers websites, read through reviews online, watched YouTube review videos, and also read customer comments on shopping websites. Finally, I made the color charts on white and black paper. While writing this review I was constantly going back to these notes, along with retesting each pencil to really understand the individual characteristics.

To my knowledge, this is the most comprehensive and exhaustive review of artist-grade colored pencils. There are many sites that review individual pencils, but this is a head-to-head review of high quality pencils with hands-on testing as opposed to sites that just reprint information they have found elsewhere.

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Summary

For this post, 15 colored pencils were tested to determine the best colored pencil for artists. After rigorous use and testing, reading reviews online, and comparing lightfastness and other product information, recommendations were made.

In the end, I would be comfortable recommending six different lines of artist-grade pencils. A combination of 2 or more of these lines will give you everything you need in the studio.

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Matisse on Drawing Trees

Study of a Tree, No. 19 by Henri Matisse, 1941

In a 1943 letter to the writer André Rouveyre on drawing trees, Henri Matisse outlined how he learned to draw with feeling rather than just observation. The letter begins with Matisse listing two ways of describing a tree:

1. by using the imitative drawing you learn in European art schools,

2. by using the impression suggested by the way you approach it and contemplate it.

Matisse continues:

Many times I have tried to draw trees and not succeeded. I started out by using imitation. No one ever encouraged me to go further down that route, because the result was always lifeless, and bore no relation to the feeling that had driven me to try and draw the tree. Then, when I only used my feelings and my emotions I was also so taken by the beauty of the trunk its power and its mystery, that I couldn’t get past the main branches.

Matisse then details how he was never satisfied with his drawings of trees, or that he was happy with the trunks but the branches and leaves were drawn as an afterthought, leading to an unsuccessful result. Then he writes:

Study of a Tree, No 3, 1941 by Henri Matisse.

So I had been constantly repulsed in my repeated attempts to study trees until a few months ago when, quite by chance, I took a pad of letter paper and tried to draw branches in leaf using the simplest means possible, and as the ink flowed from pen to paper, I saw the leaves take shape.

Using the simplest means possible, and not adding very many details such as veins, Matisse had found a way to draw trees that pleased him. This is decades into his career as an artist. Then he writes:

It’s rather like a juggler, who learns to juggle with two balls, and then moves up to 3, 4, 5, 6, and then adds a spoon, and his hat. You can’t work with nature until it has been filtered by your feelings.

This letter was republished in full in the wonderful book Matisse Cut-outs published by Taschen in 2014. It’s a large coffee table book with color and black and white reproductions throughout. It’s big, measuring 12 x 15 x 1.5 inches thick with 334 pages and weighs almost 8 pounds. In addition to letters and correspondence, it has sections on Matisse’s trip to Tahiti in the 1930s, studies for his mural The Dance, a section on his cutouts for Verve and Jazz, his Oceania cut outs, details on the planning and construction of the Rosary Chapel, and a final section on Matisse’s large gouache works. It’s truly a monumental publication that makes for an amazing coffee table book and presents Matisse’s work at a scale that really pops off the page.

Matisse Cut-outs
Taschen, cloth bound edition, 2014, 334 pages

Study of a Tree, No. 16 by Henri Matisse

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The Best Black Acrylic Gesso for Preparing Canvas

Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso is our top pick for its ultra-matte quality and affordable price.

The four black gessos tested: Blick, Golden, Liquitex, and Utrecht.

Black acrylic gesso provides a stable, flexible painting surface that is a complete contrast to a white gesso ground. Black gesso is also very opaque, allowing you to use it as a primer to cover up just about anything, and it will stick to a variety of surfaces including canvas, paper, wood, and more. Certain colors will change when painted on top of black gesso, especially transparent colors, but it also makes other colors really pop.

For this post, four black gessoes were tested and analyzed for ease of application, the matte or satin quality, and cost. All the gessoes were quite black, no questions there, but based on its ultra-matte quality and affordable price point, Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso was the top pick. This gesso was the most matte of the gessoes tested, which is a real plus.

The only drawback for the Utrecht Gesso was its gel-like nature (which can be fixed with a bit of water) but other gessoes each had their own features and attributes. A complete analysis and sample pictures follows, to help you choose the right black gesso for your studio.

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Table of Contents

• Top Pick: Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso

• Golden Black Gesso

• Liquitex Black Acylic Gesso

• Blick Artists’ Acrylic Gesso

• Testing Methodology and Images

• Tips for Applying and Working With Black Gesso

• Summary

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Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso

Utrecht Black Gesso is available in 16 and 32 oz sizes.

Utrecht Black Gesso is our top pick for a black acrylic gesso because of its ultra-matte quality and affordable price point. Of the gessoes tested, it was the most matte with a deep, flat-black surface that stayed completely matte even with 5 or 6 coats of gesso. And though this test did not include sanding in between coats, the gesso developed a relatively flat surface as layers built up.

Available in 16 or 32 oz jars, the gesso usually costs between $0.70 to $0.85 per ounce, making this the second cheapest black gesso tested. It’s a great deal for a top quality product.

There are two tradeoffs with this gesso: it’s gel-like quality and the limited availability of jar sizes. In multiple jars of this, I’ve always found it to have a gel-like quality right out of the jar that is a bit harder to use. Simply mix in a bit of water and you should be fine though. Regarding the jar size, the tall 32 oz jar is easy to store but it can be hard to get all the gesso out of the bottom. It would also be nice if it came in gallon buckets. But in reality, these are minor complaints because the ultra-matte results are what I’m looking for in a black gesso, and this is my go-to favorite.

About Utrecht: Founded in 1949 in Brooklyn, New York, Utrecht was one of the first manufacturers to develop acrylic gesso. Acquired by Blick in 2013, the products are still made in Brooklyn and are available online and at Blick stores in the U.S. They are not marketed this way, but I think of Utrecht as the premium “house brand” at Blick stores.

Utrecht Black Artists’ Acrylic Gesso sizes, typical price, and price per ounce:

• 16 oz, $13.34, $0.83 per ounce

• 32 oz, $22.06, $0.69 per ounce

Test images for Utrecht Black Acrylic Gesso:

In a simple test, Utrecht Black Gesso gave a ultra-matte, flat surface.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats. Utrecht Black Gesso stayed matte.

Angle view of the flat test.

Various acrylic paints on top of Utrecht Black Gesso.

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Golden Black Gesso

Golden Black Gesso is available in jars ranging from 8 to 128 ounces.

Golden Black Gesso was the second favorite gesso in the test. Available in jars ranging from 8 oz to 1 gallon, it’s a premium gesso that is easy to apply directly out of the jar and creates a slightly satin, deep-black surface. Although it is the most expensive option tested, Golden Black Gesso can be ordered in 1 gallon (128 oz) buckets that make it essentially the same price per ounce as the top pick.

The tradeoff with this gesso is that it is slightly satin. In testing, I found that both the Liquitex and Utrecht gessos were more matte than this gesso, especially the Utrecht. Some may find the slightly satin quality to be a drawback, but if you are planning to cover most or all of the gesso with paint, it won’t really matter much.

Available in 8 oz, 16 oz, 32 oz, and 128 oz (1 gallon), Golden Black Gesso ranges from $0.70 to $1.55 per ounce. The wide mouth jars are easy to use directly from the jar, or it can be poured out.

About Golden: Founded in 1980 but with a paint-making history that stretches back many more decades, Golden is known as one of the premier manufacturers of acrylic paint in the United States. Manufactured in upstate New York, the paints are widely available but for larger sizes you may need to order online.

Golden Black Gesso sizes, typical price, and price per ounce:

• 8 oz, $12.38, $1.55 per ounce

• 16 oz, $20.85, $1.30 per ounce

• 32 oz, $31.98, $1.00 per ounce

• 128 oz (1 Gallon), $90.01, $0.70 per ounce

Shop Golden Black Gesso at Amazon

Test images for Golden Black Gesso

In a simple test, Golden Black Gesso resulted in a slightly satin surface.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats of gesso.

Angle view of stripe test

Various acrylic paints over Golden Black Gesso.

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Liquitex Black Gesso

Liquitex Black Gesso in an 8 oz bottle.

Liquitex Black Gesso is a smooth flowing, easy-to-apply gesso that in testing came out the second most matte. Of the gessoes tested, it was also the most likely to build up some texture. Be sure to apply it evenly or sand between coats. For a black gesso, I’m looking for a matte surface so this was almost the second pick after the Utrecht, but the lack of sizes available and relatively high price are drawbacks for using this product.

This gesso is only available in 8 oz bottles with a squeeze dispenser. It’s not designed for using straight out of the jar but the squeeze function makes it easy to dispense, which may be helpful if you apply gesso with a foam roller. If you squeeze out too much, unscrew the top and use a palette knife to add it back to the jar.

About Liquitex: Founded in the U.S. in 1955, Liquitex was one of the earliest manufacturers of acrylic paints and continues to be an industry leader. Now owned by London, UK-based art supplier conglomerate Colart, Liquitex is manufactured in the UK, France and China. The bottle of black gesso I used indicated it was made in France. Liquitex also makes clear and neutral gray gesso.

Liquitex Black Gesso sizes, typical price, and price per ounce:

• 8 oz, $11.57, $1.45 per ounce

Shop Liquitex Black Gesso at Amazon

Test images for Liquitex Black Gesso

In a simple test, Liquitex Black Gesso resulted in a matte black surface.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats

Stripe test angle view

Various acrylic paints over Liquitex black gesso.

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Blick Artists’ Black Gesso

Blick Artists’ Black Gesso is available in 32oz widemouth jars.

Blick Artists’ Black Gesso is a solid, dependable black gesso that is very economical and resulted in a satin surface. Although I prefer the ultra-matte surface of the Utrecht Black Gesso, especially where the gesso will be exposed, the Blick gesso is a good option too.

As can be expected from a house brand, it has a few tradeoffs: It is not as smooth and flowing as the Golden or Liquitex Gessos. You may find that you’ll need to add water to get this to brush or roll on. And as mentioned, it is more satin than the matte Utrecht gesso. This gesso is also available in just one size, an economical 32 oz wide-mouth jar that typically costs about $0.60 per ounce, making this the most affordable gesso tested.

I’ve used this gesso and to be honest, I don’t mind the satin quality for certain paintings but my taste is usually to go with the most matte gesso I can find. It’s hard to see in the pictures below and I hope this makes sense: but it’s on the less satin side of things. It’s still completely opaque and one coat will usually cover up anything below it.

About Blick: Founded in 1911, Blick is one of the largest art suppliers in the country. The house brand paints and materials are often of a high quality, although they have a bit of a confusing array of different levels of house brands. This is the only black gesso they make, however, and it is manufactured in the U.S.

Blick Artists’ Acrylic Black Gesso sizes, typical price, and price per ounce:

• 32 oz, $19.14, $0.60 per ounce

Test Images for Blick Artists’ Black Gesso

In a simple test, the Blick Artists’ Black Gesso resulted in the most satin surface of gesso tested.

Stripe test from top: 1 coat, 2 coats, 3 coats

Angle view of stripe test

Various acrylic colors painted over the Blick Artists’ Black Gesso

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Testing Methodology and Images

1. Stripe / Coat Test

The first test involved painting one, two, and three coats of gesso on to stretched, unprimed, 12 oz cotton duck canvas. The gesso was used directly from the jar without mixing with water, and the coats were allowed to dry completely before another coat was applied. It may be more easy to see in the angled images, but Utrecht was the most matte, the Blick was the most satin, and Golden and Liquitex were in the middle of that range.

Click any image below to see larger images. The top line is a single coat of gesso, middle is two coats, and the bottom has three coats. Images are in alphabetical order by manufacturer

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Stripe / coat test angle view. This may better show the differences in satin or matte qualities of the various gessos. Click to enlarge.

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2. Flat Square Test

After the coat test, an additional three coats of gesso were applied to the same area of canvas. In between the previous stripes you will see areas of 3 coats, while the other areas now had 4, 5 or 6 coats of gesso. This is probably an extreme amount of gesso, but it was a further indicator of how the satin or matte qualities of the gesso would develop with more coats.

The most notable thing in this test was that the Liquitex stripes had built up a bit of texture where a bead built up from painting and it dried upraised, which was only exacerbated by more coats. While no sanding was used in this testing, a simple light sanding can fix any problems with texture, especially if you want an ultra-smooth surface. (My preference is for a flat surface with a bit of tooth, so I usually try to avoid having to sand.)

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3. Color Test

Finally, various acrylic paints were tested on top of each black gesso. There was not a big variation in the results here, although the Golden and Utrecht gessoes seemed to provide a more smooth surface for painting. But it was just a very slight difference.

From top to bottom, the tested paints included: NovaColor Hot Pink; Liquitex Neon Pink Acrylic Gouache, Utrecht Studio Series Medium Yellow, Blickrylic Neon Yellow, and Blick Matte Acrylic Dark Blue Light.

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Tips for Applying and Working with Black Gesso

Gesso is a primer or ground that both protects your painting substrate and creates a suitable painting surface. It must be used if you are working with oil paints, as those will eventually eat through and destroy unprimed canvas. If you are working with acrylics, you can paint directly on to canvas or other surfaces, but you may find that a gesso provides a matte, even surface that makes it easier to apply other layers. Here’s a few tips:

Water down your gesso

Although the test above did not employ this, it’s often a good idea to thin your first layer of gesso with water. This helps the gesso get into every nook and cranny of canvas and really begin to get a good seal. The second and third layers of gesso (and fourth if desired) will result in an even surface.

Brush or Roll — your choice

Some apply gesso with a foam roller, while other brush. It’s really up to you. Either way has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are worried about any texture building up, use a sanding block and medium grit sandpaper (around 150 or so) to sand each layer after it dries. If you want a really smooth surface, you can keep sanding and applying layers, and move towards using finer and finer sandpapers.

Cover up other paintings

Black gesso is especially effective at covering up anything below it, often with just one coat. Use it to cover other acrylic paintings so you can start fresh. But keep in mind, acrylic should not be used on top of oil paint as that will cause problems and degradation down the road.

Make colors pop

Certain paints, such as neons, yellows, and bright blues, can really pop when you put them on a black ground. Other colors, such as transparent colors, can really sink in and be hard to see. It’s best to test things out and see how your favorite colors change or not.

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Summary

This post included a test of four different black gessoes, including Blick, Golden, Liquitex, and Utrecht. All the gessoes resulted in a deep black ground, and they are very opaque. The Golden and Liquitex gessoes were the most fluid and easy to apply; the Blick was the most economical and also the most satin; and the Utrecht was the top pick because of its ultra-matte, even surface and relatively affordable price.

Black gesso is an interesting option that can really mix things up in your studio. Do you have a favorite black gesso? Let us know in the comments.

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