Colored Pencils for Adults

Colored Pencils for Adults


Are you looking for the best coloring pencils for adults?

Check out the top 5 recommendations, perfect for use in adult coloring books:

You’re a grown adult, you have a little bit of time to spare and you want to get the most out of it. Be it anadult coloring book or just coloring in general, you want to make sure you use the best products while you’re doing it.

This guide will cover all sorts of colored pencil sets and types for your convenience saving you time and effort. We’ll help you find a good set of colored pencils so you can focus on ‘doing’ your hobby instead.

While there are no such things as specifically adult coloring pencils exclusively, we will be talking about some in that context as this list is catered to the adults and discuss some of the best adult coloring pencils.

The goal of this guide is to evaluate some of the best value-for-money colored pencils and some features that are crucial and will come in handy when you work with your next adult coloring book.

So sit tight, hang on till the end of the review guide to find out some of the best-coloured pencils for adults.


01) Caran d’Ache : Pablo Coloured Pencil

Set of 120

Holbein Artist Colored Pencil Set main image

Features:

  • Set of 120
  • Applicable on a variety of surfaces
  • Exceptional coverage
  • Comes in a very attractive tin box

Description:

The Caran D’ache Pablo coloured pencils have some of the best coloured pencils in the market. Akin to the Caran D’ache luminance pencils these are just as good for colouring books.

While these get the job done really well if you want more vibrant colors and intense pigments you can try their luminance pencils.  Both sets will go great on your adult coloring book paper as they never let down in terms of value-for-money, providing great fun and enjoyment whilst drawing.

Pros
  • Great quality pencils for colouring books
  • Versatile colour pencil set with many shades
  • Wax-based colour pencil cores
Cons
  • Slightly pricier than other colored pencil sets

Review:

Caran D’ache is known for manufacturing some of the best coloured pencils, art supplies for all purposes.

Overall, this set is great if you want a very versatile selection of colored pencils for both coloring books and other uses.


02) Holbein Artist Colored Pencil Set

150 colors + wooden box set

Holbein Artist Colored Pencil main image

Features:

  • Set of 150
  • Wooden carry box
  • Professional pencils for coloring books and other purposes
  • Hard pencils
  • Zero wax bloom

Description:

Holbein is known for providing professional pencils for all sorts of artists for a very long time making them an extremely reliable brand for coloured pencils for coloring and art supplies.

In this colored pencil set, you are getting 150 high-quality break-resistant pencils for your coloring needs, covering every single color you could possibly need all within the one storage box.

Pros
  • Will be able to retain a very fine point upon sharpening with break-resistant lead
  • Versatile selection of colour
  • Blendable with blending pencils
Cons
  • Slightly expensive

Review:

Holbein is up there with Sennelier pastels when it comes to art supplies or any art-related product be it coloured pencils for adult coloring or pastels and these break-resistant lead pencils don’t disappoint

Overall, a great purchase as you’re given all the colours and hues you would need to complete your art projects.


03) KALOUR 180 Colored Pencil Set for Adults

Artists – Rich Pigment Soft Core -12 Metallic Pencil – Wax-Based – Ideal for Coloring Drawing Sketching Shading Blending – Vibrant Color Pencil in Tin Case

KALOUR 180 Colored Pencil main image

Features:

  • Set of 180
  • Comes in a large metallic box
  • Soft core leads
  • Huge range of colours and hues

Description:

The Kalour 180 set of coloured pencils for adult coloring books and general art is a ginormous set. The set containing a whopping 180 pieces of pencils containing 12 metallic pencils can finish even the largest of coloring books.

Worry not about the blending pencil and get to work with the extra pencils for adult coloring books and have a blast during your leisurely hours. This set is surely set to give you the best time for you and your coloring book. The softcore pencils are extremely blendable and easy to shade. You getting this set at the price offered is amazing.

Pros
  • No wax bloom
  • Versatile selection of coloured pencils
  • Easy to sharpen
Cons
  • May have quality-related issues if not received from a reliable vendor

Review:

The Kalour set will easily accompany you in taking on even the most daunting coloring book without even breaking a sweat. The set features an enormous collection of coloured pencils for adult abstract coloring books.

Overall, one of the best coloured pencils sets on the list in terms of affordability and quantity offered. Definitely worth consideration.


04) H&B Professional Coloured Pencil Set

With Case, Sharpener and Notebook

H&B Professional Coloured Pencil Set main image

Features:

  • Set of 76
  • 72 vivid colored pencils for colouring books and various other purposes
  • Sharpener case and notebook provided
  • Oil-based

Description:

The H&B Professional colored pencil set is a set crafted for artists across all levels of experience. It is by no means of course bound to artists but has pencils for colouring books as well.

The set features various equipment for you to get coloring or drawing right away such as a sharpener and notebook paper saving you the hassle of sourcing some for yourself.

Pros
  • High-quality pigments
  • Vibrant pigment
  • Soft core pencils
Cons
  • It may be too soft for some people’s liking

Review:

You can stop worrying about wax bloom as the H&B set has only oil-based colored pencils. This makes them a strong contender for one of the best colouring pencils sets for artists and hobby color book users.

Overall a great set of colouring pencils containing highly pigmented products for adults in terms of quality for money. If you are more into oil-based pencils this set is a no-brainer.


05) Mitsubishi Pencil Uni Colored Pencils

100 Colors Set

Mitsubishi Pencil Uni Colored Pencils main image

Features:

  • Set of 100
  • Comes in a functional storage case
  • High color saturation
  • Wide range of colours and hues

Description:

The Mitsubishi Pencil Uni colored pencils are as popular as Crayola colored pencils in the world of art supplies. Thus, making them easily reliable and easy to count on while investing a hefty amount of money in.

The set features 100 colors that are vibrant and rich in saturation. It has lovely functional storage, carry case ensuring safekeeping for all of your pencils.

Pros
  • Amazing coverage for your drawing needs
  • Versatile colour selection
  • Decent colour count
  • No signs of wax bloom
Cons
  • The carry case is perhaps a little too hefty

Review:

With all that being said there’s very little wrong and many rights about the Mitsubishi Pencils set making them one of the best colored pencils for adults and artists.

Overall, a brilliant purchase if you want a huge amount of colored pencils for a great budget.


General Information About Colored Pencils For Adults

The Different Types of Colored Pencils

To discern between the different types of colored pencils and choosing the best colored pencils for your taste would be checking which texture and pigment you prefer. From Arteza colored pencils to prismacolor colored pencils the choices are vast, offering ranges that focus on many factors including soft lead, stay sharp, shading capability as well as the colour and hues.

Whether you like bright colors or muted and subtle pigmentation depends on which type of pencil you pick and choose.

There are three main types of colored pencils for adults:

Wax-based pencils

Colored pencils are kind of like pastels where they are soft and easily blendable. This gives you a fun and creamy finish while working with such pencils.

Oil-based pencils

Oil-based pencils are harder than wax and leave you with no worries about wax blooming and other issues you would find in the former type. Great for fine lines and detailing and layering colors.

Watercolour pencils

 Watercolour pencils are the most accessible and super easy to work with.  Just draw on paper and smudge it with water and you are set. In the world of pencils, these are considered one of the best colored pencils bar-none when it comes to useability.

Things to Consider when choosing colouring pencils:

Are the Colored Pencils Easy to Blend and why is this important?

Depends on the medium of the lead inside the pencils. It is actually crucial depending whether you want to layer or blend colors if you want a specific shade for your color.

Are the Pencils Lightfast and if so what are the benefits?

 Most pencils are lightfast. The benefits entail colors on the surfaces to last longer even when exposed to light for long periods of time. UV protection is crucial in bright conditions.


Conclusion / Roundup

If you want to get your hands on the best colored pencils in the market, the best place to start would be this review guide. We have curated some of the highest-rated pencils and evaluated both pros and cons for your convenience and ease.

Best to keep an open mind while picking and choosing as a good deal of trial and error might be needed while trying to find the right fit for you.

…and if you’re new to all of this, simply make a start today and unleash that inner artist.


FAQs

How many coloured pencils do I need?

Having a sufficient set of a dozen pencils or more at least would be great. To be in the optimal range for abstract coloring would have to amount to a dozen pencils per color for shading and gradient-ing your colors.

What are the best colored pencils?

Most of what is the best were mentioned in this list and the best for you may vary with usage and what you personally prefer.

Other honourable mentions are the black widow’s colored pencils, arteza colored pencils, prismacolor colored pencils and Derwent Inktense pencils for coloring. Not much reviewing is needed for these couples as they are easily affordable and great within the budget if you are tight on budget.


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Written By Adam Rushton

Adam has made a name for himself in the illustration industry and is a passionate blogger and writer on the subject of art, illustration and graphic design.

His artwork has been featured in countless publications and used for very well-known media projects. As a professional illustrator for over 20 years, Adams media outlets, a wealth of knowledge, and experience enable him to consult and advise artists and illustrators in this country (from York and Manchester to Southampton and London) and all over the world.


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