The artist has numerous arrows in her quiver when it comes to selecting the medium in which to practice her art. For the illustrator, the arrow of choice is the colored pencil, owing to its ready availability, portability, relatively low cost, and the range of artistic purposes with which colored pencils can be put to use. Indeed, when applied correctly in the hands of a talented artist, colored pencil drawings can take on the luster, color, and beauty of a painting. But what makes a good color pencil?
Just as all types of arrows have their uses and characteristics, so too do colored pencils deserve a closer look because not all color pencils are the same. As such, when picking the out the ideal color pencils for your next art project, always keep in mind that you need to buy the correct color pencil to achieve the artistic effect you were seeking.
The Importance of Pigment
While the origins of colored pencils are somewhat ambiguous, by the first quarter of the 20th-century their use saw widespread adoption by professional artists. At its core, colored pencils are simply wooden shafts filled with a colored pigment. This pigment is held together with a binder that when spread over a surface transfers the color to the medium. It is these binders that determine how a pencil performs on a given surface area. The three most popular types of bindings used in color pencils include wax, oil, and water-soluble based pigments.
Wax pigment—using wax to bind pigments allows for the creation of either hard or soft pencil core. The core is the colored part of the pencil. Wax provides excellent coverage however; it shows a predilection towards quicker wear, breakage, and the leaving of debris. Additionally, wax usage produced a bloom, which is a coating of powdery film that mars the composition after the color’s application.
Oil-based pigment—somewhat harder than wax-based color pencils, vegetable oil based pigment hold together better, and these pencils exhibit a longer life span as a result. Further, for those struggling with the “bloom effect” of wax-based colored pencils, their oil-based counterparts eliminate that problem.
Water-Soluble pigment—in truth, owing to the unique characteristics of the water-soluble colored pencil, some are loathe placing this type of pencil in the same category as their wax and oil-based compatriots. What separates this last category is the addition of an emulsifier that allows the pigment to be liquefied thus achieving a watercolor effect.
Blending in with Color Pencils
One of the reasons that artist favor the use of color pencils is the wide range of applications that can be mastered with their usage. Two popular techniques that are utilized with colored pencils is layering and burnishing.
Layering—typically used in the beginning stages of a composition, layering requires the patient, gradual application of tones that are built up using numerous layers of primary colors. This technique exposes the tooth of the paper and generally results in a fuzzy and grainy finish.
Burnishing—once a drawing has already been layered, artists will frequently decide to burnish the artistic piece. Burnishing is a technique in which a colorless blender is firmly applied to the picture, and the effort produces a shiny surface that bites deeply into the surface of the paper.
The myriad of creative options that colored pencils afford the enterprising artist ensures that their popularity within the art world, begun a mere century ago, will continue to remain a favorite of both student and professional artists alike.
You really didn’t discuss the topic or topics of your article.
If you only intended to address pigment; then how can you tell which pencil has the best pigment? What makes the best pigment? What pigment gives the most intensity? What brands are known for the best pigments. How does one judge pigment?
I am constantly buying colored pencils, hoping to find ones that lay the color down smoothly, and with an intensity that allows me to reach the color desired. Instead I find pencils that after layering, never reach the color of the core.
If one wanted to use the water-colored pencils…again the difficulty is finding a pencil that will easily and efficiently develop color intensity, and allow a good wash effect. (I am not an artist, so I may not be using the correct terms.)
Also, the first part of your article’s title is: What makes a good colored pencil? If you go beyond the fact that there are wax, oil, and water-soluble based pigments in colored pencils…what else is important in choosing colored pencils?
– Why does the core keep breaking?
– Is there any toxicity concern?
– What about resistance to sunlight, and fading?
There are probably other issues, that since I am not a professional or trained, haven’t occurred to me.
Thank you.