Coloured pencils are among the most versatile and accessible drawing materials. They can be used for children’s artwork, school projects, adult colouring, illustration, portraits, botanical studies and carefully layered professional drawings.
Choosing the right set involves more than comparing the number of colours or the price. Core firmness, pigment performance, layering capacity, lightfastness and paper texture all influence the result.
Some pencils are designed for frequent school use, while others are made for hobby artists or experienced illustrators who need precise colour control and consistent layering.
This guide explains how to choose coloured pencils according to the user, technique and type of artwork.
Which Coloured Pencils Do You Need?A simple starting point is to consider how the pencils will be used:
School coloured pencils are designed for frequent colouring, classroom work and creative activities at home.
Useful qualities include:
Carioca Tita Resin pencils are a practical option for children, students and frequent creative use.
Product page:
https://aristidou.gr/products/xylompogies-carioca-tita-resin
For a complete children’s drawing set, combine them with a suitable drawing pad, sharpener, eraser and pencil case.
Artist pencils are intended for users who want greater control over colour, detail and layering.
Depending on the range, they may offer:
A beginner does not necessarily need the largest professional set. A carefully selected range of 24 or 36 colours can cover many subjects while helping the user learn how colours interact.
Two sets containing the same number of pencils can perform very differently.
A softer core usually provides stronger colour more quickly and makes it easier to cover larger areas.
A firmer core may offer greater control for:
The right choice depends on your style. Illustration and precise work may benefit from a firmer core, while colouring and broader areas may feel easier with a softer application.
Colour intensity should not depend only on heavy pressure.
A good coloured pencil allows the artist to develop colour gradually with light layers. This produces greater depth and keeps the paper texture available for further work.
Pencil cores may break after being dropped, sharpened with a worn blade or used with excessive pressure.
Core durability is particularly important for school use and pencils that are carried frequently.
Some artist ranges allow users to replace only the colours they use most often.
This can be useful for portrait artists, botanical illustrators and anyone who regularly uses particular greens, earth tones, skin colours or neutral shades.
Oil-based coloured pencils are often selected for detailed drawing, illustration and artwork requiring controlled layers.
Faber-Castell Polychromos are available in sets and individual colours, making them suitable for artists who want to build a personalised palette.
They can be used for:
Explore the range:
https://aristidou.gr/products/faber-castell-polychromos-xylompogies-ladiou-metalliki-thiki
Individual colours:
https://aristidou.gr/products/polychromos-xylompogia-faber-castell
Pair artist pencils with lightly textured drawing paper, a reliable sharpener and a precision eraser.
Watercolour pencils can be used dry or activated with water.
You can draw in the same way as with a standard coloured pencil, then use a damp brush to dissolve the marks and create washes.
They are useful for:
Faber-Castell Colour Grip Watercolour pencils support both dry drawing and water-soluble techniques.
Product page:
https://aristidou.gr/products/faber-castell-colour-grip-watercolour-coloured-pencils
Use watercolour or mixed-media paper when applying water. Ordinary drawing paper may buckle or weaken.
A 12-colour set is suitable for:
A smaller selection encourages beginners to build new shades through layering.
A 24-colour set provides useful variety without becoming difficult to manage.
It is suitable for:
The Van Gogh Colour Pencils Set of 24 in a metal tin provides an organised palette for users who want a broader selection.
Product page:
https://aristidou.gr/products/van-gogh-colour-pencils-set-24-metalliki-thiki
Larger sets provide:
A larger set is convenient, but it cannot replace good technique and suitable paper.
For coloured pencils, choose lightly textured paper with a fine or medium grain.
A subtle texture holds pigment and allows several layers to be built. At the same time, it remains refined enough for controlled details.
This is suitable for:
The fine grain holds colour while allowing the pencil to create precise marks.
This works well for:
The more noticeable texture can become part of the visual character of the finished drawing.
When water is involved, choose:
Lightly textured watercolour paper is a practical option because it holds the dry pencil marks before they are activated with water.
Explore drawing pads and sketchbooks:
https://aristidou.gr/products/mplok-zografikis
Layering means applying several light applications of colour.
For greater control:
Heavy pressure during the first layer fills the paper texture too quickly and makes further colour more difficult to apply.
Coloured pencils can be blended using:
For example, a leaf can be developed with yellow, light green, dark green and a small amount of blue rather than a single green pencil.
This produces greater depth and a more natural result.
A good sharpener affects both drawing accuracy and pencil life.
Look for:
Hold the sharpener firmly and rotate the pencil with a controlled movement.
When a core breaks repeatedly, check the sharpener blade and whether the pencil has previously been dropped.
Coloured pencil cannot always be removed completely, particularly after heavy pressure.
Useful options include:
Corrections are easier when colour has been applied in light layers.
A large, inexpensive set is not automatically more useful than a smaller, carefully selected range.
Strong pressure fills the grain of the paper and limits further layering.
Paper with insufficient texture may not hold several layers. An excessively rough surface can make small details difficult.
For a balanced result, use lightly textured paper with a fine or medium grain.
Water should only be used with pencils specifically described as water-soluble.
A blunt blade can repeatedly break the pencil core and waste material.
Paper, sharpening, erasing and drawing technique all influence the finished result.
Choose durability, comfortable handling and a practical basic colour range.
Carioca Tita Resin pencils are suitable for frequent use.
A 24-colour set offers variety without becoming overwhelming.
Combine it with a sketchbook made from lightly textured drawing paper and a quality sharpener.
Choose watercolour pencils, watercolour or mixed-media paper and a brush with good water control.
Consider an artist range such as Polychromos when controlled layering, detail and a broad palette are priorities.
A complete coloured-pencil kit may include:
A set of 12 or 24 colours is enough for early exercises, basic colour mixing and learning how to build layers.
Choose lightly textured paper with a fine or medium grain. It holds pigment, supports layering and remains suitable for controlled details.
Standard coloured pencils are used dry. Watercolour pencils can be activated with water to create washes and fluid transitions.
They are worthwhile when you need greater control over detail, layering, colour selection and artwork permanence. They are not essential for basic school colouring.
Common causes include dropping the pencil, using a worn sharpener, aggressive sharpening or applying excessive pressure.
No. Water should only be used with pencils specifically described as water-soluble or watercolour pencils.
158 KORINTHOU ST., PATRAS | Our website is updated daily with NEW products. Stay tuned!!!
Γεια σας! Είμαι ο Γιάννης και μπορώ να σας βοηθήσω να βρείτε το κατάλληλο προϊόν, να απαντήσω σε απορίες ή να σας καθοδηγήσω στην παραγγελία σας.💁
