What are your favorite Pencils to work with? [Archive]

Buttercup

03-05-2005, 07:53 AM

Prismacolors are wonderful of course, I didn't think I'd try anything else but a couple of weeks ago I tried the Caran D'Ache Pablo cp's and they're fantastic pencils! I really like how they feel and the colors are as rich as Prisma's. They're a bit more expensive, so for now I ordered some of their greens and browns, they have some wonderful colors, I think I'm going to get some of their blues as well until I can afford a full set. I wish Dick Blick would have them in open stock.
I've also tried Faber-Castell Polychromos cp's and they are also nice, it sounds like I need to try the Van Gogh's next :D

Denise

03-05-2005, 09:40 AM

so far i have only used prismas...but i'm planning on buying some van gogh's to try

denise

Arlene

03-05-2005, 09:43 AM

I like the pablos also and I loved the brunzyeels but they're being discontinued. :crybaby:

lene

03-05-2005, 09:53 AM

Hi
I like to try many different medias so I've got:
My 5 favorites are Karisma (Prismacolors in US), FaberCastell Polychromos, Derwent Artist + Studio, Talens VanGogh (problem with the last that I can only get them in assorted boxes). I think each of these brands has good and bad things about them and most important: the difference in hues.
I'm not very fond of these 2: Koh-i-noor Polycolor and Bruynzeel Design Fullcolor - both too soft and crumbling for my taste
Staedtler Ergosoft I can also just get in assort.boxes and would not stick to them either I think
Stabilo Swann I use a few colors of those

When I get the "time" (looking in my purse :annoyed: ) I would love to try out the Lyra Rembrandt and Caran d Ache Pablos.

I often mix the different brands, with more or less easiness. I'm rather concerned about the rumors saying that Karisma might stop production in UK, colors like 996 - 914 - 937 - 1012 + the aquacolors I have not yet found in other brands. Well, hope some other company takes over otherwise I guess the US artsupplies will have many European orders coming in soon :rolleyes:

larsnip

03-05-2005, 01:03 PM

I use Polychromos and Prismacolors,
I use Prismacolors because #1 I have so many of them, #2 because I think they have the softest and smoothest texture, #3 because they are the most available.
I also have the most trouble with them, The leads break constantly, I sometimes can go thru a pencil in an hour :annoyed: I have to buy colors I'm using 4 or 5 at a time :( it can get expensive. Also I sometimes find inconsistencies in the colors, chips of pigment an stuff. I really think the are the least in quality, but I use them mostly because they are easy to get and if I have momentum going that can be important.
I think Polychromos are the highest in quality but they are alittle harder than Prismas since they are oil based and they produce dust which I find annoying. Stores around here carry a very limited supply of them and I am to darn lazy to by stuff on the internet, it requires to much planning. :rolleyes:
Ive tryed Derwents but theres something about their texture and flow that I do not like, I have some but never use them
I will have to check out van gogh's, do they have a thinner lead, then say, prismas?

Dave

Bill C

03-05-2005, 05:49 PM

only prismas so far, want to try so wc pencils eventually.

Gemma

03-06-2005, 02:10 AM

Prismas, Derwent Studios, Lyra, Poly Chromos.

sassybird

03-06-2005, 01:52 PM

I haven't tried to Van Gogh's, but if you like them then I probably would too. I have used prismacolors for 25 years back when they were called spectracolor.

Elankat

03-06-2005, 07:58 PM

I use a mix of Prismas, Pablos, and Polychromos. I love Prismas, but the issues with lightfastness & quality (same issues as Dave with chips of pigment, etc.) made me move on to other brands for a lot of colors.

ann_aurora

03-06-2005, 08:51 PM

I use Prismas almost exclusively because they're what I started with, and I haven't had much reason to change. I've tried Derwents--buying a few once in a while--and find I don't like them. They don't glide on as smoothly as the Prismas, and the colours don't seem as strong and clear to me. I'd like to try the Van Goghs, but they're not available in open stock in Canada, so I'll wait until I'm on a bit of a spree and can order them from the US.

Nancy

03-06-2005, 09:31 PM

So far I've only used Prismas, and some wc pencils. I'd love to try others, but I'd rather put my money into trying new paper right ow than new pencils. Eventually I'll try different pencils - if i ever have the money. :rolleyes:

Donna

03-08-2005, 03:30 PM

I use maily Prisma but have a set of Caran d'Ache (love them) but have to order those from the U.S. Have also used Bruynzeel. Would love to try the Van Gogh but have no idea if they are available in Canada. Anyone know?

Donna

Belinda

03-08-2005, 04:39 PM

i use prismacolours... i tried a couple of derwents (cause they had colours that werent available in the prismas ... but i didnt like them )

i went to the art shop yesterday and asked whether they had heard of van gogh, while she said it sounded familiar she didnt really know of any... so i dont think we can get them down here in australia....

kimo

03-08-2005, 05:21 PM

My favorite is the Polychromos on hot press WC paper. I also use Prismas and Derwent. Anyone know what the lightfastness of the Polychromos pencils are? I really have to get a membership to the CPSA so I can get that book on CP lightfastness!

one who sees

03-08-2005, 07:14 PM

i just checked to make sure...and they used to be known..eh..many moons ago as berol prismacolor..but i guess they are now known as sanford berol prismacolors...
would love to try polychromos....but eh...funds prevent that! and they arent available at my local art hang out..
:)

Feathers

03-09-2005, 07:43 AM

I'm using Prismacolor, which I started out with years ago, and recently added Polychromos which I do like a lot. Just got a set of Derwent Signature, which I ordered because of the lightfast qualities, but am not happy with the way they work.(Maybe I should try them again)--My husband asks if I "have enough pencils yet?"-(LOL! :D )-Anna

one who sees

03-09-2005, 09:08 AM

lol anna? never enough.. my hubby knows when i get to my favorite art store? i am going to be coming home with at least five more .....
they have em set up to buy as singles..and even if i cant find a new color..i keep backing up my old colors.. :D
i think its the waxy feel of the sanford prismacolor that i like the best...
i have a set of derwent wcp.....but i really dont like the hardness of the leads..

i had thought of trying pastel pencils..but its just one more medium to experiment with someday.. :p

Feathers

03-09-2005, 10:19 PM

My husband is getting the picture already--that's why he keeps asking! :D
Of course he's pretty used to my art supply orders after all these years.-Ha!
He may suspect that I have my eye on watercolor pencils next :D -Anna.

lene

05-09-2005, 02:41 PM

I will have to check out van gogh's, do they have a thinner lead, then say, prismas?

Dave

yes, I find they sharpen thinner than prismacolors. And they have quite a different "feeling" - I find it very hard to describe the way different pencils are to handle :clown2: :( They do not crumble like prismacolors/Karisma and Bruynzeels does, even they are wax-based)

Daniel Street

05-09-2005, 08:27 PM

I ONLY use Prismacolors [ I now have about 2500 color pencils, and still collecting ] Prisma works great with my stubbs and non-lotion toilet paper [white only] They also work great with my Blending Pencils and blend into each other with no problem.THANK GOD FOR PRISMA.

DANIEL STREET :)

callisto

05-10-2005, 05:40 AM

hi,
i use Derwent, Karisma, Polichromos

Katydid

06-11-2005, 01:44 PM

I like the pablos also and I loved the brunzyeels but they're being discontinued. :crybaby:
hope it is ok to put in a link - guess I am about to find out :o
http://www.fineartstore.com/cgistore/store.cgi?lr=50&page=/new/catalog.html&setup=1&ida=7560&his=0|4994&cart_id=2151794.4348

You can still get som individual colors here.

oozoo

06-11-2005, 04:52 PM

http://www.jerrysartarama.com/art-supply-stores/online/646 also has Pablo's for around $1.45...so they're not much more expensive than Prismas, depending on where you buy and how many. I like the Pablos much better for several reasons...They are a little softer and creamier, but the leads are stronger, and I tend to use a lot of pressure (trying to learn to go light so I can do the compliment underpainting) My pencil sharperner makes a needle sharp point and the tip of the point breaks off on my Prismas. Also, the Pablos are less dusty. I have a very soft 4" paintbrush for brushing off the dust, but I don't really need it with the Pablos. Also, the Pablos have better browns, and dark greens, as well as some other great colors that you don't find in Prismas. BUT....Prismas have better greys, especially the french greys, and they're cheaper and more accessible. My favorite art store sells the full spectrum open stock for about $1.05 each. So I can go through them without worrying about how to replace them.
I am debating on one more set of cp...either Polychromos or Van Gogh...I know a few of you have tried each. Van Gogh I can't find open stock anywhere, but I like the lightfastness, and the packaging (I love gadgets!!) Polychromos were highly recommended to me by another artist, who said they were similiar in quality to the Pablos, plus I can get them open stock locally. What do you guys think??

Arlene

06-11-2005, 10:34 PM

funny about that because i find the pablos not softer and creamier but harder which makes them great for underpainting. also I can't get the richness of color with the pablos like i do with the prismacolors or the brunzyeels.

oozoo

06-11-2005, 10:48 PM

Hmmm....maybe it's the difference in pressure...I'm about to test the samples I just got from Artpaper and I'm going to experiment with compliments and a light touch at the same time. I'll try it with the Pablos.

one who sees

06-12-2005, 07:11 PM

well i got to admit that i dont have a problem with breaking..but i tend to use pretty light layers for quite awhile until achieving quite a few layers...

passing on a tip i just found out...
i too tend to use a brush to rid the paper of some of the lil debris that happens..but even when you are careful that can cause a ~streak~ of color to happen..unfortunately........i have now found out when i use a lil swatch of my felt...which i sometimes use to lightly go over the work to add more layers when its refusing to....that if i just wave that over the paper lightly to rid it of the lil bits? i dont get any streaks.....the soft felt just whisks those lil buggers away!.. :clap:

oozoo

06-13-2005, 01:01 AM

I have a big, soft paint brush for that purpose, and haven't had any problems with streaking since I started using it. But I am still debating....Polychromos or Van Gogh? Have any of you used both, and developed a preference?

gnu

06-13-2005, 02:25 AM

I used to use Faber Castell, then progressed to Polychromos, still use them, but I LOVE prismacolours..I had better, I have a NEW 120 pencil set! (not even slightly tested yet! ) I'm being VERY good and waiting till I finish my current project, started ages ago, I will post once a few more layers down, it's a circulism technique.
I'm sure I tried some "Caran d'Arch in the local art shop and talk about DIVINE!! even softer than Prismas, boy making a mistake with them would be sooo easy..
Daniel I am going to try your technique sometime, it is impressive for soft effects..
Gill

Bob Ebdon

06-13-2005, 06:09 AM

I use Karisma, which I am gradually replacing with Prismacolor. It's not a rumour Lene, it is a definite fact that Karismas stopped being made on Jan 1st this year. I have it in writing form the sales Dept of Berol. What is in stores now is all there is, and it is going fast round here. But I find I can get the Prismas from the US without too much bother, and actually cheaper than Karisma. I also have full sets of Caran d'Ache Supracolor Soft (w/sol), Lyra Rembrandt Polycolour, Faber Castell Polychromos, Derwent Artist, Derwent Studio, Derwent Signature, Derwent Drawing, Derwent Signature Watersoluble, Stabilo Softcolour, Berol Verithin, and some odds and sods of others. If it comes in a box I have it, just about! I haven't tried Talens Van Gogh or CdA Pablo, but would like to.

Favourites? I started with Derwent, so was used to them before I discovered Karisma/Prisma. I don't find them as difficult to use as some of you do, and there are many colours in there, esp greens and browns, that Prisma do not give you. I also like the Polychromos a lot, so I usually have three boxes open beside me and pick and mix. The only ones I have not got on with are the Signature dry - the Signature w/sol are wonderful, but they did not get the dry ones right at all.

Anyone tried Cd'A Museum? A set of 24 cores that go into a mechanical pencil? They are sipposed to be good, and the price they go for is astronomical, but I can't really see me changing cores every time I want a different colour!

oozoo

06-13-2005, 11:27 AM

I've never even seen those!! Caran D'Ache isn't sold very much in the US. The ones I have are the Pablos.

Jeannette

03-31-2008, 06:36 PM

Hi! Arlene, I'm really enjoying your new book, lots of info. I took your workshop at the Carriage Factory Gallery in Newton, KS....gosh...2 or 3 years ago...or..maybe longer. We did lots of peppers. Question: In your book you list the colors to be used in each demo. I understand that PC is Prismacolor Pencils, but what brand of pencil is LF? I just can't figure that one out, and did I miss reading what LF meant? Thanks from a great teacher.
Jeannette Seger (Newton, KS)

bmac

03-31-2008, 06:49 PM

I understand that PC is Prismacolor Pencils, but what brand of pencil is LF? I just can't figure that one out, and did I miss reading what LF meant? Thanks from a great teacher.
Prismacolor Lightfast (LF)

bedrosian

03-31-2008, 07:32 PM

I like Prismacolors and FaberCastell Polychromos. I started using Prismas, so I am more used to the colors. However, I use Polychromos when I know I'll be burnishing a lot and don't want to deal with wax bloom.

Debbie Sue

03-31-2008, 09:32 PM

I'm fairly new to cp's and have started out with the Prismacolors. I'm hoping to try other pencils one of these days.

Granny

03-31-2008, 10:01 PM

I'm rather glad that this old thread got revived so that I saw Bob's mention of Caran d'Ache Museum cores for mechanical pencil holders (of the draughtsman's variety, the kind I like). If I ever see those for sale in the US I might have to give them a try. They are (so I read) water soluble so (I presume) the same cores as Supracolor II that I already use (or perhaps a harder version). I really like the Cd'A WCPs quite well, so far. They lay down well and I've got a pretty good array of them. I'm using them on the piece that I'd hoped to enter in the CPSA exhibition but didn't finish and have considered possibly doing the whole piece using just those pencils.

Otherwise I use mainly Prismacolor because I more or less started with those (after a very inconsistent set of cheaper ones that I pawned off to my grandkids) and can get some of the colors in open stock in my small town. I did one piece with Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor (oil-based CPs) and plan to try them some more, eventually. I also have a set of Prismacolor Verithins that I occasionally use for some details. For the most part, though, I stick with Prismas, sharpen a lot, break cores, curse, give up, use different colors instead....

asher

03-31-2008, 10:39 PM

After many years using Prismacolors (I still have a number of Berol Prismas) they are now my least favorite brand. I like the Pablos. They have a nice range of colors and their harder texture make them ideal for detail work. My latest addition to my pencil collection are Lyra Polycolor - also a good range of colors and they're oil based - no wax bloom. I have a limited range of wc pencils, including neocolors. I need to expand those because, in the end, they're the most versatile.

Sanford

ex-limey

03-31-2008, 11:43 PM

Well this is an old thread..... I don't think too many people tried Van Gogh pencils because I think they have been discontinued! I'm not sure, but I think I read somewhere, that Dick Blick bought the rights to them and they are now producing them as their own Brand!
Jean:bye1:

Camer-1

04-01-2008, 09:12 AM

only prismas so far, want to try so wc pencils eventually.

I really have enjoyed Prismacolor's watercolor pencils. You might too. Very soluble, great pigmentation. fun. :) and gives a sense of freedom to the process of making an image. just my opinion.

Lenore

Camer-1

04-01-2008, 09:21 AM

Hi! Arlene, I'm really enjoying your new book, lots of info.

Sigh... mine's coming... I wish I didn't live so far away -- then it would be here by now. Just another minor self-pity trip.... sorry. :(

Jeannette, I'm glad you're enjoying the book. And I am looking forward to receiving mine. :)

Lenore

Nancy

04-01-2008, 08:27 PM

I can't believe I didn't write in this thread long ago.

I use mostly Prismas, but I also love Derwent Coloursoft and Faber-Castell Polychromos!! I have Pablos and Lyras and some of the Brynzeels (which are now discontinued). Mostly I just stick to the first three I named.

vcarroll

04-02-2008, 11:24 AM

I can't say I have a favorite at this point. I started out with Prismas and used only those for quite a while. I tried Coloursofts when they first came out and hated them, until I started using sanded paper and discovered how well they work on that surface. But I also bought a set of Lyra Polycolors that I used nothing but in a drawing on sanded paper and I liked them. But, like Sanford, I am becoming more and more enamored of Caran d"Ache Pablos. I like their colors and the way they feel. I find I am using less and less Prismas (and, of course, I have a TON of them!).

Granny

04-02-2008, 12:16 PM

I'll have to try the Pablos. I certainly like the Supracolors so can't help wanting to try other Cd'A products. Maybe it's because my wife is half Swiss?

Cyrilla

04-02-2008, 03:44 PM

:) I tried soo many to be honest with you i love prismacolors they arew sooo bright color's i also use the verythnn tooo by prismacolor ,,,dont get me wrong the others are good like dickblick brands are good :Doh:

Katydid

04-02-2008, 06:06 PM

Lyra Rembrandt FaberCastell Polychromos, and Caran d Ache Pablos. VanGogh's are good, but some are too waxy for me.

i loved the brunzyeels, but can no longer buy replacement stock for all my colors. so i find myself hording my fav colors - silly i need to use them!

Katydid

04-03-2008, 10:36 AM

https://www.fineartstore.com/Catalog/tabid/365/List/1/CategoryID/11930/Level/a/Default.aspx

arlene - forgot to tell you - you can still buy some of the brunzyeels at the above site

JPQ

05-04-2008, 10:33 AM

Anyone know what the lightfastness of the Polychromos pencils are? I really have to get a membership to the CPSA so I can get that book on CP lightfastness!

http://www.faber-castell.us/docs/index_ebene2_asp_id~18395_domid~1010_sp~E_addlasti d~0_m1~14785_m2~18389_m3~18395_suma~.htm
To orginal queston i ansver:
like Albrecht Dürer watercolor pencils
and Pablo and Supracolor II and Luminance 6901 (i tested only one pencil but love this pen) and Graphitint
almost hate dervent products almost all lightfassness is very poor and in Artists series most of yellows i think are dull etc. Now not going buy anymore derwent products maybe expect some hues and drawing-series.
ps. too bad in finland FC products are very hard get.

Paula P

05-04-2008, 12:13 PM

I love Polychromos best, by far. I was loving Graphitints until I found out they weren't lightfast.

I use Prismas once in a while for the reds, and the French Greys, although I do have about a 1,000 of them since they're what I started with ages ago in art school before I knew there was anything else!
I just don't like wax bloom, and the Prismas seem to break a lot on me.

Jan

05-15-2008, 06:24 PM

Ah, and oldie but a goodie! Glad this thread got revived. :)

I started with Prismas, fell in love with Polychromos, progressed to Pablos and thought they were hot stuff -- then went right back to Prismas. I've been a faithful Prisma lover, especially since they expanded their color line and added the Premiers.

Since I've been doing the Neocolor/cp drybrush thing, however, I grab whatever color strikes my fancy out of whatever box happens to be near. The other day I even found a Derwent in my hand.

However, if I had to be stranded on an island with one brand of pencils, it would be Prismas, hands down. But I do hope the Great Spirit would let me bring some Neos, too. ;)

Off topic: Where's Brandy? Bebble?