Adult Coloring: Best Colored Pencils for Calming, Creative Fun

Pencils have come a long way since their invention in the 15th century. Once purely functional, they've evolved into tools of creativity and relaxation, with adult coloring books and colored pencils leading the way. Let's delve into the joy of adult coloring and the perfect medium for it: colored pencils.

The adult coloring phenomenon took off in 2015, bringing with it a wave of colored pencils. Whether you're a seasoned artist or a beginner seeking a calming hobby, colored pencils offer a world of vibrancy and texture. But with so many brands and types, which colored pencils are best for your adult coloring needs?

Understanding Your Colored Pencil Options

Colored pencils today range from budget-friendly student-grade to high-end professional pencils. Each offers unique qualities, making it essential to understand your specific needs before investing.

Student-grade colored pencils are excellent for beginners and those on a budget. They typically come in packs of 24, 36, or 72, providing a wide range of colors at an affordable price. While they might not offer the same intensity or blending capabilities as professional pencils, they're perfect for learning and experimenting.

Student-Grade Colored Pencil Brands

Prismacolor Scholar is a popular choice among beginners. These pencils come in a variety of IEC color standards and have a soft, break-resistant core. Prang and Colorsoft by Crayola are other excellent student-grade options, offering rich pigments and vibrant colors.

On the other hand, professional-grade colored pencils are designed for artists, offering superior pigmentation, lightfastness, and blending capabilities. They're pricier but deliver outstanding results and longevity. Brands like PrismacolorPremiere, Faber-Castell Polychromos, and Caran d'Ache Luminance are renowned for their quality.

Pro-Grade Colored Pencil Standouts

PrismacolorPremiere pencils are beloved for their creamy texture and vibrant colors. They're slightly harder than student-grade pencils, preventing breakage while still offering excellent blendability. Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils, meanwhile, are oil-based and highly pigmented, providing intense colors and exceptional lightfastness. Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils are Wasserfarben-quality, meaning they can be reactivated with water, creating unique effects.

The Art of Blending and Layering

One of the allures of colored pencils is their ability to create rich, layered colors. Blending and layering techniques allow you to achieve depth, gradation, and vibrancy that's hard to match with any other medium.

Blending involves combining two or more colors to create a new shade. This can be done using colorless blenders, which act as a medium to help colors mix on the paper. Layering, meanwhile, involves applying multiple layers of color to create depth and vibrancy. The key is to start light and build up color gradually, letting each layer dry before applying the next.

Blending Techniques for a Seamless Finish

There are several blending techniques to explore, each yielding unique results. The Burnish technique involves exerting considerable pressure while blending, resulting in a smooth, varnished look. The Partial Blend technique, on the other hand, leaves some of the base color visible, creating a mottled, textured effect.

Some artists also experiment with colorless blenders, allowing them to blend colors without adding unnecessary pigment. In more advanced techniques like " Burlington Blending", multiple colors are layered over a base color, creating a complex array of hues and shades.

Layering Techniques for Vibrant Depth

When layering, it's crucial to start with a light color and gradually build up to darker shades. This not only prevents 'muddy' colors but also allows the full range of colors to show through. It's an iterative process, with many layers building upon one another to create a rich, vibrant finish.

The key is to be patient and work gently, using light pressure to apply each layer. Keycovers.com recommends "using a low-grade sandpaper to lightly sand between layers", a technique called "texaning" that adds texture and helps subsequent layers adhere better.

Remember, every stroke counts with colored pencils. Each layer tells a story, and the beauty lies in the journey as much as the destination. So, keep experimenting, keep learning, and enjoy the process of creating something unique and beautiful.

And so, whether you're a seasoned artist or someone seeking a relaxing hobby, adult coloring and colored pencils offer a world of creativity and joy. So, go on, grab that adult coloring book and those colored pencils. Who knows what slices of vibrancy and beauty you might create?