Best Colored Pencils for Landscape Drawing
The best coloured pencils in 2021 for artists and designers
The best coloured pencils are really worth investing in if you want to improve your art. Whether you're a professional creative, enthusiastic hobbyist, buying for a child, or just wanting to sit down with a colouring book, quality pencils will really make a difference.
With the best coloured pencils, you'll be able to layer up colours, blend them, and get great results, time after time. They're perfect for shading, hatching, cross-hatching, burnishing paper, creating rubbings from coins, and countless other art techniques. (That said, if you're happy to work in monochrome, check out our guide to the best pencils for artists.)
Most coloured pencils come in huge packs. It's common to see them in sets of 48, 72, 120, 160 and even more besides. We've generally gone for 72-pencil packs for this guide, as this is the best number for most people.
Meanwhile, for tips on how to use your coloured pencils, don't miss our guide to how to draw, or to branch out into watercolour, see our best watercolour pencils guide. And to make sure your pencils stay in peak condition, check out our guide to the best pencil sharpeners.
The best coloured pencils for artists
01. Castle Arts Coloured Pencils
The best coloured pencils overall
Specifications
Point type: Medium
Number in box: 72
Other: Soft-touch finish
Reasons to buy
+Easy sharpening +Soft-touch finish +120 piece set available
Reasons to avoid
-Some prefer hexagonal pencils
Castle Arts 72 set contain the best coloured pencils you can buy today. These high quality, round-barrelled pencils work beautifully in practice, offering excellent blending and layering qualities.
They're made with a soft-touch finish, making them easier on the fingers over prolonged use. There are plenty of colours, although if 72 isn't enough for you, there's also a set of 120. Best of all, they're quite affordable too.
The colours are well labelled and clearly marked, making it easy to select the shade you want, and the pencils lay down smooth and creamy colours. The pencils tend to hold their points well, with little to no crumbling. And they even come with a tutorial that teaches you how to draw the unicorn on the front of the box.
02. Arteza Colored Pencils
The best coloured pencils for travel
Specifications
Point type: Broad
Number in box: 72
Other: Break-resistant tips
Reasons to buy
+Break-resistant tips +Also in 48, 120 sets +Very affordable
Reasons to avoid
-Wax bloom can occur
Fully blendable, and great for hatching and cross-hatching, these pencils will work well for everything from sketching to precise shading and creating gradients. And with break-resistant tips and 4mm leads that won't shatter if dropped, these are hardy pencils that are perfect for artists on the go.
These pencils are ergonomically designed and well labelled, each with its colour name and colour number for quick reference. The wax-based lead works well for creating vivid colours, though you do sometimes get wax bloom if you colour with a heavy hand, so go easy. There's a colour chart in the tin, which is durable and double-hinged, making it easier to keep the pencils safe while out and about.
03. Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
The best coloured pencils for blending
Specifications
Point type: Broad
Number in box: 72
Other: Break-resistant tips
Reasons to buy
+Breakage resistant +Also in 24, 36, 48 sets +Comes with pencil case
Reasons to avoid
-Less good for fine detail
Made in the USA, these artist-quality pencils come with high-quality pigments and a smooth colour laydown. They come with soft leads, so they're not the obvious choice for fine detail work. But they're really great for blending and shading, giving strong, professional looking results.
Each colour is named and numbered on the pencil itself, and the leads are breakage-resistant. They come in a high-quality case measuring around 21 x 21cm, which doesn't open up when in a bag.
04. Faber-Castell Polychromos Colour Pencils
The best colour pencils for water resistance
Specifications
Point type: Fine
Number in box: 60
Other: Break-resistant, Water-resistant
Reasons to buy
+Water-resistant +Also in 12, 24, 36, 120 sets +Soft but vibrant colours
Reasons to avoid
-On the expensive end
Founded in 1761, German company Faber-Castell is a huge name in the art world. So it's no surprise that they make some of the best coloured pencils around.
We're big fans of the Faber-Castell Polychromos Colour Pencil. With a 3.8m thick, oil-based lead, bonded to prevent breakage, it gives a water-resistant and smudgeproof finish. The pencils also use an environmentally friendly water-based varnish and have a consistent, soft but vibrant colour laydown.
These pencils are also available in a wide variety of pack sizes, from a compact 12-pencil set up to a huge 120 unit pro-orientated case, but here we're looking at the 60 packs. They're also great for teaming with Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils, which make it to number two on our list of the best watercolour pencils.
05. Derwent Coloursoft Colouring Pencils
A great choice for a gift
Specifications
Point type: Broad
Number in box: 72
Other: 88 percent lightfast
Reasons to buy
+Lightfast +Also in 6, 12, 24, 36 sets +Attractive wooden box
Reasons to avoid
-Soft leads require care
Suitable for a wide range of drawing styles, Derwent's Coloursoft Colouring Pencils give you a quick and dense application of bold, vibrant colour. As they're also soft, they're highly blendable for all applications, from landscapes to detailed illustrations. You can also sharpen them to a fine point. This means you do need to take extra care of them to make sure you don't break the leads, so they're not the best choice for travel.
These are available in a large variety of sizes, ranging from a tin of just six up to this one with 72. There's also an option of 24 and 48 pencils in a presentation wooden box, which is a great idea if you're looking for a present.
06. Monarch Premium Grade Black Widow Coloured Pencils
With a point that's designed to stay sharp
Specifications
Point type: Fine
Number in box: 48
Other: Rich pigment that layers like velvet
Reasons to buy
+Comfortable to hold +Nice black paint finish +Named colours
Reasons to avoid
-48 is biggest set
These Monarch Premium Grade Black Widow Coloured Pencils are a premium set with fine points that don't break when sharpened (the leads are 3.3mm thick). The hexagonal design is designed for ultimate comfort in your hand, and they won't roll away when you put them down on the table, either.
The rich pigment results in a waxy finish with deep colour. They're easily blendable and comfortable to hold with a 'spider black' finish for that premium appearance. Each colour name is stamped onto the pencil alongside a catalogue number. The only real issue is that the maximum set is 48. So if you want more colours than this, another option might suit you better.
07. Magicfly Colored Pencils
Well-priced wax-based pencils
Specifications
Point type: Medium
Number in box: 72
Other: Durable core, protective case
Reasons to buy
+3mm core +Protective case +Durable build
Reasons to avoid
-Included paint brushes are poor quality
With a 3mm core, these coloured pencils are designed for durability and ease of sharpening, though Magicfly recommends manual sharpeners rather than an electric sharpener. The tin box is designed to be sturdy and protect the pencils while enabling you to easily select the right colour. They also come with a couple of paint brushes thrown in, though to be honest, these aren't great quality.
Like many of the best coloured pencils, Magicfly Colored Pencils have the colour name and number stamped on the outer surface, which is very handy. Layering and blending are easy, with rich and vibrant pigments. You can also get a Magicfly Watercolour Pencils set, too.
08. Shuttle Art Soft Core Color Pencil Set
Great all-rounder pencils that are suitable for all
Specifications
Point type: Bold
Number in box: 172
Other: Durable 3mm core
Reasons to buy
+Durable core +Bumper pack +Well-labelled
Reasons to avoid
-Cardboard case, so not for travelling
Coming a bumper pack of 172, these are some of the best colour pencils for general use. These round pencils have a bold but soft-core lead with premium quality wood for ease of sharpening. A thick 3mm break-resistant core provides durability. And even though they're budget-priced, they usefully feature colour names and numbers on the side.
These pencils do come packaged in cardboard, so they're probably not what you're looking for if you're often going to be taking them out and about. However, they are nicely laid out in trays for easy colour selection.
How long do coloured pencils last?
Coloured pencils typically last for at least two to five years, if used sparingly or not at all. Store them carefully in cool, dark place and they may last much longer. Conversely, the more that coloured pencils are exposed to heat or sunlight, the faster they will absorb moisture and dry out. This will make the lead brittle and difficult to use.
How do you sharpen a coloured pencil?
Coloured pencils with soft leads should never be sharpened to a long point, because they are more likely to break. Instead, use a mechanical pencil sharpener (never an electric one) and sharpen to a short point. Test out different sharpeners to find the one that works best for you and your pencil – see our best pencil sharpeners guide for your options.
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- How to hold a pencil correctly
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- 22 incredible drawing apps for iPad
Dan is the Editor of T3.com and covers the latest in computing, home entertainment and mobile tech. He's also the former Deputy Editor of TechRadar and former Editor of Lifehacker UK. Dan has written for numerous computing and lifestyle magazines and has also written a book, too. You'll see him pop up in numerous places, having been quoted in or on The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, ITN News, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4 and Sky News Radio.
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Best Colored Pencils for Landscape Drawing
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