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Searching for the Very Best Colored Pencils
It’s a chilly winter day. You gather your children around the table and spread out the art supplies. Maybe you include hot chocolate and warm cookies to help brighten a dreary day. Everyone is working hard until it is time to sharpen the pencils.
skritch skritch skritch
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skritch skritch skritch
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Is there anything more frustrating than a pencil that refuses to sharpen?
How many colored pencils have we purchased over the years in our large family? Hundreds? Thousands? I have no idea. What I do know is that I have spent both time and money trying to figure out which brand makes the very best colored pencils.
Qualities I considered? Vibrancy of color and how easy they were for sharpening. I think we can all agree that crayola wins, hands-down, over Rose Art or other “off brand” colored pencils. But as my older kids grew into their teen years they were looking for something a little nicer for their artistic endevors.
The Worse Expensive Colored Pencils I Ever Bought
Initially, I purchased Prismacolor Colored Pencils. We had heard rave reviews about the vibrancy of colors and the quality of these pencils, so naturally, I ordered a set. Much to my dismay, they seemed impossible to sharpen. Every time we would get any type of point or tip, the color inside would break, and we would have to start over. There were times when I sharpened a THIRD of the pencil, just trying to get them usable. The kids had no hope of sharpening and using them.
Faber-Castell Colored Pencils
Next, we tried Faber-Castell colored pencils. Much to our delight, these have bold, vibrant colors and we had no problem sharpening them. They quickly became a favorite in our house. We bought each of our school-age kids this set of 12 pencils in a tin which they used for years.
Faber-Castell Grip Colored EcoPencils: Our Current Favorite
Last spring, just as we realized lockdown was going to last more than “two weeks to flatten the curve” I put in a huge order to our favorite homeschool supply store, Timberdoodle. We have been happy Timberdoodle customers since we placed our first order in 2000. One of the things I purchased was these Faber-Castell Grip Color EcoPencils. No, I have no idea what that long, clunky name means. What I do know, is these are our favorite colored pencils.
What is So Great About Faber-Castell Grip Colored EcoPencils?
- Vibrant colors– these Faber Castell Grip Colored EcoPencils deliver beautifully in color and ease of use.
- Easy to sharpen– Obviously, with our prior experience, this is an important factor for us.
- Price– these pencils are not expensive at all. The set of 24 pencils is only $12.50 on the Timberdoodle website.
Other Colored Pencils We Love
Lyra Color Giants
For preschoolers and any kids under the age of 10, I cannot recommend the Lyra Color Giants enough! They are sturdy, easy to sharpen (you will need a special sharpener), and nearly impossible to break while using. They have a triangular shape designed especially for little hands. We bought your set before Apollo was born, and they are still in use. They also sell a set of lovely skin tones, which we also own.
These Lyra Ferby Short Tri grip pencils are the best I have found for preschoolers and kindergarteners. One set is all you should ever need to buy.
Some of my teens enjoyed using these Faber-Castell Watercolor Pencils. These are made will water-soluble lead. Because of this, you are able to draw and erase your picture, then water and achieve a watercolor painting look. These are not nearly as vibrant as the Faber Castell Grip Color EcoPencils, but that is because they are designed for entirely different use.
