10 Best Pencils For Artists 2025 in the United States

The Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Soft Core 36 Count are designed with artists in mind, particularly those who enjoy rich colors and smooth shading. These pencils have soft, thick cores that allow for easy blending and layering of colors, which is great for creating shadows and gradients in artwork. The pigments are richly saturated and lightfast, meaning your drawings are less likely to fade over time. The leads are sturdy enough to resist cracking and chipping, which makes them reliable for detailed coloring and adult coloring books. With 36 assorted colors, the set offers a broad palette for creative expression.

As soft-core colored pencils, they do not offer the fine point or hardness typical of graphite pencils, which may limit their use for precise line work or fine details. Colored pencils generally do not erase as cleanly as graphite pencils, so making corrections can be more challenging.

These Prismacolor pencils are excellent for artists who want vibrant, smooth colors for shading and coloring projects. They excel in adding depth and richness rather than in precise graphite-style drawing, making them a strong choice for coloring enthusiasts and artists focused on color work.

The Faber-Castell Polychromos Artists' Color Pencils offer a high-quality option for artists and art enthusiasts, featuring 120 assorted colors. One of the standout features is the premium quality of these pencils, known for their vibrant, long-lasting colors due to the excellent lightfastness of the pigments. This means your artwork will resist fading over time, retaining its original brilliance.

The oil-based leads provide a smooth, buttery color laydown that is easy to blend, allowing for seamless layered effects which can be highly beneficial for detailed and nuanced artwork. The thick 3.8 mm leads are SV-bonded, making them break and water-resistant, which adds to their durability and reduces the frequency of sharpening and breakage during use. This set is housed in a sturdy metal tin, providing convenient storage and organization for the 120 pencils.

A point to consider is that these pencils are categorized as having a hardness degree of H, which may not be suitable for those specifically looking for a wide range of graphite hardness options. However, if your focus is on colored pencils rather than graphite hardness, this should not be an issue. Manufactured by Faber-Castell, a reputable brand in art supplies with a history dating back to 1761, you can trust the professional quality and consistency of these pencils.

The Caran d'Ache Pablo Colored Pencil Set offers a wide array of 120 colors, making it a versatile choice for artists, especially those who enjoy mixed media and shading. With creamy, soft, and water-resistant leads, these pencils provide excellent coverage and superb lightfastness, ensuring that your artwork remains vibrant over time.

The 3.7mm lead diameter is ideal for detailed work and consistent color application. The pencils are housed in a sturdy metal box, which makes them easy to organize and store. The Caran d'Ache brand is well-known for its high quality, and this set lives up to that reputation.

However, the pencils have an HB hardness, which may not suit those looking for a softer or harder lead for specific techniques. Additionally, while the set is excellent for coloring and shading, it might not be the best choice if you need something with high erasability. The price point might also be a bit high for beginners or casual users. This set is best suited for serious artists looking for a reliable, high-quality colored pencil set that delivers on performance and durability.