Best Colored Pencil Artists that Will Inspire You Ann Kullberg. She is one of the top colored pencil artists around that is making great art today. I love the detail. Nicole Caulfield. All variations of her artwork are amazing, but her Fanimals collection is something incredibly special. Best Sellers in Drawing Pencils #1. Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Colored Pencil, Black, 12-Count (3363) - New 4.8 out of 5 stars 20,916. $14.21 - $49.96 #2. Soucolor 72-Color Colored Pencils for Adult Coloring Books, Soft Core, Artist Sketching Drawing Pencils Art Craft Supplies, Coloring Pencils Set.
“The best pencils” is a contentious title because pencils come in an extraordinary number of varieties, and no two people need quite the same thing from their pencil. Actually most artists use more than one type of pencil and it’s a good idea to have a range of options available. There is simply not just one best pencils for drawing, and beginners should start by buying a selection of different grades.
Top 10 best pencils for drawing in 2021
To help you find your personal best pencils for drawing, we’ve chosen recommendations for specific categories rather than arranging all of the pencils in an arbitrary list. We also link to more in-depth guides so that you can learn more about why we chose what we did and see the competition.
1. Caran D’ache Graphite Line
The Caran d’Ache Graphite line gift box really does come with fewer than 20 pencils, plus graphite sticks and accessories, at a price that would make even Jeff Bezos blink, but what you’re paying for here is top-quality graphite. The Graphite Line range has been carefully developed and perfected in the Geneva workshops of Caran d’Ache to explore all the different shades of black and deliver thick and thin lines, gradation, flat-wash, blurring and watercolour effects. It’s an insanely expensive set of pencils, but we suspect that once you’ve tried it, you won’t want to use anything else.
2. Staedtler Mars Lumograph 100 G6 Pencils
This German brand is beloved among artists and graphic designers. It was officially founded in 1835, but its roots go back to a circa-1662 item in the Nuremburg city annals that references a pencil craftsman named Friedrich Staedtler. Needless to say, the company has had a while to perfect its craft, which shows in its offerings.
Staedtler offers leads from 12B to 10H, with B indicating the graphite’s level of blackness or softness and H indicating the level of hardness. The higher the number, the softer or harder the lead will be. This set of six Mars Lumograph pencils includes a range of lead degrees, from HB to 8B.
3. Derwent34214 Graphic Medium Graphite Drawing Pencils
One of the world’s first large graphite deposits was discovered in the Cumbrian valley of Borrowdale, which might explain why The Cumberland Pencil Company has been a key player since it began in 1832. Derwent Pencils are sold individually, as well as in sets, which means that artists can literally get to grips with the single pencil best suited to their needs. Unlike the equally useful round-barrelled Sketching range, the Graphic pencils range from 9H to 9B and have a hexagonal shape for better grip.
4. Art Design ASST grades 12 Metal Box
For a much more reasonable price, LYRA Rembrandt Art Design drawing pencils set of 12 is the ideal way to unleash your shading skills. The full Rembrandt Art Design set covers 17 grades from 9B to 6H, and this box features a good, representative sample, enabling you to really get creative with your shading. Each pencil is encased in pure cedar wood and packs an ultra-fine graphite lead that’s also suitable for more rigid technical drawing techniques.
5. Royal & Langnickel sketching artist pencils
The Royal Langnickel Sketching Pencils Set is an adequate introduction to the fact that pencils are available in different grades of hardness. Beginners might learn the differences between H and B graphite grades from trying out this set.
Value priced, it makes for a suitable choice for kids’ classes or field use since you would not mind much if some pencils were to get lost. Compared to premium graphite pencils though, these Royal graphite pencils feel rather rough and weak. Unless you also find them in the dollar bin, I would recommend skipping them altogether and investing on a set of true artist grade pencils instead. Bottom line: they are ok to try just so you can better appreciate the improvement in performance of premium artist grade pencils.
6. Faber-Castell 9000 Art Set 12 x Pencils
Faber family has been making pencils since the 18th century and even Van Gogh apparently once talked excitedly about them. The Pitt Monochrome Graphite range, also known as the Castell 9000, spans 16 grades of hardness, with the softest B pencil leads an extra 0.8mm thick to help avoid breakages. This particular set includes four pure graphite pencils, making it a sophisticated option for the more accomplished draughtsman on the go. Python github.
It’s safe to say that 100+ years is enough time to become an expert, so it’s no surprise that these pencils are excellent. The leads are strong with a lovely degree of difference in lead grades. They write smoothly with just the right amount of feedback, shade beautifully, erase well, and hardly smudge at all, even in the softest grade. Ip cam viewer pro app. They all held their points quite well, though the softer ones naturally wore down a little more quickly. They’re light and the wood smells enchanting.
7. Staedtler mars lumograph tin of 12 drawing pencils (6B to 4H)
Staedtler has an excellent reputation for its pencils and the Lumograph series is no exception. These sketching pencils boast break-resistant lead, thanks to a barrel of selected cedar wood that is protected with a waterbased lacquer. Sets of 6, 12 and 24 offer a range of hard and soft grades, so you can expand as your style gets more sophisticated or precise.
8. Tombow Dragonfly pencil MONO-R pencil
Japanese manufacturer Tombow is known for its high-density pencils, meaning they sharpen easily and the point stays longer. The Mono pencil is known to run a bit dark and is virtually smudge-proof. The dark lines of the Tombow Mono can almost mimic inks, making it a favorite of artists who focus on linework and tracing.
9. Moleskine Graphite Drawing Pencil Set
The Moleskine graphite pencils have the esthetic that fits well with most Moleskine products. While the colored pencils have end caps of consistent length, the graphite pencil set’s end caps are stair-stepped to indicate the different grades.
The five graphite grades – H, HB, 2B, 4B and 6B – are sensible. The grades are clearly stamped in black on the silver end caps, which is clarified and ease of identification.
Unlike their colored pencil counterparts, the Moleskine graphite drawing pencils are a decent. Actually Moleskine is a bit pricier than other pencil brands. Wearing the Moleskine name, however, they are priced as expected for those lovely design elements.
Unlike their colored pencil counterparts, the Moleskine graphite drawing pencils are a decent. Actually Moleskine is a bit pricier than other pencil brands. Wearing the Moleskine name, however, they are priced as expected for those lovely design elements.
10. Cretacolor 204 30 Monolith Set
Woodless pencils are made entirely of graphite and clay wrapped in either paper or lacquer. The extra exposed graphite on a woodless pencil makes shading large areas of similar tones easier. They can be sharpened to a fine point for detailed work, or left to dull for thicker lines. Cretacolor’s Monolith set comes with six regular woodless pencils ranging in hardness from a standard HB to an incredibly soft 9B pencil. This makes the set good for drawing and blending shadows on backgrounds that require darker tones.
The Monolith Set also comes with one of Cretacolors Aquamonolith water-soluble pencils. This 4B graphite pencil reacts to water like watercolor paint. The pencil can be dipped directly into water to draw vibrant, dark lines or used dry with water applied after by brush to darken and blend the image. Along with the seven total pencils, the set includes a pencil holder for when your pencil gets too short, a kneaded eraser for detailed erasing and highlighting, a protective tip to prevent your pencil’s lead from breaking, and a pencil sharpener for, well, sharpening your pencil.
How to choose a drawing pencil
When selecting the perfect drawing pencil, the first thing to take into consideration is your drawing style. Technical drawing and detailed artwork with fine lines will require different pencils than those used for shading and sketching figures. Do you use dark, thick lines in your sketches or prefer lighter, thinner strokes? Understanding your personal artistic style and needs will help you narrow down the selection when searching for a good drawing pencil.
Keep in mind that most artists use more than one type of pencil. In fact, many manufacturers sell drawing pencil sets that come with a selection of graphite pencils in different grades. This will allow you to switch between tools depending on the requirements of a particular image.
Conclusion
Hobbies should be indulged. If you spend a lot of time writing or drawing, a good pencil can be the difference between a relaxing sketch session and frustrating wrist pain. A lot of factors makes certain pencils better than others for drawing. It’s important to consider carefully about drawing pencils before you purchase a product so that you can choose the best right for yourself.
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Every artist eventually finds a pencil they like best.
Most of these pencils are similar, but once you’ve been drawing & doing traditional work for a while you’ll notice subtle differences between brands.
Let me start by saying that basically every brand of art pencils can work well. There isn’t really a “best” art pencil—but there is probably a brand that you’ll feel works best for you.
Staedtler Mars Lumograph
The Staedtler Lumograph 2B pencil is perfect for all types of drawing from quick sketches to finished pieces and everything inbetween.
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Great For:
- Sketchbooks
- Fully-rendered drawings
- Beginners & experts alike
My personal recommendation is the Staedtler Mars Lumograph, specifically the 2B pencil. It’s got a great feel and it doesn’t leave marks that are too dark, nor too light(definitely on the darker side though).
It works with newsprint, sketchbooks, and basic printer paper. It’s great for beginners and pros alike. It’s my preferred art pencil that can fit with everything.
But let’s take a deeper look at this pencil(and some others) to help you find one to call your own.
Top Pick: Staedtler Mars Lumograph
Let’s start with my personal choice and it’s the one I recommend for every artist who isn’t sure where to start. The Staedtler Lumograph 2B pencil is a very safe bet since it can leave strong marks and it can get pretty sharp.
All the Lumograph’s are noticeable since they come in a light shade of blue with a black tip. They all feel similar in your hand but the lead grade varies widely.
With this pencil the difference between a 2B and a 2H is like night and day.
If you’re finicky you could try an HB instead. But personally I think most artists go too light with their traditional drawings, rather than too dark.
If you typically make lighter marks by default then you’ll want a softer lead like 2B.
One nice thing about Staedtler is that these pencils are designed to be break-resistant. You’ll usually find this in most art pencils, but I’ve found the Lumographs break far less often&emdash;even when sharpened to a super fine point.
At the end of the day this is really just a pencil. You can’t go wrong with any of these choices.
I find the Lumograph really easy to work with. The blue outer coat is a nice aesthetic touch as well. And since artists appreciate beauty it’s safe to say we care how our pencils look!
Bottom Line: The Lumograph is great for any artist of any skill level, especially for people who just don’t know what they’re looking for in a pencil. It’s makes dark lines with a great softness for people who have a lighter touch while drawing. Also affordable in bulk so it’s a great pencil to start your artistic journey.
Faber-Castell Pencils
Here’s one brand I certainly like and recommend for lots of art supplies beyond pencils.
I know a lot of artists who swear by Faber-Castell. In fact, Faber-Castell was the very first brand of pencil I ever used when I started drawing.
Have a look at this pencil collection and see what you think. If you’re looking for a pencil to draw with consistently I recommend buying the entire pack of Faber-Castells with all their hardness levels(2H-6B).
This gives you a ton of variety to play with. You may find that in your sketchbook you prefer the HB pencil, but working on cheap printer paper you like the 2B. This is a common occurrence for artists who switch between many papers & mediums.
Here’s a list of all the goodies you’ll get in this Fabel-Castell pack:
- 6 graphite pencils(2H, HB, B 2B, 4B, 6B)
- 1 pencil sharpener
- 1 plastic eraser
- 1 kneaded eraser
Not much to lose with this set and you’ll have a bunch of lead styles to test out.
Bottom Line: Faber-Castell makes great art supplies and these pencils are no exception. Easy to draw with, clean marks, and easy to sharpen to a fine point. The best part of this pencil set is the variety of lead styles.
Conte 1710-2B
The Conte 1710-2B is a pencil I had never heard of before Proko. He mentions this pencil by name in his figure course and has this listed on his art supplies page.
Let me say this pencil feels very different than most graphite pencils. It’s much easier to spread around the page so it’s almost like you’re painting with values. The lead is also very thick and super dark. Darker than a 2B usually is.
So why’s this pencil so great?
Well it’s definitely got a unique feeling while drawing. You can use it for lots professional finished work from portrait drawings to more detailed life sketches.
I also like this pencil for mimicking Proko’s style. I’ve reviewed a lot of his courses and he uses the same pencil in all of them. Granted he follows a classic atelier style of sharpening his pencil and you may not wanna bother with that.
You can still sharpen this pencil with a regular pencil sharpener no problem. It’s just going to draw a little differently compared to Proko’s videos.
My general thoughts on this pencil:
- Easy to make super dark lines
- Very easy to spread & smudge
- Doesn’t sharpen to a super fine point
- Graphite feels much higher quality than many other pencils
If you’re following any of the Proko courses then you might pick up a Conte 1710 and see what you think. Just note this pencil is pricey. One Conte 1710 may set you back about the same as a box of 12 Staedtlers.
But as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. It’s just a question of whether this pencil is something you want.
Bottom Line: The Conte 1710 2B has very unique lead that leaves smooth marks almost like charcoal. This pencil is Stan Prokopenko’s exclusive choice for all his Proko videos too—partly because it offers a lot of versatility between sketching, portraits, and life studies. Biggest downside is the price tag.
Derwent Graphic Medium
If you want a pencil with a thicker point while drawing then check out these Derwent drawing pencils.
They look & feel just like any other graphite pencil, although to me they do feel a bit heavier. Nothing that’ll get in the way of your work at all. Usually once you start using a pencil regularly you get used to the weight & size.
I also like this pack because it offers variety packs. You can choose between packs of 4, 12, or 20 pencils. Lead softness ranges from 4H to 6B and even includes the mysterious F lead grade.
If you aren’t sure which lead to use I personally like the HB, although I haven’t used the 2B much so I can’t compare.
Whenever I sharpen these pencils I always find that the lead feels a bit “fuller” than other pencils. Meaning that you can expose more of it quickly and it’ll end up a bit thicker once the point wears down. Similar to the Conte 1710 but not as big.
If you like to draw with a mix of thick & thin lines then try these Derwents on for size.
Bottom Line: Great pencil for drawing with lead that’s super easy to expose. You can sharpen to a fine point or keep it somewhat flat to vary your line styles. And Derwent offers 8 different softness levels for you to play with.
Prismacolor Ebony
I’d describe the Prismacolor Ebony graphite pencil as smoother than velvet. This lays down dark lines with ease and it feels almost luxurious(for lack of a better term).
Each mark feels so smooth and blends into every type of paper I’ve used. This makes it easier to blend than most other graphite pencils and it comes close to the Conte 1710.
You can use this for everything from quick sketching in your sketchbook to more detailed projects like drawing your own 2D comics.
My biggest pain point: Prismacolors are a wax-based pencil so the lead will break easily with too much pressure. One accidental drop on the floor and you’ll be reaching for your pencil sharpener. Unfortunately most pencil sharpeners are too rough and will even break this lead while sharpening!
The solution? Grab a Prismacolor sharpener along with this pencil set.
It’s got a very light touch and you’ll never worry about breaking your lead. It’s the perfect companion for such a smooth pencil and it’s a sharpener you can use with every type of pencil, not just Prismacolors.
Bottom Line: Rich, free flowing lines define Prismacolor’s Ebony pencil for drwaing. It offers a smooth charcoal-style feel that you rarely find in graphite. But the lead is easy to break so I recommend grabbing a Prismacolor sharpener since it’s much lighter on the lead while sharpening.
Mirado Black Warrior
I have to include this pencil in my list because I get so many recommendations for it.
Personally, I can’t see what all the fuss is about. But from my art friends who use the Mirado Black Warrior they absolutely swear by it.
Of course, it’s a good pencil. I wouldn’t have it here if it sucked!
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It’s easy to draw with, makes crisp lines, super lightweight and easy to use. However one thing to note is that the Black Warrior only comes in the HB softness.
When I used this for some sketching I didn’t notice much of a difference in darkness compared to other pencils. For HB lead this still makes dark marks.
I think the reason why so many people love this pencil is two-fold:
- Super affordable
- Feels like a mix of art pencil + office pencil
Certainly a unique choice and I’ve heard mostly glowing opinions from people who use this. Give it a shot if you’re curious.
Bottom Line: Try this out if you wanna mix up your pencil stash. It’s very affordable even in bulk and this art pencil doubles nicely as an office pencil for taking notes. Odds are you’ll either love this pencil or think it’s kinda “meh”.
The Best Charcoal Pencil For Drawing
Most artists use graphite for drawing because it’s easier to erase and doesn’t smudge so much.
But with charcoal you can work more painterly and smooth your values with broad strokes. If you’re looking for recommendations on the best charcoal pencil I vote for the Royal & Langnickel set.
Royal & Langnickel
This charcoal pencil set comes with a variety of styles offering plenty of room to test your skills. And it’s pretty affordable too!
Great For:
- All types of paper
- A variety of charcoal styles
- Beginners just getting into charcoal
This comes as a whole set of charcoal so you’re not just buying one pencil. In fact you’re getting all three types of charcoal in this one set.
It’s really like a goodie pack of art supplies tailor-made for charcoal enthusiasts. Here’s what you get:
- 4 vine charcoal sticks
- 4 compressed charcoal sticks
- 3 charcoal pencils(soft, medium & hard)
- 1 woodless graphite pencil
I have not used the woodless pencil but I’ve heard great things about this brand from many art friends.
My personal experience with charcoal is that these sticks are fantastic. I’ve mostly used the charcoal pencils and this brand is easy to sharpen + easy to play with using different techniques(overhand, cross-hatching, brushes).
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I’m certain the regular charcoal sticks are also superb.
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This pack has absolutely everything a beginner needs to start learning and ultimately master charcoal drawing. Plus this is great for experienced artists who might wanna try different types of charcoal, or different levels of softness with charcoal pencils.
Best Sketch Pencils
Finding Your Pencil
There is no absolute best art pencil. It all comes down to personal taste and some artists just prefer different brands.
The best thing you can do is try a lot and find a pencil you really like. You’ll want to test the brand of pencil along with the softness of the lead. Find the best combo that works for you.
To me the best pencil for drawing is the Staedtler 2B Lumograph hands down. It’s got a nice softness to the lead, soft but not easily breakable. It’s lightweight and when you’re drawing it seems to last forever between sharpens.
Although if you take enough time searching I guarantee you’ll find someone who thinks otherwise. It all comes down to personal opinion and what you’ve experienced with different pencils.
My advice: try a few pencils and see for yourself. Pick 2 or 3 brands you’d like to test. Save the drawings you do and make a note of which pencil you used for each one.
Rotate through pencils during your regular practice time and find a pencil you really like.Then stick with it and make some awesome art.