I bought my first set of 30 Polychromos 3 years ago, and currently I have 42 in total. I'm a mixed media artist, only using colored pencils for details, so they seemed the best for that purpose. I got a couple of Derwent Drawing and Luminance too, when I need something opaque that I can lay down quickly. I do enjoy my Polychromos and I'd highly recommend them as well! I agree with you that large sets are unneccesary. I only bought 30 because it came in a really nice faux leather pencil roll, and when I substracted the cost of pencils, the roll was practically free. (I've seen it sold alone for £22.) But as it was missing many of the colors I find most useful in my work (especially for portraits), I bought additional 12 pencils individually. I'd just like to correct some of the things you've mentioned: 1. All colored pencils contain a mix of wax and oil, and none of the companies are public about the ratio because it's a proprietary recipe. (This was actually confirmed by a Faber-Castell employee in response to a customer inquiry.) There are also different types of wax used in different pencil ranges. Polychromos and Derwent Lightfast are both referred to as "oil based", however their hardness is quite different - Lightfast is softer than many other wax-based pencils. Derwent Studio are wax-based pencils, but they're even harder than Polychromos! Essentially, talking about oil vs wax is meaningless when it comes to pencil hardness. I assume it might affect how well certain pencils dissolve with different solvents, but I don’t use them, so I can’t say for sure. Wax vs oil content also doesn't affect opacity - transparency/opacity depends on pigments and fillers. 2. Faber-Castell star ratings are not trustworthy. I did some of my own lightfastness testing using natural sunlight, and my results have shown that even 3-star pencils can fade a lot, faster than some 2-star pencils. (Other artists have done this as well, and we came to the same conclusion.) Faber-Castell doesn't use established lightfastness standards (ASTM or Blue Wool), and they never published any information how their 3-star system relates to those two international standards, ie. what 1, 2, or 3 stars are equivalent to on the ASTM or Blue Wool scale. Also, "100+ years in museum conditions" (the highest lightfastness rating) means in *artificial light* with minimal UV exposure, absolutely no daylight. Natural sunlight is a strong source of UV light, and artworks we hang on our walls will fade a lot faster than "100 years". UV coating on windows plus framing the image under UV-coated glass will make the colors last longer, but not even close to 100 years.
Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with Polychromos! It's great to hear how they’re working for your mixed media projects. I agree that they are fantastic for detail work, and it’s interesting to hear your thoughts on the other brands you use as well. I appreciate the corrections and additional information you've provided - especially regarding the mix of wax and oil in colored pencils. Your experience with lightfastness is also valuable. I didn’t realize that Faber-Castell’s star system isn’t directly comparable to more established standards like ASTM or Blue Wool. I’ll definitely keep that in mind when considering the longevity of my artwork. Thanks for sharing your testing results and perspective!
I've just regained my pencil passion. 40 yrs ago all I had was a set of Berol Prismacolors and a 12 set of FC Coloray. I love trying new pencils. It's my therapy.
I’ve just found you and subscribed as I enjoyed this video..I’m trying coloured pencils for first time as I usually watercolour ..I treated myself to a 12 set of polychromas in the Black Friday sale. Looking forward to viewing all your other videos too 🤗
Thank you so much for subscribing! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. I actually switched from watercolors to colored pencils myself, and I can honestly say it’s been such a rewarding experience. Polychromos are a fantastic choice - you're going to love their vibrant colors and smooth application. I hope you enjoy exploring this new medium, and I can’t wait for you to check out more of my videos! 😊 Happy drawing!
polychromos are great pencils. I love them , started buying open stock and quickly got them all (except the metallics as i dont think I'd ever use them) Lightfast ratings are rated under museum conditions, not regular daylight , so away from direct sunlight etc.
Just found your channel and subscribed 😊 I'm Canadian and love to support anyone in Canada 🇨🇦 I'm in B.C. , but, to the point, I love pencil crayons and have got the 120 set of Polychromos after pretty much going through the 60 set in a couple years. I also love the Derwent lightfast and my favourite, the Caran D'ache Luminance. Polychromos is my second favourite. Loved the video, keep up the good work! 😊
Thank you so much for subscribing and for the kind words! 😊 The Derwent Lightfast and Caran D'Ache Luminance are fantastic choices too, love their quality. I appreciate you taking the time to comment, and I’ll definitely keep the videos coming! Thanks again for the support! 😊🎨
Delighted the algorithm brought me here, instant subscription. 😊 Polychromos are my favourites, too, with the exception of the 3 metallics, which are completely useless. Polys need a soft touch and patience; I like to compare them to watercolours, whereas the wax pencils are more like gouache.
Thank you so much for subscribing, I’m so glad the algorithm brought you here! 😊 I completely agree about Polychromos-they really do need a soft touch and patience. I love comparing them to watercolors too, especially with how they layer and blend. And yes, the metallics definitely don’t live up to the rest of the set! Your comparison of wax pencils to gouache is spot on as well.
New subscriber - polys are my all time faves because of their transparency. Also, though i haven't yet worked on sanded paper, im looking forward to trying Brush and Pencil's powder blender.
Welcome and thank you for subscribing! 😊 I totally agree, polys are amazing for their transparency - they really let you build up layers beautifully. I’ve heard great things about Brush and Pencil's Powder Blender!
But if folks only buy a quality set of 12.. then there won't be "hauls" and "binge buys" and... folks will actually use what they have instead of always on the hunt for the next set to buy!
That's a really good point! Investing in a high-quality set can definitely reduce the constant cycle of purchasing and help us focus on actually using what we already have. It's all about making smarter choices and enjoying what we own instead of constantly chasing the next 'haul.
The majority of channels that do “haul” videos are hobbyists & adult colorists. And their audiences enjoy seeing what new items are out there & living vicariously through those hauls. Ive found from watching many artists channels that Colored pencil artists learn what pencils work for them, they know how to choose colors, their pencils aren’t viewed as precious things but instead used as tools. They care less about abundance and more about quality. There’s nothing wrong with being a collector of art supplies, I enjoy my collection 😊 But there definitely is a different mindset that tends to exist if someone is a hobbyist versus an artist.
@@KitKatToeBeans I totally agree that there’s a shift in mindset between hobbyists and professional artists when it comes to art supplies. Hobbyists often enjoy the process of collecting and experiencing new tools, whereas artists tend to focus more on honing their craft with the materials that work best for them. It’s not so much about the number of items, but about finding the right tools for the job and getting the most out of them. That said, both approaches can be enjoyable in their own ways. There’s room for both the joy of collecting and the discipline of using quality tools effectively! 😊
Polychromos were my first, I have tried all the other expensive brands. None of them were bad or worse or better than Polychromos but Polychromos ate still my go to and the ones I reach for first. Luckily I never bothered with spin-off store or Amazon brands like Brutfuner.
I began taking coloured pencil more seriously after knowing what I could get out of better quality pigment. My cousin has all the brands you can think of. I have only prismas and polychromos and not got any more brands after falling in love with polychromos. Out of the two, I use polychromos so much that my prismas have barely gotten use. I now have the full set of polychromos which I got much later. I started with a 36 set and took time to learn to layer and trust the process. Other big brands like caran d ache can definately be overkill for those starting out. For the price of a full set, I could by 2 full sets of polychromos. Im not kicking the brand but you get better value with polychromos. Just be patient and learn how to get the best out of them.
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video and found the information helpful. I appreciate your support! 😊 If you have any questions or need more tips, feel free to ask!
Greetings from Southern Ontario. I just recently found your channel, I subbed and will definately be sending along likes. I am really glad to see you are from Canada. I have about 5000 pencils from many brands ( several double and triple sets from my favs ) I have been experimenting with them seriously for the last ten years. I have some really unique ideas I would like to share with you. I also have about 1000 markers, I mix and make my own markers ( about 100 of them so far ) some very unique colors. I would like to have your permission to e-mail you. Thank you and have a good day. Dave.
Hi Dave! Thank you so much for subscribing and supporting my channel-it means a lot! Your collection sounds absolutely incredible-5000 pencils and custom-made markers? Wow! I’d love to hear about your unique ideas here in the comments or maybe in a future video discussion. Thanks again for reaching out, and have a fantastic day! 🎨✏️
Very interesting although due to carpal tunnel syndrome I don't get drawing much now. While I'm on I have been trying to get intouch with you lately about your art work, of which I have 13 of your British birds, and would maybe like to add one or two more. I have been wondering have you done a Starling? Thanks
Thank you so much for reaching out! I really appreciate your support and the fact that you have 13 of my British bird pieces - that's amazing! I’m sorry to hear about your carpal tunnel syndrome; I hope you're finding some ways to manage it. I just wanted to let you know that I’m based in Canada, and I’m in the process of setting up a website to sell my art in the future. I haven’t done a Starling yet, but it's definitely on my radar for future work! Thanks again for your interest, and feel free to get in touch if you'd like to discuss any other birds or ideas!
I love them but I hate them (just a little), I was going to buy Prismacolor but I live in Spain and here it's almost impossible to get them, plus they are very expensive, the most common ones with open stock are the Polychromos, I love them because they are very robust pencils, with an extraordinary pigmentation, but I hate them because there are tones that are not very successful, their balance, for me there are too many browns and greys, not enough purple tones and I'm missing some pink, then the gold, silver and bronze are not necessary, I am also missing some more pastel tones. But generally I'm very happy with them and I would not change them for anything.
I agree that the colour range is not the best when it comes to the full set. Have you tried adding some other colours from the pablo caran d'ache range, they blend very well with with the Polys not quite as hard but very similar & well priced. Look into Jacksons art supplies for open stock, I spend less than $20 to not pay customs charges. Order the few that I need and the postage works out cheaper than if I bought them in Canada, I'm sure it would be the same for where you are too. ( not big items like paper though)
I live in Europe too, and had the same "problem". I started to add Pablos to my Polys set a year ago. They have all the colors I missed. (Pastels, some unique colors etc) I get the Polys for around 1,80 Euro and the Pablos for 2,29 Euro open stock. I own both sets now, and I love them. They work amazing together.
@@EmmaHoganArt oh no it was just a joke ahahaha me saying basicaly im ignoring you and buying up all the art supplies because I'm a greedy little color fairy. lol
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
I bought my first set of 30 Polychromos 3 years ago, and currently I have 42 in total. I'm a mixed media artist, only using colored pencils for details, so they seemed the best for that purpose. I got a couple of Derwent Drawing and Luminance too, when I need something opaque that I can lay down quickly.
I do enjoy my Polychromos and I'd highly recommend them as well!
I agree with you that large sets are unneccesary. I only bought 30 because it came in a really nice faux leather pencil roll, and when I substracted the cost of pencils, the roll was practically free. (I've seen it sold alone for £22.) But as it was missing many of the colors I find most useful in my work (especially for portraits), I bought additional 12 pencils individually.
I'd just like to correct some of the things you've mentioned:
1. All colored pencils contain a mix of wax and oil, and none of the companies are public about the ratio because it's a proprietary recipe. (This was actually confirmed by a Faber-Castell employee in response to a customer inquiry.) There are also different types of wax used in different pencil ranges. Polychromos and Derwent Lightfast are both referred to as "oil based", however their hardness is quite different - Lightfast is softer than many other wax-based pencils. Derwent Studio are wax-based pencils, but they're even harder than Polychromos! Essentially, talking about oil vs wax is meaningless when it comes to pencil hardness.
I assume it might affect how well certain pencils dissolve with different solvents, but I don’t use them, so I can’t say for sure.
Wax vs oil content also doesn't affect opacity - transparency/opacity depends on pigments and fillers.
2. Faber-Castell star ratings are not trustworthy. I did some of my own lightfastness testing using natural sunlight, and my results have shown that even 3-star pencils can fade a lot, faster than some 2-star pencils. (Other artists have done this as well, and we came to the same conclusion.)
Faber-Castell doesn't use established lightfastness standards (ASTM or Blue Wool), and they never published any information how their 3-star system relates to those two international standards, ie. what 1, 2, or 3 stars are equivalent to on the ASTM or Blue Wool scale.
Also, "100+ years in museum conditions" (the highest lightfastness rating) means in *artificial light* with minimal UV exposure, absolutely no daylight. Natural sunlight is a strong source of UV light, and artworks we hang on our walls will fade a lot faster than "100 years". UV coating on windows plus framing the image under UV-coated glass will make the colors last longer, but not even close to 100 years.
Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with Polychromos! It's great to hear how they’re working for your mixed media projects. I agree that they are fantastic for detail work, and it’s interesting to hear your thoughts on the other brands you use as well.
I appreciate the corrections and additional information you've provided - especially regarding the mix of wax and oil in colored pencils.
Your experience with lightfastness is also valuable. I didn’t realize that Faber-Castell’s star system isn’t directly comparable to more established standards like ASTM or Blue Wool. I’ll definitely keep that in mind when considering the longevity of my artwork. Thanks for sharing your testing results and perspective!
I've just regained my pencil passion. 40 yrs ago all I had was a set of Berol Prismacolors and a 12 set of FC Coloray. I love trying new pencils. It's my therapy.
That’s amazing! Enjoy exploring new pencils, it’s great that drawing is your therapy. 😊
I’ve just found you and subscribed as I enjoyed this video..I’m trying coloured pencils for first time as I usually watercolour ..I treated myself to a 12 set of polychromas in the Black Friday sale. Looking forward to viewing all your other videos too 🤗
Thank you so much for subscribing! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. I actually switched from watercolors to colored pencils myself, and I can honestly say it’s been such a rewarding experience. Polychromos are a fantastic choice - you're going to love their vibrant colors and smooth application. I hope you enjoy exploring this new medium, and I can’t wait for you to check out more of my videos! 😊 Happy drawing!
polychromos are great pencils. I love them , started buying open stock and quickly got them all (except the metallics as i dont think I'd ever use them)
Lightfast ratings are rated under museum conditions, not regular daylight , so away from direct sunlight etc.
Just found your channel and subscribed 😊 I'm Canadian and love to support anyone in Canada 🇨🇦 I'm in B.C. , but, to the point, I love pencil crayons and have got the 120 set of Polychromos after pretty much going through the 60 set in a couple years. I also love the Derwent lightfast and my favourite, the Caran D'ache Luminance. Polychromos is my second favourite. Loved the video, keep up the good work! 😊
Thank you so much for subscribing and for the kind words! 😊 The Derwent Lightfast and Caran D'Ache Luminance are fantastic choices too, love their quality. I appreciate you taking the time to comment, and I’ll definitely keep the videos coming! Thanks again for the support! 😊🎨
Hello, fellow Canadian here. Southern Ontario. Have a good day...eh.
Delighted the algorithm brought me here, instant subscription. 😊
Polychromos are my favourites, too, with the exception of the 3 metallics, which are completely useless. Polys need a soft touch and patience; I like to compare them to watercolours, whereas the wax pencils are more like gouache.
Thank you so much for subscribing, I’m so glad the algorithm brought you here! 😊 I completely agree about Polychromos-they really do need a soft touch and patience. I love comparing them to watercolors too, especially with how they layer and blend. And yes, the metallics definitely don’t live up to the rest of the set! Your comparison of wax pencils to gouache is spot on as well.
New subscriber - polys are my all time faves because of their transparency. Also, though i haven't yet worked on sanded paper, im looking forward to trying Brush and Pencil's powder blender.
Welcome and thank you for subscribing! 😊 I totally agree, polys are amazing for their transparency - they really let you build up layers beautifully. I’ve heard great things about Brush and Pencil's Powder Blender!
That's why I love them too, because I can layer many layers without sacrificing vibrancy. I like the translucency.
But if folks only buy a quality set of 12.. then there won't be "hauls" and "binge buys" and... folks will actually use what they have instead of always on the hunt for the next set to buy!
That's a really good point! Investing in a high-quality set can definitely reduce the constant cycle of purchasing and help us focus on actually using what we already have. It's all about making smarter choices and enjoying what we own instead of constantly chasing the next 'haul.
The majority of channels that do “haul” videos are hobbyists & adult colorists. And their audiences enjoy seeing what new items are out there & living vicariously through those hauls.
Ive found from watching many artists channels that Colored pencil artists learn what pencils work for them, they know how to choose colors, their pencils aren’t viewed as precious things but instead used as tools. They care less about abundance and more about quality.
There’s nothing wrong with being a collector of art supplies, I enjoy my collection 😊 But there definitely is a different mindset that tends to exist if someone is a hobbyist versus an artist.
@@KitKatToeBeans I totally agree that there’s a shift in mindset between hobbyists and professional artists when it comes to art supplies. Hobbyists often enjoy the process of collecting and experiencing new tools, whereas artists tend to focus more on honing their craft with the materials that work best for them. It’s not so much about the number of items, but about finding the right tools for the job and getting the most out of them. That said, both approaches can be enjoyable in their own ways. There’s room for both the joy of collecting and the discipline of using quality tools effectively! 😊
Polychromos were my first, I have tried all the other expensive brands. None of them were bad or worse or better than Polychromos but Polychromos ate still my go to and the ones I reach for first.
Luckily I never bothered with spin-off store or Amazon brands like Brutfuner.
I began taking coloured pencil more seriously after knowing what I could get out of better quality pigment. My cousin has all the brands you can think of. I have only prismas and polychromos and not got any more brands after falling in love with polychromos. Out of the two, I use polychromos so much that my prismas have barely gotten use. I now have the full set of polychromos which I got much later. I started with a 36 set and took time to learn to layer and trust the process.
Other big brands like caran d ache can definately be overkill for those starting out. For the price of a full set, I could by 2 full sets of polychromos. Im not kicking the brand but you get better value with polychromos. Just be patient and learn how to get the best out of them.
Enjoyed all the information that you shared. ❤❤
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video and found the information helpful. I appreciate your support! 😊 If you have any questions or need more tips, feel free to ask!
@ I need lot of help in many areas but I am trying to do better. I am looking forward to seeing what you show us next.
Greetings from Southern Ontario. I just recently found your channel, I subbed and will definately be sending along likes. I am really glad to see you are from Canada. I have about 5000 pencils from many brands ( several double and triple sets from my favs ) I have been experimenting with them seriously for the last ten years. I have some really unique ideas I would like to share with you. I also have about 1000 markers, I mix and make my own markers ( about 100 of them so far ) some very unique colors. I would like to have your permission to e-mail you. Thank you and have a good day. Dave.
Hi Dave! Thank you so much for subscribing and supporting my channel-it means a lot! Your collection sounds absolutely incredible-5000 pencils and custom-made markers? Wow! I’d love to hear about your unique ideas here in the comments or maybe in a future video discussion. Thanks again for reaching out, and have a fantastic day! 🎨✏️
New sub from AB Canada. 🙂
@@vibrantvyt Thank you for subscribing & taking time to watch my content 😌
New subscriber here. Great points you make. I do love my polychromos.
Welcome, and thank you for subscribing!
I love the polys as I like to layer up. Is that a Bristolian accent I detect?
Thanks! Yes, layering is key! You're right! I’m from Bristol, so I’ve definitely got a bit of that Bristolian twang! 🏙️😊
Very interesting although due to carpal tunnel syndrome I don't get drawing much now. While I'm on I have been trying to get intouch with you lately about your art work, of which I have 13 of your British birds, and would maybe like to add one or two more. I have been wondering have you done a Starling? Thanks
Thank you so much for reaching out! I really appreciate your support and the fact that you have 13 of my British bird pieces - that's amazing! I’m sorry to hear about your carpal tunnel syndrome; I hope you're finding some ways to manage it. I just wanted to let you know that I’m based in Canada, and I’m in the process of setting up a website to sell my art in the future. I haven’t done a Starling yet, but it's definitely on my radar for future work! Thanks again for your interest, and feel free to get in touch if you'd like to discuss any other birds or ideas!
New subscriber is here, keep it up 👍
Thanks so much for subscribing! I really appreciate your support.
I love them but I hate them (just a little), I was going to buy Prismacolor but I live in Spain and here it's almost impossible to get them, plus they are very expensive, the most common ones with open stock are the Polychromos, I love them because they are very robust pencils, with an extraordinary pigmentation, but I hate them because there are tones that are not very successful, their balance, for me there are too many browns and greys, not enough purple tones and I'm missing some pink, then the gold, silver and bronze are not necessary, I am also missing some more pastel tones. But generally I'm very happy with them and I would not change them for anything.
I agree that the colour range is not the best when it comes to the full set. Have you tried adding some other colours from the pablo caran d'ache range, they blend very well with with the Polys not quite as hard but very similar & well priced. Look into Jacksons art supplies for open stock, I spend less than $20 to not pay customs charges. Order the few that I need and the postage works out cheaper than if I bought them in Canada, I'm sure it would be the same for where you are too. ( not big items like paper though)
I live in Europe too, and had the same "problem". I started to add Pablos to my Polys set a year ago. They have all the colors I missed. (Pastels, some unique colors etc) I get the Polys for around 1,80 Euro and the Pablos for 2,29 Euro open stock. I own both sets now, and I love them. They work amazing together.
instructions unclear.... still buying all the supplies. lol
@@jyemichael I am happy to help, what do you need to know 😊
@@EmmaHoganArt oh no it was just a joke ahahaha me saying basicaly im ignoring you and buying up all the art supplies because I'm a greedy little color fairy. lol
@@EmmaHoganArt but thank you!
@@jyemichael 😂 Have fun with your new pencils