Great video! Thanks for the thorough review covering every question someone would have about these books. Hadn’t heard of these books until this video. Would like to get the Christmas one. 😊
Patty- I really enjoyed your demonstrating with the different mediums. I'm a big fan of Albrecht Duerer. It's a learning curve like Inktense but worth the effort. All of the colors you used were so close, looked like you used the same colors on all of them.
I got the Castles book as a birthday present and am using it to practise drawing from photographs. For that it's very enjoyable. Looking at this book as a colour pencil colouring book though, I see what you mean when you say it's more painterly than pencil-focussed.
I had saved the 12 days of Christmas images from their website before so it's really nice to see them produce actual coloring books. my faves would the Christmas and Fantasy ones.
Thnx so much for this, I am so annoyed with myself over the Castle Gold pencils, I thought they were wax based and kept wondering why they didn't react properly, now I know why. I thought I had checked online about them, but obv not lol. We all live and learn.
Thank you a nice review I like the Christmas one the best❤ & I like your waters you mention it’s zinger clean brush pens . What count did you get I really like the way the brush pen’s ? They blend it really love❤ Thanks as always ❤
Thanks Claire, this was a really useful and informative review. I think for the subject matter, and quite high price-point of these books, there are other artists whose books I prefer (Leila Duly for flowers, Kerby for fantasy etc). Also, even as a fairly confident colourist, there's something about these illustrations that I find a tiny bit intimidating! I agree with you that they're probably more suited to watercolour pencils or paints. Having said that I do think the Christmas book is really lovely and is the one I'd consider buying.
I got the Enchanted Fantasy one when they first introduced them at a discount price, otherwise I think they're pretty expensive given that the paper, while it's reasonably thick, isn't particularly textured and I don't think you'll get many layers of coloured pencils down on them. I suspect I'll use a thin layer of watercolour paint or Inktense maybe rather than pencils.
Thank you for such an in-depth review. It was very informative and the books look very impressive and well put together. My only concern is that the description/information/poem about the picture is on the back of the previous page, and if you remove the picture page from the book for framing or hanging, what is on its back does not pertain to that particular picture. Still, the books look great and would be quite enjoyable to use.
Thank you very much for this useful review! I might get the flower one but only to trace them on really good paper. My impression is that the paper is not really that good in the books.
It's certainly not the best paper ever, it would definitely benefit from being thicker, but from the tests I did it exceeded my expectations with the brush pens and wax pencils x
I could I see these coloured in with the paints by KarenbyDesign magnificent paints/colours. Do you think they’d work Claire? You’re a temptress and I bought a small set then lashed out on the larger set I think it’s 50 but Karen is so generous she always adds more colours. Absolutely the most gorgeous metallic colours I’ve used. 🙏 Claire for another great review. I’m of the opinion as you and others are that these books lend themselves to water based colouring.💐🌹
Wow! That's a nice set of coloring books they have coming out right off the rip!🤷🤦😂😂🤭. I'm with you! I think I like the Christmas book! Even tho I don't celebrate it! I figured I'd like the castle one! But Yes it's a lot to do with colored pencils! And what do you think about the gold set of pencils of the Castle Arts!? I've not gotten any of their new pencils, just have the old original set of pencils! And of course anything you color,or work on always comes out amazing!🤷🙋😊❤️🔥. Thank you for sharing! 😊❤️🔥🙋. And the Castle Arts Gold pencils! I didn't know they were water color!!🤷😂🤭
I learned so much from this video. Love this flower book..... thank you from Chicago!!
Great video! Thanks for the thorough review covering every question someone would have about these books. Hadn’t heard of these books until this video. Would like to get the Christmas one. 😊
Patty- I really enjoyed your demonstrating with the different mediums. I'm a big fan of Albrecht Duerer. It's a learning curve like Inktense but worth the effort. All of the colors you used were so close, looked like you used the same colors on all of them.
It's always nice to watch your complete and honest reviews ! Thank you Claire. 💖💖💖
Thank you xx
I got the Castles book as a birthday present and am using it to practise drawing from photographs. For that it's very enjoyable. Looking at this book as a colour pencil colouring book though, I see what you mean when you say it's more painterly than pencil-focussed.
I had saved the 12 days of Christmas images from their website before so it's really nice to see them produce actual coloring books. my faves would the Christmas and Fantasy ones.
Thankyou for the review! I’ve not seen these books yet, I have to say they’re definitely not my cup of tea x
Thanks Claire for the review. I want the Christmas one.
It’s my favourite for sure xx
Thnx so much for this, I am so annoyed with myself over the Castle Gold pencils, I thought they were wax based and kept wondering why they didn't react properly, now I know why. I thought I had checked online about them, but obv not lol. We all live and learn.
Thank you a nice review I like the Christmas one the best❤ & I like your waters you mention it’s zinger clean brush pens . What count did you get I really like the way the brush pen’s ? They blend it really love❤
Thanks as always ❤
Thanks Claire, this was a really useful and informative review. I think for the subject matter, and quite high price-point of these books, there are other artists whose books I prefer (Leila Duly for flowers, Kerby for fantasy etc). Also, even as a fairly confident colourist, there's something about these illustrations that I find a tiny bit intimidating! I agree with you that they're probably more suited to watercolour pencils or paints. Having said that I do think the Christmas book is really lovely and is the one I'd consider buying.
Completely agree xx
I got the Enchanted Fantasy one when they first introduced them at a discount price, otherwise I think they're pretty expensive given that the paper, while it's reasonably thick, isn't particularly textured and I don't think you'll get many layers of coloured pencils down on them. I suspect I'll use a thin layer of watercolour paint or Inktense maybe rather than pencils.
Thank you for such an in-depth review. It was very informative and the books look very impressive and well put together. My only concern is that the description/information/poem about the picture is on the back of the previous page, and if you remove the picture page from the book for framing or hanging, what is on its back does not pertain to that particular picture. Still, the books look great and would be quite enjoyable to use.
Good point xx
what is the name of your water brush you use for the water colors?
Arteza water brush
How did you get these efore everyone else,just curious? I ordered mine in october and didn't get them until today.
Hi Inanna, I received them around the same time everyone in the UK did, but mine were sent directly from Castle Arts x
@@ColourwithClaire Cool,thanks was just curious.
Thanks for the review, the flower one is lovely but I think they are very expensive though at 19.99 each.
They are on sale for £14.99 on the Castle Arts website x
Thank you very much for this useful review! I might get the flower one but only to trace them on really good paper. My impression is that the paper is not really that good in the books.
It's certainly not the best paper ever, it would definitely benefit from being thicker, but from the tests I did it exceeded my expectations with the brush pens and wax pencils x
The illustrations have a particular 'paint by numbers' look about them. I like the fantasy and Christmas books. Good review, thanks Claire!
Yes that’s true!
I could I see these coloured in with the paints by KarenbyDesign magnificent paints/colours. Do you think they’d work Claire?
You’re a temptress and I bought a small set then lashed out on the larger set I think it’s 50 but Karen is so generous she always adds more colours.
Absolutely the most gorgeous metallic colours I’ve used.
🙏 Claire for another great review. I’m of the opinion as you and others are that these books lend themselves to water based colouring.💐🌹
Yes I think so! Try to use as little water as you can xx
Wow! That's a nice set of coloring books they have coming out right off the rip!🤷🤦😂😂🤭. I'm with you! I think I like the Christmas book! Even tho I don't celebrate it! I figured I'd like the castle one! But Yes it's a lot to do with colored pencils! And what do you think about the gold set of pencils of the Castle Arts!? I've not gotten any of their new pencils, just have the old original set of pencils! And of course anything you color,or work on always comes out amazing!🤷🙋😊❤️🔥. Thank you for sharing! 😊❤️🔥🙋. And the Castle Arts Gold pencils! I didn't know they were water color!!🤷😂🤭
Hey Tammy, I’ve reviewed the CA Gold pencils xx
What watercolor pens did you use?
Kuretake Zig Clean Color