Like any other art supply, whether it’s a drawing medium, sketchbook, sharpeners, palettes and so on, art coloured pencils are incredibly versatile, differing in quality, materials, colour intensity, grades, hardness... And while you can choose randomly and see what you like, there are reasons to learn about the different types, especially if you are an aspiring artist and you are looking for professional colour pencils.
Learning about the different types of artists colour pencils, their characteristics, abilities, and uses, can help you choose your favourite pencil for colouring. It’s important to understand that there isn’t one option that’s better than the rest of them, but different types of pencils can be more suitable for different types of art and different techniques. So, the truth is that you will probably end up buying more types of colouring pencils for artists, to achieve different effects.
There are three basic types of pencils for colouring, based on the agent they use to bind the pigment: wax-based, oil-based and watercolour pencils. But inside these three groups, you can find many different pencils, with different properties and different qualities, which is why they have a wide range of prices.
Wax-Based Pencils
Wax is one of the most common binding agents for coloured pencils. This is why wax-based pencils are probably the easiest variety to find, in a huge variety of different sets. One of the ways in which they defer from each other is in the ratio between the wax and the pigments. Based on this ratio, they can offer different consistency, with professional colour pencils being the softer options. This ratio plays an important part in the intensity of the colours, and consequently in the price of the pencil for colouring in question.
These pencils leave lines with a smooth texture, provided by the wax. The wax helps spread the pigment and adheres to the surface on which you are colouring, as well as other layers of pencil. Wax-based pencils are especially popular amongst artists because they don’t smear easily and because they can be used to successfully achieve multiple layers.
The biggest downside of wax-based pencils for colouring is that they aren’t the best at withstanding time. Namely, the wax undergoes a natural oxidation process, because of which it rises to the surface of the artwork. Nevertheless, if you want to keep an artwork made with wax-based colours intact, you can use a fixator to seal it. Furthermore, if you have a piece that has lost its glory because of this natural process, called wax blook, you can wipe it off with a clean dry cloth, apply more colour and then don’t forget to fixate it.
Oil-Based Pencils
One of the main reasons why many professional artists prefer oil-based pencils over wax-based pencils is exactly because they protect the artwork from wax bloom. While these artist colour pencils use oil as a binding agent, they also contain wax. Nevertheless, the oil is what ultimately protects the wax from oxidising, keeping your artwork in good shape.
But there is more to it, than simply stopping this natural process from occurring. Many artists prefer the consistency of oil-based artists pencils because most of them are medium-soft, but they are a little bit firmer than their wax-based counterparts. This essentially allows the artist to have more control and that they are less likely to break. They also provide quite a smooth texture.
Nevertheless, oil-based pencils also have a downside. Because of the binding agent, that gives them some of their best characteristics, they are also prone to smearing, and they aren’t easy to erase.
Note: The differences between wax-based and oil-based pencils can be difficult to spot, so it can be quite hard to decide which ones to use, especially if you are a beginner. In fact, many manufacturers avoid making noticeable labels for the binding agent, exactly because of this. Typically, oil-based professional coloured pencils are more expensive, and often they offer fewer colour options. If you are a beginner artist, you may want to try both options before deciding on which one you should try, but for the best results, you should buy high-quality professional level artists coloured pencils.
Watercolour Pencils
Binding the pigments with water-soluble gum, watercolour pencils are quite different from wax and oil-based pencils, and they are used for a different purpose. Of course, they can be used in the traditional manner, for colouring, sketching, or drawing – if used dry, but that’s not their intended use. The main purpose of watercolour pencils is to give the artist more precision for details, for watercolour artworks.
Namely, the binding agent in these pencils reacts to water, thinning out the pigments and spreading them on the surface. Many artists use them to create paintings in combination with watercolour paints. In a way, they are regular watercolours enclosed in a wooden pencil. Watercolour pencils offer different uses. As previously mentioned, you can choose to use them like any other pencil for colouring, or you can use them with water. You can add water with a brush or a sponge to thin and spread the pigments, you can dip the tip of the pencil in water or you can try to use them on a wet surface for a number of different effects that can help you create beautiful paintings.
Comments
Post a Comment