Expensive Prismacolors: do you get what you pay for? A comic review (2024)

FAQs

Expensive Prismacolors: do you get what you pay for? A comic review? ›

A comic review. Prismacolor colored pencils are professional grade and cost over $1 per pencil. Compared to cheaper brands such as Crayola, Prismacolors are infinitely more pigmented and smooth. When used on paper, these pencils don't leave white spaces that take away from the drawing like other brands.

With their pigment-rich cores and smooth laydown, Prismacolor pencils provide an unparalleled coloring experience that can bring your coloring books to life. These blendable colored pencils offer a wide range of colors that make it easy to create beautiful works of art. They offer a wide variety of vivid colors.

Prismacolor is a brand of professional visual arts supplies originated in 1938 by the Eagle Pencil Company (rebranded to Berol), and now currently manufactured by Newell Brands.

Some stores like Michaels have displays of Prismacolors where you can by a singular pencil. Michaels online store has single pencils listed but they are in-store pick-up only.

A good pencil buying strategy is to get a box of about 24 colors. I like Prismacolor Premier (soft pencils, rich color, but they get dull fast) or Verathin (harder pencils, not as intense color, but they hold a sharp point).

Prismacolor colored pencils are professional grade and cost over $1 per pencil. Compared to cheaper brands such as Crayola, Prismacolors are infinitely more pigmented and smooth. When used on paper, these pencils don't leave white spaces that take away from the drawing like other brands.

Unfortunately, Lilac and Lavender were discontinued due to a raw material discontinuation. As we reviewed the potential solutions and attempted to adjust the formula to get a color match, we determined that a color match would not be possible.

Prismacolor is purchased by Newell Brands, and the brand continues to establish itself as high-quality, premium Fine Art brand.

In general, my favorite brands are Prismacolor, Caran d'Ache, Faber-Castell, and Derwent. They have proven track records and offer high-quality artist grade products. Because different colored pencils of every type can be used together on the same artwork, you needn't feel pressured to pick a brand and stick to it.

Polychromos introduced in 1908 derives from Ancient Greek words "poly" and "chroma" meaning many colors.

What is the best way to blend Prismacolor pencils? ›

When blending colors with Prismacolor Premier® Soft Core Colored Pencils, it can be helpful to employ a technique known as burnishing. Burnishing involves layering different shades of colored pencils using heavy pressure.

Prismacolor Premier pencils are made in Mexico and are wax based, making them very soft with incredibly vibrant pigments.

Despite all their quality control issues, they have more pigment so they lay down color better, faster, and more smoothly. They also contain less fillers and binding agents than Crayola, so they're easier to use. However, every pencil works differently for each artist.

The soft core doesn't hold a sharp point for long and is very fragile, but the buttery blending is something that many other brands have tried to replicate, and is what makes the Prismacolors a favorite pencil among so many artists.

In general, my favorite brands are Prismacolor, Caran d'Ache, Faber-Castell, and Derwent. They have proven track records and offer high-quality artist grade products.