Denisemomof4 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I first learned about them here but never had a desire for colored pencils for myself and saw no reason to spend that much money for my kids. As a way to de-stress I have taken up adult coloring books. I ordered my first set of Prismacolor pencils for $75 and am SO disappointed. An artist told me her set looked untouched after a year of using them. After one day, one coloring book page, many of my pencils were totally worn down and needed to be sharpened. I'm using a charcoal grey one right now and it's even more ridiculous than the other colors. What am I missing? Totally not a fan. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Do you have a small metal hand sharpener, because if you don't, you need one. If you sharpen them in an electric sharpener or a hand-crank sharpener, you will eat up a ton of the pencil with every sharpening event. Use a small, metal blade sharpener and just shave off a little bit whenever you need a new point. The benefit of Prismacolor pencils (or other art-quality pencils) is that the color is highly blendable. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Do you have a small metal hand sharpener, because if you don't, you need one. If you sharpen them in an electric sharpener or a hand-crank sharpener, you will eat up a ton of the pencil with every sharpening event. Use a small, metal blade sharpener and just shave off a little bit whenever you need a new point. The benefit of Prismacolor pencils (or other art-quality pencils) is that the color is highly blendable. Yup. These are my favorite colored pencils, but I don't let my kids near them. Beautiful color and blending quality. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Yup. These are my favorite colored pencils, but I don't let my kids near them. Beautiful color and blending quality. I let my kid near mine, and now that's all she'll use. ;) The color blends and goes down so beautifully with them. We love them. I watch for sales. This is the sharpener we keep with our prismacolors http://www.amazon.com/Sanford-1786520-Prismacolor-Premier-Sharpener/dp/B004ZDL0K2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Yeah, you only want to use the small little sharpeners, or a pen knife, to make a point as needed. Your nice pencils will last much longer this way. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Not sure what your friend was talking about. They are designed to be soft, as others have said, so yes, they will wear down! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I'm also confused by the untouched comment. I had a class with a colored pencil artist and her pencils were in all different states down to tiny nubs. She let us compare student grade to artist grade and hers were much softer and blended better. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 maybe your friend had the verithin ones; I hear they are harder but I haven't tried them 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 SO sad to hear that Prismacolor isn't working well for you. The nice expensive set usually gets good reviews! I very recently jumped on the colored pencil and coloring bandwagon and I'm enjoying the Faber-Castell set of 60 colored pencils. NOT cheap -- I think it ran about $90. However, they are very nice to use, with rich colors -- haven't tried branching out into blending yet, so can't comment there. Haven't needed to sharpen any yet, though I also haven't colored more than 2 pages yet ;) . I did buy the sharpener specifically designed for the pencils, so we'll see how that goes when the time comes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 In addition to proper sharpening to keep them in good shape: Do not drop your pencils or even set them down roughly as that will often break the inner color core so that when you sharpen them, even if you do it correctly, pieces will break off and the pencil will not last well!!!! They come in a variety of forms (including hardnesses and thicknesses) and it is possible that what you have and what your friend has are not the same--sort of like a number 2 pencil versus a softer or harder graphite core will be different. Also possible that in addition to your sharpening technique/tools your coloring technique is wearing them down more than necessary. Some people use a sandpaper tool to keep pencils sharp as well as proper sharpener or knife. If your friend can show you how to use them in person that might be helpful. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel-in-CA Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 We like Derwent. We found that all too often the prismacolor leads were broken inside the pencil and it led to endless frustrations, even with handsharpening. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 I have the Prismacolor sharpener. I thought I paid all this money because they lasted longer. Some colors, like the charcoal I used today, is so soft and wears down very quickly. I didn't even try to blend with them. Maybe that's why they're costly? Their for true artwork? I'm just using them in my adult color books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I have the Prismacolor sharpener. I thought I paid all this money because they lasted longer. Some colors, like the charcoal I used today, is so soft and wears down very quickly. I didn't even try to blend with them. Maybe that's why they're costly? Their for true artwork? I'm just using them in my adult color books They are for true artwork, but IMO, coloring IS true artwork. I am a materials snob, but I bought artist pencils for my kids; I bought them Windsor Newton watercolors and Arches paper. I think if art is worth doing, it's worth doing it with the best quality materials you can afford. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tm919 Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) They are nice pencils when bought at a good sale price, but I'd never buy them full price anymore. I question the artist that said they looked new after a year, my experience is that they wear down quickly and sometimes (more frequently over the past 5 years) I get ones that have broken lead in them, all the way down. I also got the dreaded off-center lead... very annoying. Edited March 14, 2016 by tm919 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted March 14, 2016 Author Share Posted March 14, 2016 True, Quill. I'm going to try to do some blending in my next pic. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 They make beautiful colors on paper. Your hobby is worth it. Ignore the price and color away! ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I have the Prismacolor sharpener. I thought I paid all this money because they lasted longer. Some colors, like the charcoal I used today, is so soft and wears down very quickly. I didn't even try to blend with them. Maybe that's why they're costly? Their for true artwork? I'm just using them in my adult color books Generally I'd get Prismacolor for the color quality, blending, overlayering, techniques that can be used with it. True artwork, yes. For cost effectiveness, I'd just get something cheap like Crayola pencils. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Just today, my two DDs and I broke out an adult coloring book (why does that sound X rated??) and DH's old Prismacolor pencils that he used 25 years ago when he was in school for architecture. Wow! They are SO much nicer to use and the colors are so much more vibrant than the student quality ones. I doubt I would have gone out and bought a set new but since we already have them, we are using them. Have fun with them! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pen Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 There are special blenders to do the blending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Yes they are softer. I'm sorry you were told otherwise. They work beautifully for artwork though. (although I have been disappointed with the quality control lately, as I've had off center and badly broken cores.) This is how they can be used in art/blending: 32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Are they your drawings, The Girl's Mom? They are magnificent. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Just today, my two DDs and I broke out an adult coloring book (why does that sound X rated??) and DH's old Prismacolor pencils that he used 25 years ago when he was in school for architecture. Wow! They are SO much nicer to use and the colors are so much more vibrant than the student quality ones. I doubt I would have gone out and bought a set new but since we already have them, we are using them. Have fun with them! My husband said the same thing when I told him about my adult coloring book. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Are they your drawings, The Girl's Mom? They are magnificent. Yes, thank you! 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 This is how they can be used in art/blending: Wow! Awesome drawings. Thank you for sharing these. Something to aspire to! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Yes, thank you! They are beautiful! Also thank you all for the tip on the sharpener. We've been using a regular one. 😬 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 We have a similar quality European brand and love them for the amount of pigment they lay down. I can remember having colored pencils (and watercolor paints for that matter) from crayola as a child, and being like "What is the point of these?" because they laid down almost no color. Then someone told me all Euro kids use colored pencils instead of crayons, and I thought, "Oh, those poor children who have to suffer through a faded, washed-out childhood." And then I used some, and I was an instant convert. I bought some prismacolors in the US in a flesh-tones set last time I was in town, and I think I used a Hobby Lobby 50% coupon or something, which brought them down to a reasonable price. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanny Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I think they are made here. They are expensive. You may want to do some reading on their web site, to see how to use them properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 At any rate, for an adult coloring book (those ones with the really intricate drawings, right?) I don't know that I'd do prismacolors anyway. We have a couple of those books; they are fun. They would be much less fun if I had to sharpen every 30 seconds because the necessary control is so fine and there's not a lot of room for blending. I'd either get the harder ones (the verithins) or maybe gel pens? We use those pens with the very fine fiber tip; they work okay on the postcard coloring things but bleed through the regular book pages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendy not in HI Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 My teenage daughters have been taking an "adult" coloring book to church lately. Maybe not the most reverent... Anyway, they have been using fine tip markers to color, and the pages look amazing! There is something about watching them fill in the lines with one color that makes the page just come to life. Just one swipe with the marker! I have to make myself look away and pay attention to the speaker... I don't have any prismacolor tips. I just wanted to say that I love those coloring books!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Governess Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 We have a set of Lyra watercolor pencils... They were very expensive but they are such a joy to use. I bought them because they are softer, so you don't have to press so hard on the paper, and you are able to really get a range of tones depending on how hard you press. The colors are so thick and satisfying. I can't imagine going back to regular colored pencils! We still have a box of crayola pencils but they only get used when we are traveling (the Lyra pencils aren't allowed to leave the house ;)). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I let my kid near mine, and now that's all she'll use. ;) The color blends and goes down so beautifully with them. We love them. I watch for sales. This is the sharpener we keep with our prismacolors http://www.amazon.com/Sanford-1786520-Prismacolor-Premier-Sharpener/dp/B004ZDL0K2 LOL, yup. The other day older DD referred to them as hers, as in, "Have you seen my Prismacolors?" At 12, though, she's plenty old enough to treat them well and keep track of them, so as long as she shares them with me I don't mind. :) BTW, I like markers better for grown up coloring books. (Am I the only that can't say "adult coloring books"? In my head that phrase gets lumped with "adult movies" and "adult magazines" and, well, I want pretty landscapes or horses in a valley, not ... that other stuff.) 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammyla Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 We love the colors here and blending, but they are soft and cost a lot. For simple coloring therapy, I'd use something cheaper. (Crayons have that old-school smell and might be another option :coolgleamA: .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I prefer to say "grown-up" too! On an old Arthur episode about Buster's asthma, Arthur feels at fault because he showed Buster "dirty" books (they were *dusty*). It always made me cringe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 Yes, thank you! Wow!! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 (Am I the only that can't say "adult coloring books"? In my head that phrase gets lumped with "adult movies" and "adult magazines" and, well, I want pretty landscapes or horses in a valley, not ... that other stuff.) At the library the other day I saw a sign advertising their new adult coloring club. In large letters it said ADULTS ONLY and the little kid behind me (he was maybe ten) asked his mom what in the world are they doing at that club that kids can't come. We all laughed pretty loud and the librarian didn't even shush us. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 My teenage daughters have been taking an "adult" coloring book to church lately. Maybe not the most reverent... Anyway, they have been using fine tip markers to color, and the pages look amazing! There is something about watching them fill in the lines with one color that makes the page just come to life. Just one swipe with the marker! I have to make myself look away and pay attention to the speaker... I don't have any prismacolor tips. I just wanted to say that I love those coloring books!! LOL, yup. The other day older DD referred to them as hers, as in, "Have you seen my Prismacolors?" At 12, though, she's plenty old enough to treat them well and keep track of them, so as long as she shares them with me I don't mind. :) BTW, I like markers better for grown up coloring books. (Am I the only that can't say "adult coloring books"? In my head that phrase gets lumped with "adult movies" and "adult magazines" and, well, I want pretty landscapes or horses in a valley, not ... that other stuff.) Which markers do y'all prefer? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plink Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) I prefer Faber-Castell Polychromos over Prismacolor. They are a bit harder (which I like), and the quality control is much higher so I rarely come across one that is off center which leads to breakage. The biggest advantage though, is that they leave less wax build-up on the paper and allow you to work over the same area multiple times. I blend with paint thinner rather than stumps. I'm also kinda' loving the Derwent Inktense pencils although I hesitate to classify them as colored pencils. They layer so beautifully, and once the layers dry (they are blended with water) each stays colorfast, so you get a really beautiful depth to images. Edited March 14, 2016 by Plink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Which markers do y'all prefer? I was wondering too! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 My teenage daughters have been taking an "adult" coloring book to church lately. Maybe not the most reverent... Anyway, they have been using fine tip markers to color, and the pages look amazing! There is something about watching them fill in the lines with one color that makes the page just come to life. Just one swipe with the marker! I have to make myself look away and pay attention to the speaker... I don't have any prismacolor tips. I just wanted to say that I love those coloring books!! LOL, yup. The other day older DD referred to them as hers, as in, "Have you seen my Prismacolors?" At 12, though, she's plenty old enough to treat them well and keep track of them, so as long as she shares them with me I don't mind. :) BTW, I like markers better for grown up coloring books. (Am I the only that can't say "adult coloring books"? In my head that phrase gets lumped with "adult movies" and "adult magazines" and, well, I want pretty landscapes or horses in a valley, not ... that other stuff.) What kind of markers do you guys like? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendy not in HI Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 (edited) What kind of markers do you guys like? We have the Crayola Super Tip markers - like these: http://www.amazon.com/Crayola-Washable-Super-Tip-Markers/dp/B00000J0RJ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1458062814&sr=8-4&keywords=crayola+markers I think our pack was a pack of 40 or 50, though. Lots of color shades, nice smooth tip that you can sort of lay down to fill in a wider line, or keep right on the tip for fine work. We've had them about 6 months and they are still working great. eta - those say scented - ours are not scented. I will keep looking.. maybe like these? (some sort of Crayola super tip.) Purchased at Walmart. They are working well, but we don't have little kids scribbling with them and leaving the caps off... http://www.amazon.com/Crayola-80-Count-SuperTips-Markers/dp/B00M4YUE0G/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1458062814&sr=8-6&keywords=crayola+markers Edited March 15, 2016 by wendy not in HI 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Are you taking issue with the quality of the color, or just how quickly they wear down? I think your friend may have misled you or perhaps has a grade of pen I that's harder than yours? You didn't accidentally buy watercolor pencils, did you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 I tried some Palomino colored pencils in the art store the other day and they seemed really suh-weet. Don't know about how they sharpen and all. I still have the crayons from my childhood (a long time ago!--technically, they (and I) qualify as "antiques") and they are *much* richer in pigment than the crayons you get today, UNLESS you go to the art store and get artist crayons. It's a whole different experience. I don't do much "adult coloring" -- only little postcard size things -- and I use Flair pens and highlighters. I like Prismacolors fine, but I also like the Lyra watercolor pencils. I gave my sister most of them as she is RILLY into coloring now and it is a mere amusement for me. :0) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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