Prismacolor is a well known brand that produces artist supplies. Among their list of offerings are their famed Premier Colored Pencils which I was gifted some time ago. Lately I’ve been putting them to good use and so I’m experienced enough to offer an honest review of these wonderful pencils.
One thing I absolutely love about Prismacolor premier pencils is how much the colors pop on the page compared to other budget colored pencils I brought in the past. And in addition to the beautifully vibrant colors, they have a rich waxy texture to them. The colors can be applied in a smooth motion that doesn’t require much pressure on the wrist to get bold pigments.
But perhaps one of Prismacolor’s biggest selling points is how well the colors blend. Blending is seamless and often doesn’t require external tools to get pro-level results. Laying the colors over each other smoothly is enough to breed new color options on the page, giving you endless possibilities.
A downside to Prismacolor pencils is that they are more delicate than other high-end pencils on the market. They aren’t designed as sturdy, which means its easy to break the tips when sharpening. And if you’re careless with the pencils, you could event end up breaking their cores, leading to a shortened pencil lifespan.
As with many premium art pencils, Prismacolor Premium Colored Pencils are available in different quantities, providing options to suit any budget. You can get sets of 12, 24, 48, 72 and 150 pencils. A set of 12 pencils will run you around £25/$25 while a [hard to find] set of 150 is in the ball park of £150/$130.
My advice here is to decide which set to buy based on your level of interest in art. If adding color to your art is a serious step you want to take then perhaps investing in a set of 48 is best. Otherwise, if you just want to fill in some coloring books as a hobby I recommend the 12 or the 24 sets.
It’s important to note that these coloring pencils have a fantastic range of color. Meaning, each pencil’s tone of color can vary based on how much pressure you apply. When you pair that with the fact that these pencils are made for blending, no matter what set you go for you’ll have a color range that basically triples the amount of color options in your set. So even if you started with a 12 set you’d end up with a greater number of color choices by blending.
Perhaps the most important thing to note for professional artists is that Prismacolor colored pencils have been said to fade over time. So if you’re an artist specifically looking to use colored pencils to sell art commissions you’ll either need some preservative solutions to cover your pieces with or it might be best to go with a more proven pencil brand geared specifically towards pro level artists.
Verdict
Prismacolor Premier Pencils are a fantastic option for those who are exploring their love of art. Whether you want to dabble in coloring books or you want to bring some life to your own artwork, Prismacolor offers a fantastic range of pigments to really make your pages pop. Also, if you’re lucky enough you may even spot some special edition sets that appeal to specific art-styles, such as the Manga colors set. These special editions have colors you won’t find in some of the other sets.
Another bonus I didn’t mention before is that the white pencil in the Prismacolor collection is one of the best I’ve used. There are white pencils I’ve used with other brands that don’t layer very well over other colors in the range.
The only drawbacks here is the lack of durability compared with other colored pencil brands and the fact that some of the colors fade away with time.
With that being said, I highly recommend Prismacolor premier pencils unless you are looking to sell your work.
Buy Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils 12 Set | Buy from Amazon US | Buy from Amazon UK
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils 24 Set | Buy from Amazon US | Buy from Amazon UK
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils 48 Set | Buy from Amazon US | Buy from Amazon UK
