When you are starting out with coloring, picking whether you want to use pencils, gel pens or markers can feel a little overwhelming. Let alone picking what type or brand of pencils to use! If you haven’t already, sign up to get 24 free Coloring pages here before we get started.
For many adults, this may be the first time they’ve colored in years since they were kids. However, coloring has been proven to be an effective way to both relax and let out your creativity energy! The tools you have access to as an adult is limitless. These include the familiar coloring pencils, and less familiar markers (water or alcohol based) and gel pens.
Which coloring tools should I pick?
Coloring is a very personal experience. For your first coloring page, we recommend using coloring pencils because chances are, pencils were what you used most to color as a child! By letting out your inner child, you can start your coloring journey with nostalgia and familiarity. Don’t over think it! Pick your favourite childhood colors, pick your favourite designs the inner child you would love, and feel proud when you color within the lines 😄
The great thing about having digital coloring pages is that you can print them over and over again. One design can produce a huge variety of different artworks! If you are curious about how it would look with a different color – do it! The best way to color is to enjoy the experience.
For those starting out again with coloring pencils, we recommend using either Crayola or Sargent.
Sargent Art Premium Coloring Pencils, Pack of 50 Assorted Colors
Sargent Pencils are a great brand and set to start off with. While the colors aren’t as smooth (blendable) or vivid as higher priced pencils, they are great value for money and quality for the price. With 50 colors there is also an ample amount of colors to choose from.
Crayola Colored Pencils, Pack of 36 Assorted Colors
If you’re looking for a more nostalgic brand, Crayola is also a popular brand to start off with. These are a quality hobby pencil with a reasonable price tag which provide a smooth, vibrant color to practice more detailed techniques as your coloring skills grow. Crayola Colored Pencils are the perfect tools for the young – and the young at heart!
Why does blending matter?
When it comes to using coloring pencils, these tools allow colorist artists (that’s you 😁 ) to mix different shades of colors together and minimise pencil marks. When you are coloring, you can either use a light pressure to build up color in layers, or try put a medium-hard pressure which applies more pigment to the paper in one go. Quality wax-based pencils allow for better pressure control and less strain on your coloring hand.
Another way to blend colors together is using a colorless wax binder. By using a binder, you can color small circles over the pencil layers to blend the colors together. However, this can be a more advanced skill as using a binder can make your coloring look some areas too shiny overall and make it hard to have the textures look consistent.
