Coloured pencils, sticks, and blocks are among the most flexible tools an artist can use. Whether you're a novice, a professional, or an art lover, these media offer accuracy, vibrant colours, and endless creative options. However, with numerous choices, selecting the right brand can be daunting.
That’s where King’s Framing & Art Gallery, a top Canadian art supply retailer, comes in. We offer a carefully curated selection of top brands, including Prismacolor, Derwent, Faber-Castell, and Caran d'Ache, providing access to high-quality art supplies.
The Difference Between Coloured Pencils, Sticks, and Blocks
Coloured Pencils – Precision & Detail
Coloured pencil leads allow artists to create detailed, intricate drawings with precise control. They are excellent for layering, blending, and shading—ideal for those seeking accuracy.
Art Sticks – Expressive & Bold
Art sticks are pigment coloured pencils without wooden casings. They enable more expressive strokes, wider applications, and improved coverage. Ideal for artists aiming to produce bold lines and vivid colour fills.
Colour Blocks – Maximum Coverage & Texture
Colour blocks are larger pigment pieces that provide exceptional coverage, typically in rectangular or square shapes. They’re excellent for mixed-media work, textured effects, and large-scale compositions.
Top Brands for Coloured Pencils, Sticks & Blocks
Prismacolor – Smooth & Blendable
Prismacolor is a widely favoured brand of coloured pencils, appreciated by artists for its soft, wax-based cores, which facilitate easy blending and layering. The Prismacolor Premier series is especially renowned for its bright pigments and smooth performance.
Derwent – British Craftsmanship & Variety
Derwent offers a variety of coloured pencils to meet different artistic needs. Their Artist pencils deliver firm, sharp detail, while Derwent Lightfast and Coloursoft pencils provide a velvety texture for rich application. The Lightfast are oil-based pencils, while the Coloursoft are wax-based. Their XL Blocks are a game-changer for mixed-media artists seeking intense colour payoff.
Faber-Castell – Professional-Grade Quality
Faber-Castell’s Polychromos coloured pencils are a staple among professional artists. These oil-based pencils provide excellent lightfastness, meaning they resist fading over time, and a smooth, smudge-resistant finish. The Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils and Pitt Pastel Pencils add even more versatility for mixed-media lovers.
Caran d'Ache – Swiss Perfection
Caran d’Ache is a high-end brand known for its Luminance series, which boasts some of the most lightfast coloured pencils available on the market. Their Neocolor II water-soluble crayons and Museum Aquarelle pencils are fantastic for artists who love to experiment with watercolour effects.
Whether you’re a professional artist, student, or hobbyist, coloured pencils, sticks, and blocks provide limitless options. Selecting the right brand is crucial to achieving optimal results, and purchasing from a reputable supplier like King’s Framing & Art Gallery ensures authentic, high-quality materials.