Leave the Crayola pencils for the schoolyard; adult colouring is serious business. Here are Mindful Puzzles picks for beautiful mindful colouring moments.
The age-old question remains; pencil or marker?
This ultimately comes down to personal preference, but there are a few things to consider. While markers have that unparalleled glide-factor, pencils come in a colour spectrum so vast you can use any tone you imagine. Wax based, oil based, or water colour?
The world of the pencil can be overwhelming, so we’ve gone straight to the point.
WAX PROS
Colour shows up lighter which means you can work in layers. Wide range to choose from.
WAX CONS
Soft core which breaks easily. A ‘fixative’ is often required to prevent wax from blooming (leaving a light, waxy film on the surface).
OIL PROS
More expensive ‘oil painting’ look. Lays down a lot of colour meaning no need to layer. No need for fixative. Harder core and no film.
OIL CONS
More specialised which means they’re harder to locate. Smears and requires more skill to use.
Watercolour pencils allow you to cover more ground with the addition of water which can be helpful for large sections. However generally speaking, wax and oil-based pencils will allow you to enjoy better blending capabilities than with watercolours.
Mindful Puzzles’ favourites
Caran D’ache Luminance Pencils (Wax)
The Rolls Royce of stationery, these artist quality pencils are Swiss made and formulated using ground pigments specifically chosen for their purity, intensity and resistance to UV. These pencils have a delicate texture so you can achieve a variety of different techniques with extreme light-fastness for years to come.
Prismacolor Premier Soft Core Coloured Pencils (Wax)
These soft core pencils are easy to blend for any level of expertise due to their rich pigments and velvety application. Blend or shade with soft lead for vivid and intense or subtle and soft.
Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils (Oil)
Quality manufacturing, break resistance leads, maximum light-fastness, and vivid colours are what makes Faber Castell a household name. Creamy, smooth, easily blended and layered, and smudge resistant.
Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Art Pencils (Oil)
You can achieve fine, exact contours, as well as brilliantly coloured areas and delicate merges with these art pencils. They’re light and water resistant, smooth and durable – meaning the leads won’t break. Apart from use on paper and cardboard, they can also be applied to synthetic materials, wood and textiles.
