Are these pencils worth the money? Review of Derwent Lightfast Colored Pencils

Today we are going to take a look at Derwent Lightfast Pencils. All 100 colors in the range are guaranteed lightfast for 100 years under museum conditions. This is a massive benefit to colored pencil artists as it takes longer to render in colored pencils than many other mediums and you want that time-consuming work to last. With a retail price of $4.10 a pencil, it is one of the most expensive colored pencils out there. Currently as of 2/9/21 Blick as the singles on sale for $2.05 which is a great price! Today we will find out if they are worth it!

The best price and selection I currently see on Derwent Lightfast Pencils is Blick. I also mentioned Derwent Drawing Pencils in this review, I recommend them as well especially if you want a lightfast pencil set in earthier tones that are more affordable. Here are the stamps I use to make my swatches. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of Derwent Lightfast pencils

Pros:

• They are guaranteed Lightfast
• Nice selection of 100 colors
• These colors layer and blend well
• Respond to Blending pencils as well as solvent (Gamsol and clear alcohol marker tested well)
• Vibrant color
• No breakage whatsoever in the leads
• Keeps a point fairly well

Cons:

• Price (MSPR is $4 per pencil but Blick has had singles 50% off lately so watch for deals)
• The pencil sets are packaged in flimsy plastic trays inside nice tins. I recommend reinforcing the plastic trays with cardboard or something rigid if you want to store them in the tins.

Bottom Line: I recommend these pencils to any artist who sells their colored pencil artwork or wants their work to last generations. I do think they are worth the price for the benefit of longevity but if fading is not a concern you can find less expensive pencils that will perform equally as well.