colored pencils

How are these Colored Pencils “Best Sellers”?

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I have a bit of a bummer of a review today. I have been asked to review the Amazon Basics colored pencils many times so when I saw them on sale during Black Friday I snapped up a set to review. All I can say is I am glad I didn’t pay full price. The day I am uploading this video the Amazon Basics set of 72 colored pencils is the #1 best seller in wooden colored pencils on Amazon. Why?!? Maybe I missed the mark and got it completely wrong but these are the least enjoyable pencils I have used in years. I just looked up the price of this set of pencils on Camel Camel Camel (it is a website that tracks Amazon price history) and this product fluctuates by $20 however recently the price has been very low so I am wondering if they might have changed manufacturers to get the price down. If you have used these pencils and have a different experience than me please let me know when you bought them and how much they were in the comments. There were so many good reviews for these pencils on Amazon but I feel like I was using entirely different pencils than what was described. Here is the link to the pencils I bought so you can have a closer look but I do NOT recommend them: *affiliate link used You can see my full review in the video below.

Pros:

  • They look nice
  • They sharpen well
  • They were packaged nicely

Cons:

  • They lift with water (but not in a good way like watercolor pencils)
  • Weakly pigmented
  • They are difficult to blend or layer
  • The hard lead was uncomfortable to color with
  • They were not enjoyable to use

I am confounded, these have such good reviews on Amazon, and they are the #1 best seller in colored pencils on the website but these are the most difficult pencils I have ever used. Maybe I got a bad batch or maybe they are making them in a different factory now but I did not enjoy them at all. I would have returned them if I was still within the return window because I would feel bad giving them to someone. You are better off spending the limited funds on a 12 set of Prismacolor than the 72 set of Amazon Basics. I hope you found this review helpful and til next time happy crafting!

You don’t need every color: Let’s Draw with a Tin of 12 Colored Pencils

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! High-quality art supplies can be expensive. It’s hard to justify paying $40 for a tin of 12 Derwent Lightfast pencils when you can get a tin of 120 budget pencils for that price. You may find that you have some projects that are really important to you. You want to give or sell your work, or hang it up and not worry that the colors will fade on you over time. Since colored pencil art takes so long to create compared to other mediums you want it to last. In today’s video, I will give you tips on using a limited number of colored pencils for maximum effect. You might even decide that you prefer to use a smaller number of pencils in your art.

I have a free drawing class for this project on March 15th at Michaels online. The class is free and open to USA and Canadian residents. A replay will be available on March 18th on the Michaels YouTube channel for all to enjoy. Please sign up if you are interested in the class, even if you can’t make it live. The pattern is available on the class page.

Supplies (affiliate links used)

I want you to create with whatever you have and can afford. I do not want this post to be seen as gatekeeping supplies. Many budget supplies are very good. Feel free to try this project or the free class using whatever you have. If you are considering purchasing compare the budget supply to a smaller amount of a nicer quality. You may be able to spend the same for a product that will last longer and be easier to use. Happy crafting!

Let’s Draw Jellyfish!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Today I have a time-lapse of some jellyfish for you!

You can find a real-time version of this tutorial in Critique Club. You can use any toned paper you like and any colored pencils that show up well on dark paper.

Enjoy the timelapse!

Supplies: (some affiliate links used)

Jellyfish are so fun to draw because of the swirly undulating lines and organic shapes! I hope you give it a try soon!

Just a reminder that I just launched the Critique Club Yearly Tutorial Archives containing past years’ Critique Club lessons. You can save 50% on any of the Critique club archive compilation courses by clicking on the special discount link below:

*Regular price $60, with coupon $30. Offer good through 1/31/22 Use coupon code LAUNCH50 if the discount doesn’t appear. **Additional tax may apply in some countries. **Each yearly archive compilation contains the 24 real-time tutorials posted in the Critique Club during the specified year. Prompts and original art critiques are not included in the archives.

Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Did You sign up for my free class yet?

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! I just wanted to remind you that I am teaching a free class for Michaels Craft Stores and Derwent tonight at 8pm Eastern Time (New York Time) and you can sign up on the class page. Here is the project we willl create!

The class will take about an hour. You must sign up on the Micheals’s website to attend. It is totally free and available worldwide. There is a supply list including a drawing you can download and print or transfer on your paper prior to class. I will be using Derwent Chromaflow pencils on Toned Tan mixed media paper but feel free to use what you have! Grab a brown bag if you don’t have toned tan! I hope you can join me for this fun free class and til then happy crafting!

Substituting products on Mixed Media Paper!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Have you ever seen a tutorial that you would like to try only to find out that you don’t have the supplies the artist is using? I think we have all been there. Today I will show yuo how to get a very similar look with 3 different media so hopefully you can find a product that will suit your style or give you ideas on how to make what you have work better!

I also want to mention that this painting took nearly 4 hours so please don’t expect similar results in 30 minutes. I didn’t want to time lapse this so I had Jason edit it down but keep it real time so you could get a feel for the techniques better but I realize that might make you think it was drawing quicker than it was and I like to keep it real:) Often when someone isn’t happy with their art (especially colored pencil or marker) it’s because it’s not done yet. I hope this video inspires you!

Supplies (Affiliate links used)

Here is a closer look at the artwork:

Colored pencil with touches of white pen

Adding a base media can save time and give great results!

Watercolor base with colored pencils & white pen.

And my favorite…

Alcohol marker base with colored pencils and white pen.

Which one did you like best? Happy crafting!

Using Colored Pencils on Pastelmat For The First Time!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends, today I am going demonstrate colored pencils on Pastelmat paper by Clairfontaine.

Pastelmat is a unique textured surface that was designed for holding many layers of pastel but is also popular with colored pencil artists. It has an almost flocked feeling to it but the surface is hard and not soft like velour paper. It’s textured but not rough like sanded paper (one of my favorite colored pencils surfaces.) If you want to see colored pencil demos on sanded paper I have a blue jay painting here and a sunset here. Although these are both textured paper they are very different in how they take colored pencil.

Pastelmat allows the artist to apply more layers than they would on ordinary paper but doesn’t grab as much pigment as sanded paper does meaning you can add more thin layers on Pastel mat and it also means that it will take a lot longer to create a finished work of art. In today’s real time demo I will paint one bud, a branch and some leaves. I’m not sure how long I spent on the flowers but it was several hours. I really like the look of my painting on this paper but it sure took a lot of time. I plan on testing this paper with different pastels next to see if I like it more with those mediums.

Supplies: (affiliate links used)

So, what do you think? Have you tried Pastelmat? I need t use it more and with other media before I make my final decision. I do like the lo of this painting but it was very consuming. Let me know what you think and til next time happy crafting!

PS I forgot to post my SatChat here yesterday so if you are looking for it you can find it on my YouTube channel.

Pelican in Pencil & Happy Father’s Day!

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends! Happy Father’s to all the dads out there. I hope you have a special day:) Today we are going to work in a variety of black, gray and white pencils in a grey sketchbook.

You can also use charcoal and chalk for this. The grey of your paper will take out some of the work of shading. You can find a real time version of this tutorial in Critique Club. Critique club is a monthly membership group in my teachable school that allows you to upload 2 paintings a month for an individualized critique from me to help you grow as an artist. You are not required to upload any artwork though, if you want to join just for the bonus tutorials and camaraderie of other like minded artists that’s fine too:) All are welcome! In addition each month you get 2 new long format intermediate/advanced art tutorials from me. You also have access to all past tutorials while you are a member (there are currently 36!) and you can get inspired by past creative prompts as well if you need inspiration. Click here to learn more about Critique Club or sign up today!

Now, on to the time lapse!

Supplies:

Want more help in the drawing department?

Drawing is the foundation to all art. If you are feeling weak in that area I have a course that will teach you how to draw what you see as we work through a variety of lessons. You will learn drawing, shading, perspective and other techniques so you can go from “I can’t draw a straight line” to “I can draw whatever I have in mind!” Click here to find out more about Learn to Draw with Lindsay. It makes a great Father’s Day gift too!

I think we are going to take a drive to the coast today. I hope you find a nice way to spend the day and til next time happy crafting!

Blue Jay in Colored Pencils on Sanded Paper with Powder Blender

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you are able to safely visit with your mothers, children or grand children this year whether in person, on the phone or via the Internet. Today I am sharing a painting I did in colored pencil.

It was a lot of fun and really satisfying to draw/color/paint. Partly because of the pencils, they are decent quality but not so expensive that I have to worry about using up colors and partly because of the sanded paper and powder blender which let me layer up loads of saturated color. If you have never tried colored pencils with sanded paper before you are in for a treat, it is effortless to lay down color and build layers. Watch the video for a time lapse demo. If you are interested in a real time tutorial of this painting you can find it along with dozens of other long format tutorials that are more advanced than what I do on YouTube in Critique Club.

Supplies (affiliate links used)

Have a great Sunday everyone and til next time happy crafting!

Review of Cezanne Colored pencils

| thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich

Hi friends, today we are going to take a look at the new 120 set of Cezanne colored pencils available from Creative Mark. These pencils are also available in a set of 72.

Overview: These are touted as a lightfast brand of artist quality blendable wax-based set if pencils that can hold up to other more expensive brands. Today we will put these pencils to the test on a variety of surfaces from watercolor paper, to sanded paper to a coloring book page and standard drawing paper.

Pros:

  • Price (around 50 cents a pencil)
  • Blendable
  • Performs well on all surfaces tested but better on more textured surfaces as it allows for more pigment saturation.
  • Sharpens well to a strong point. (I only had one issue with breakage with a handheld sharpener and it is in the video, that pencil sharpened well in an electric tho) It also sharpens well with a blade.
  • Nice selection of colors although many pencils in the 120 set are “samey”
  • Colors layer well
  • The tin is nice and the trays are sturdier than most.
  • Very little glare or wax bloom even when burnishing.

Cons:

  • Not available open stock
  • Several leads not centered making it wasteful when sharpening with a pencil sharpener so a knife was needed to sharpen those.
  • The white is weak, better as a blender than a white

Paper I tested these pencils on:

I will have upcoming videos for the bird artworks.

Bottom line, the more I used the Cezanne pencils the more I like them. I think they are a good value for your money but not as pigmented as Polychromos or Prismacolor. I recommend adding a Prismacolor white to this set for maximum versatility. These pencils felt more like an oil-based pencil (more like Polychromos than Prismacolor) than wax and they worked very well on sanded paper with the powder blender technique. I plan to use that a lot with these pencils as they are much cheaper than Polychromos for practice. I got much nicer results with rougher paper and had a bit of difficulty getting the color saturation I wanted on the smooth coloring book page but the smooth drawing paper with just a bit more tooth worked well. I recommend these for non-permanent work because even though the tin say these pencils have good lightfastness there are no ratings on the pencils.

I hope you found this review useful and til next time happy crafting!