Holbein Artist Colored Pencils

Holbein Artist Colored Pencils Review

The Holbein Artist Colored pencils are a very interesting colored pencil set in that they combine multiple ingredients including wax, fats, and oils to their pigments for their cores.  The result is a unique experience that really has to be tried to appreciate.  The color selection is vast as the sets are quite large so most people should find the colors that they need.  They are very expensive, however, so they may be out of some people’s colored pencil budgets.  They come in a round barrel, have a 3.8 mm core, and are available in sets of 100 and 150.

Visual Appeal – 4/5

The color output is incredibly vivid.  The concoction of oils, waxes, and premium pigments results in a very thick layer of color that really “pop” off the page.  The sets are quite large so you will have a lot of colors to choose from.  This is particularly true in brighter colors such as yellows and purples.  They are lacking in some of the darker colors such as gray and brown, though.  Also, blending isn’t great with these so if there are any color combinations that you are after that require combining pencils you may struggle to achieve them.

Usability and Durability – 3.5/5

These are some of the smoothest colored pencils we have come across.  The application is extremely buttery and soft and they are a lot of fun to experiment with.  That being said, they do struggle a little bit in keeping a sharp point due to being so soft which can make them a bit challenging to use in areas that require close detail.  Also, as mentioned above, they don’t do a very good job of blending and more than a couple of layers on top of each other result in a bit of a mess.  While this is an obvious tradeoff that you have to have when it comes to softer leads, there are better options out there for those who enjoy blending.

Packaging and Presentation – 4.5/5

These colored pencils come in an attractive but simple cardboard box that consists of multiple racks for the pencils (the racks typically hold 50 pencils each).  There is a helpful chart located under the lid of the box that makes for easy identification.  The pencils themselves have a very attractive outer shell that accurately matches the true color output of the pencil.  The brand and color identification is stamped in gold on the side of each pencil.

Cost – 3/5

These are extremely expensive pencils.  There really isn’t any other way to put it.  However, the high price comes in part due to the unique and exotic cores that you really can’t find with many other pencil brands.  Also, other premium brands that cost quite a bit offer smaller sets for those who want to try them out without paying a huge asking price but Holbein doesn’t offer this.

Overall Ranking – 4/5

The Holbein Artist Colored pencils attempt to stand out in the competitive premium-priced colored pencil category by providing interesting cores and huge color selections.  We really could tell the difference that the wax/oil hybrid core brings to the table.  The colors available put out awesome color that seems to jump off the page and stroking the pencil on paper is a joy to try due to how buttery smooth they are.  We do wish there were more selections in dark colors and that blending was more on-point, though.  The high asking price will scare some people off but for those willing to bite the bullet you will experience a truly unique pencil that you won’t find anywhere else.

SOURCE:http://www.bestcoloredpencils.com/holbein-colored-pencils-review/