20% off $99 or 25% off $179 plus Free Shipping on orders $99 or more!* Use code CDGH Expires 05/27/13 Learn More>

Art Room Aid - Fund an Art Project - Learn More

Browse more:

Conté Crayons

Photos

Reviews

Invented in France in 1795 by Nicolas-Jacques Conté especially for drawing and sketching, Conté Crayons are made from a blend of natural pigments, kaolin clay, and graphite. The Conté crayon has been used by many of the world’s greatest artists, including Picasso, Delacroix, and Degas.

The rich, vivid colors of Conté Crayons mix together nicely, and a range of effects can be consistently produced. They are well suited for use on newsprint, bristol, toned paper or heavily grained surfaces. Their rich opacity makes them ideal for work on darker papers and their quality ensures the longevity of drawings. Conté crayons are waxier and much firmer than soft pastels, so they produce little dust and are easy to control.

Sharpen Conté Crayons to a chisel tip with a sanding pad for detailed work or drag them flat on their sides for various shading techniques on large areas. The unique shape allows the sticks to be broken for easier use. Sticks are 2½" long × ¼" square (63 mm × 6 mm). Each box contains 2 or 12 crayons of one color, except for the color sets.

Please refer to the Item Specs tab of this page for a complete listing of the colors in each set.

Tin Box Set of 6 — NEW!The second offering in Conté's limited edition series, this set contains six sketching crayons in a white lacquered tin, including Sanguine, Sanguine 18th Century, Bistre, White 2B, Gray, and Black.

Matchbox Set of 4, Sketching Colors

Black B
White 2B
Sanguine
Bistre

Tin Box Set of 6, Sketching Colors NEW!

Sanguine
Sanguine 18th Centry
Bistre
White 2B
Gray
Black

Set of 12, Assorted Colors

001 Bistre
002 Dark Green
065 Bright Red
004 Yellow Medium
009 Black
011 Pink
012 Orange
013 White
017 Yellow Ochre
069 Cobalt Blue
044 Saint Michel Green
046 Dark Ultramarine

Set of 12, Landscape Colors

056 Sky Blue
010 Ultramarine Blue
053 Payne's Gray
030 Mineral Green
008 Light Green
016 Olive Green
051 Green Gray
044 Saint Michel Green
047 Naples Yellow
014 Golden Yellow
007 Red Brown
032 Umber

Set of 12, Portrait Colors

007 Red Brown
010 Ultramarine
012 Orange
018 Raw Sienna
032 Umber
039 Garnet Red
031 Bordeaux
047 Naples Yellow
048 Flesh
049 Light Orange
011 Pink
040 Red Lead

Set of 12, Sketching Colors

Bistre Carre
Carre Sanguine Medicis
Carre Sanguine Watteau
Carre Sanguine XVIIIth Century
Carre Sanguine
Carre White B
Carre Gray
Carre Black HB
Carre Black B (2)
Carre Black 2B (2)

Set of 18, Assorted Colors

013 White
004 Yellow Medium
047 Naples Yellow
063 Gold Ochre
012 Orange
003 Vermilion
011 Pink
041 Cyclamen
055 Persian Violet
029 Light Blue
006 King Blue
044 Saint Michel Green
002 Dark Green
001 Bistre
007 Red Brown
032 Umber
020 Light Gray
009 Black

Set of 24, Assorted Colors

001 Bistre
009 Black
011 Pink
012 Orange
013 White
014 Gold Yellow
018 Raw Sienna
020 Light Gray
024 Light Yellow
026 Red Violet
028 Scarlet
033 Dark Gray
040 Red Lead
041 Cyclamen
047 Naples Yellow
048 Flesh
049 Light Orange
063 Gold Ochre
064 Chinese Red Vermilioned
068 Blue Violet
070 Space Blue
080 Van Dycke Brown
Portrait Pink
Portrait Brown

Set of 48, Assorted Colors

001 Bistre
002 Dark Green
003 Vermilion
004 Yellow Medium
005 Violet
006 King Blue
007 Red Brown
008 Light Green
009 Black
010 Ultramarine
011 Pink
012 Orange
013 White
014 Gold Yellow
016 Olive Green
017 Yellow Ochre
018 Raw Sienna
019 Purple
020 Light Gray
021 Green Blue
022 Prussian Blue
024 Light Yellow
026 Red Violet
028 Scarlet
029 Light Blue
030 Mineral Green
031 Bordeaux
032 Umber
033 Dark Gray
034 Emerald Green
037 Indian Yellow
038 Madder
039 Garnet Red
040 Red Lead
041 Cyclamen
042 Sepia
043 Prussian Green
044 Saint Michel Green
046 Dark Ultramarine
047 Naples Yellow
048 Flesh
049 Light Orange
050 Lime Green
051 Green Gray
053 Payne's Gray
054 Raw Umber
055 Persian Violet
056 Sky Blue

® Conté is a registered trademark.

CA Prop 65

Matchbox Set of 4 Assorted Colors

(enlarge)

Hint — click a thumbnail to enlarge.

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

ContéConté Crayons

4.4

(based on 14 reviews)

93%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Reviewed by 14 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

11/16/2012

(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Big Disappointment

By DJS

from Silver City, NM

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

I am a beginning art student and bought Conte crayon as part of required supplies for class. Started out OK but soon crayon began dragging on paper and not making a mark. Very frustrating as I tend to work fast and my strokes were not on the paper as intended. It was like the clay or binder was getting in the way of the pigment. I notice that this product is made in China not France as I thought it was. Possibly the quality control is lacking. I don't want to use this product in the future and do not recommend it as a drawing media.

Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Merchant response: We apologize for the issues you encountered with this product. If you are not completely satisfied with the quality of the merchandise you receive, you are entitled to a full replacement or refund. We ask that you contact our Customer Care Center at 800-723-2787 within 30 days so that the exchange, refund, or credit transaction can be arranged to your satisfaction.

(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

Was this review helpful? Yes / No

- You may also flag this review

7/21/2012

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Blick Conte

By SydneyJan

from Sydney

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

These conte are really great value and the great discount compensated for the huge overseas shipping cost. So all in all they were still very well worthwhile. The quality of the conte is wonderful and produces an excellent finish with little chalky residue. The colours are strong and vibrant against different coloured background papers. I would recommend these to other serious artists.

4/23/2012

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Good product

By Jam

from Usa

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

Versatile drawing medium. Love the rich pigments. Not wild about the shipping. Three Crayons came in broken but still usable.

4/21/2012

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Conte Crayons

By Janey

from Winston-Salem, NC

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

I get so congested when I use pastels. Conte is a great option for me. This set was on sale at a wonderful price. The colors are gorgeous. They go on smoothly and blend nicely. I love this set.

2/19/2012

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Must have!!

By the_moose_knows

from Santa Clara, CA

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

These conte crayons are great! draw on very smoothly, smuge nicly and stick to paper very well.

12/28/2011

(6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Amazing <3

By Bri Bear

from Jackson, MS

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

I absolutely love conte' crayons! especially the way they glide over bristol..its beautiful

12/20/2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

small but high quility

By ernze

from AZ

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

These are the best dry media I worked with but are realy small

10/4/2011

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Fun to use !

By Eliel

from San Diego, CA

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

I like to sketch with these as they are versatile and invite an expressive style. Try not to get it all over you (like that's going to happen) :)

9/26/2011

(14 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Crayons for Adults!

By Monday317

from Fairbanks, AK

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

I have used these on and off since high school (+ 40 years!). They do very well on dark papers; colors are vivid and easily blended/manipulated. Erasure is nearly impossible, but the opacity of the color allows for corrections. White/pastels on dark/black paper nicely opaque and really pop! Use a fixative spray for permanence. Light fastness seems pretty good: ten year old works w/o protection needed only minor touchups; yellows and greens hold their value well. Prices for the Conte brand very reasonable compared to other materials. Highly recommended for any color drawing work, whether pro or amateur. One other hint: for modelers, these crayons can easily be sanded to make toner powders for figures, railroads, etc. Have use them to help with portrait photography where a small blemish or discoloration needs a light cover. No real cons, except watch your sleeves! You will have a lot of colored powder around and your sleeves, lap and of course, fingertips will suffer. Keep all clean or you may find ghastly smudges where you didn't want them. Reds can be tougher to wash out.

2/8/2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

love conte crayons!!

By Oliver

from Oregon

Pros

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Conté Conté Crayons:

conte crayons are a joy to work/play with- super versatile in there application for sketches and even finished work-
lovem'!

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

Purchase Items

Bulk Discounts available!

SAVE 18 - 100% off List!

Item	Description	Color		PricePrices, promotions, and availability may vary by store, catalog, and online.	Bulk!	Qty	MSDS

				Each
20201-0189	Set of 18	Assorted Colors	List $25.83	$13.39
20201-1109	Set of 24	Assorted Colors	List $48.99	$32.82
20201-1209	Set of 48	Assorted Colors	List $95.99	$64.31
20201-1019	Set of 12	Assorted Colors	List $23.51	$15.75
20201-8252	Package of 2	Bistre	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-8259	Box of 12	Bistre	List $23.51	$15.99
20201-2120	Package of 2	Black - 2B	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-2020	Box of 12	Black - 2B	List $23.51	$15.99
20201-2110	Package of 2	Black - B	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-2010	Box of 12	Black - B	List $23.51	$15.99
20201-2050	Package of 2	Black - HB	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-2051	Box of 12	Black - HB	List $23.51	$15.99
20201-2612	Package of 2	Gray	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-1129	Set of 12	Landscape Colors	List $23.51	$15.75
20201-1409	Set of 12	Portrait Colors	List $23.51	$15.75
20201-8912	Package of 2	Sanguine Medici	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-8812	Package of 2	Sanguine Natural	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-8529	Box of 12	Sanguine Natural	List $23.51	$15.99
20201-8712	Package of 2	Sanguine Watteau	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-8612	Package of 2	Sanguine XVIII Century	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-8611	Box of 12	Sanguine XVIII Century	List $23.51	$15.99
20201-1009	Set of 12	Sketching Colors	List $23.51	$15.75
20201-0049	Matchbox Set of 4	Sketching Colors	List $4.38	$3.52
20201-6009	Tin Box Set of 6 NEW!	Sketching Colors	List $7.99	$6.49
	limited stock (while supplies last)
20201-3021	Box of 12	White - 2B	List $23.51	$15.99
20201-1110	Package of 2	White - B	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-1010	Box of 12	White - B	List $23.51	$15.99
	out of stock, available 6/7
20201-1030	Package of 2	White - HB	List $4.12	$2.76
20201-4021	Box of 12	White - HB	List $23.51	$15.99

Bulk Discounts! →				Each	12+
20201-1000	Package of 2	White - 2B	List $4.12	$2.76	$0.00