What are the differences between oil-based and wax-based colored pencils?

Oil-based colored pencils still have considerable wax in the core, but they also have an added oil component to improve blendability and help prevent wax bloom. Wax-based colored pencils do not have the added oil, but manufacturers can enhance blendability and mitigate bloom through a proprietary blend of waxes.

How do I choose a sharpener to go with the pencils I buy?

For delicate cores such as those found in pastel, charcoal, and colored pencils, we generally recommend a handheld sharpener. We do offer some electric and battery-operated sharpeners that are compatible with colored pencils—just remember to occasionally sharpen a graphite pencil to keep wax from gumming up the sharpener. These types of pencils may also have a larger-than-standard diameter, so it's important to make sure the sharpener you choose will accommodate the pencils you have. For graphite pencils, almost any sharpener will be appropriate, including so-called "long-point" sharpeners. These provide very sharp points on slim-cored graphite pencils that quickly become unwieldy on thicker-cored color, pastel, or charcoal cores.

Can you fix broken lead within the barrel of a colored pencil?

If you would like to try baking your colored pencils, you may be able to fuse the lead back together. Cover a baking sheet in aluminum foil or parchment paper (to protect the surface). Lay the damaged pencils out in a single layer. Put in a cold oven and turn on to 250° F. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes (depending on altitude and oven). Allow to cool down in the oven so the wax resolidifies without being disturbed. Once the cores have cooled, you can sharpen the pencil(s) to see if they have fused. The process may be repeated as necessary.

Colored Pencils

Are you drawn to colored pencils? This extraordinary media has grown in popularity over the years, as colored pencil technology has become more refined and the resulting art more detailed and lifelike. Blick offers a wide range of colored p...

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Faber-Castell Grip Colored EcoPencil Sets
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Item #: 22427
4.9 out of 5 stars
Sporting Faber-Castell's unique "grip dots," the EcoPencil's ergonomic triangular shape provides the comfort and ease of tireless drawing while preven...
Liqui-Mark Metallic Colored Pencil Set
Item #: 20572
5 out of 5 stars
In stock online
Dramatic effects are fun and simple to create with these metallic colored pencils that apply smoothly and contrast beautifully with dark paper. A meta...
100+ Options
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils and Sets
100+ Options
Item #: 20508
4.8 out of 5 stars
(5630) number of reviews
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils feature thick, soft cores made from brilliant, light-resistant pigments to ensure smooth, rich laydown and color s...
50+ Options
Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor Oil-Based Colored Pencils and Sets
50+ Options
Item #: 22049
4.7 out of 5 stars
(223) number of reviews
It's like having a creamy crayon in a pencil. Offering the ultimate control on paper, these premium oil-based colored pencils lay down smoothly with n...
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Cretacolor Marino Watercolor Pencil Sets
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Item #: 22074
4.9 out of 5 stars
These artist quality watercolor pencils offer brilliant colors, a soft stroke, and the highest lightfast rating. Their true beauty is revealed as clea...
Holbein Meltz Colored Pencil Blender
Item #: 23990
4.5 out of 5 stars
In stock online
Give your colored pencil artwork a painted effect with with Holbein Meltz Colored Pencil Blender! Brush this liquid medium over oil-based colored penc...
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Blick Essentials Colored Pencil Sets
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Item #: 22429
4 out of 5 stars
(61) number of reviews
An essential tool for any classroom or art class, Blick Essentials Colored Pencils are also an economical choice — with no compromise in quality...
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artPOP! Premium Plus Colored Pencil Sets
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Item #: 82525
4.7 out of 5 stars
(31) number of reviews
artPOP! Premium Plus Colored Pencil Sets are professional-quality, pencils featuring thick, break-resistant 3.3 mm cores for heavy-duty shading and la...
Faber-Castell Limited Edition Art & Graphic 260th Anniversary Set
Item #: 85808
5 out of 5 stars
In stock online
With nearly 400 premium tools for art and design, this Faber-Castell Limited Edition Art & Graphic 260th Anniversary Set is the ultimate toolkit for p...
Blackwing Colors Coloring Pencils
Item #: 22682
3 out of 5 stars
In stock online
The Blackwing Colors Coloring Pencils are crafted using California incense-cedar and smooth Japanese wax cores that lay down brilliant colors. The smo...
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Caran d'Ache Museum Aquarelle Pencils and Sets
50+ Options
Item #: 22451
4.9 out of 5 stars
(190) number of reviews
Caran d’Ache has developed an innovative approach to watercolor painting by combining a high concentration of extra-fine pigments with excellent water...
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Lyra Color Giant Sets
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Item #: 22096
4.8 out of 5 stars
(22) number of reviews
Lyra Color Giants are in a class of their own, with highly pigmented, extra-thick, break-resistant cores that last three times longer than regular col...
Caran d'Ache Creative Box Set
Item #: 85803
5 out of 5 stars
In stock online
Discover the ultimate creative experience with the Caran d'Ache Creative Box Set. Comprising over 70 high-quality Caran d’Ache art supplies, this read...
Crayola Sketch & Shade Doodle Pencils
Item #: 82706
In stock online
Explore your creative side with the Crayola Sketch & Shade Doodle Pencil Set. Featuring 14 premium pencils in total, this set includes 12 vibrant colo...
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Faber-Castell Polychromos & Pitt Graphic Matte Gift Sets
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Item #: 83972
Faber-Castell Polychromos & Pitt Graphic Matte Gift Sets delight artists of all levels with professional-grade materials for writing, sketching, and d...
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Crayola Colors of the World Colored Pencil Sets
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Item #: 20519
4.8 out of 5 stars
Specially designed to accurately represent people from every corner of the globe, Crayola Colors of the World Colored Pencils include 24 new skin tone...
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Caran d'Ache Swisscolor Colored Pencil Sets
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Item #: 82528
5 out of 5 stars
Caran d'Ache Swisscolor Colored Pencils come in a range of versatile sets perfect for students and hobbyists. Ideal for all drawing, illustration, and...
Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Manga Set
Item #: 22403
4.8 out of 5 stars
In stock online
The Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils Manga Set features colors selected for manga and cartoon drawing. Great for blending and outlining, this drawi...
General's Color-Tex Red Checking Pencil Set
Item #: 67929
5 out of 5 stars
In stock online
Perfect for grading tests, editing papers, and making notations, General's Color-Tex Red Checking Pencils have a hexagonal shape for gripping ease. Ea...
Crayola Metallic Colored Pencil Set
Item #: 20530
4.9 out of 5 stars
In stock online
Give children glittering metallic colors to enhance their drawings and creativity. The set contains 8 pre-sharpened colored pencils in dazzling metall...
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Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencil Sets
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Item #: 20501
4.6 out of 5 stars
(96) number of reviews
Recommended by professional artists and art educators for their richly pigmented color and unmatched blendability, Prismacolor Scholar Colored Pencils...
Holbein Meltz Colored Pencil Blender Dual-Tip Marker
Item #: 83911
4.9 out of 5 stars
In stock online
Use this Holbein Meltz Colored Pencil Blender Dual-Tip Marker to blend and blur with precision and ease. Filled with a water-based blending solution t...
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Faber-Castell Graphic Art Try It Box Sets
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Item #: 85813
Whether you’re looking to explore a new medium or simply want to take Faber-Castell’s premium drawing materials for a test drive, the Faber-Castell Gr...
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Faber-Castell Black Edition Colored Pencil Sets
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Item #: 87356
4.4 out of 5 stars
With their highly pigmented colors and superior point retention, Faber-Castell Black Edition Colored Pencils are ideal for sketching, drawing fine det...
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Crayola Erasable Colored Pencil Sets
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Item #: 20584
3 out of 5 stars
Crayola Erasables let you change and re-change drawings or correct "mistakes." Now kids can complete picture-perfect homework assignments and reports ...
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Lyra Rembrandt Aquarell Pencil Sets
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Item #: 22050
4.6 out of 5 stars
Fine art professional aquarelle pencil sets offer distinctive shades in a high performance pencil. They have a brilliance and lightfastness of the hig...
Lyra Splender Colorless Blender
Item #: 20592
4.5 out of 5 stars
(50) number of reviews
In stock online
Move color around to fill in and polish drawings with this colorless blender. It works well with most colored pencils, and best with oil-based or liqu...
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Derwent Academy Colored Pencil Sets
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Item #: 22417
4.1 out of 5 stars
Derwent Academy Colored Pencils are easy to use and come in a wide array of colors. Each pencil contains high-quality pigments in a natural wood casin...
50+ Options
Tombow Irojiten Color Pencils and Sets
50+ Options
Item #: 22406
4.5 out of 5 stars
(78) number of reviews
<p>"Irojiten" is the Japanese expression for "color encyclopedia." Available in 90 unique, natural colors, these beautifully craft...
Niji Watercolor Pencil Set
Item #: 82543
4 out of 5 stars
In stock online
An explosion of color is at your fingertips with the Niji Watercolor Pencil Set. This set is designed for beginners, students, and artists alike, and ...