After speaking to Arteza representatives myself in the past, they confirmed that their Lightfast testing was conducted within the company and not via the Blue Wool or ASTM highly recognised systems. Given this fact and the amazing price the customers are given, its difficult to know how such an in-house lightfast test would stand up against the Blue Wool or ASTM scales.

Here at Castle HQ we place the utmost importance on your happiness and strive to ensure that you have “the best” shopping experience with us from start to finish. And by ‘finish’ what we really mean is that we hope you will fall ‘ head over heels’ in love with your pencils, paints, pens and paper. The wax core applies very good color with each pass and you will find that layering is also quite effective. Blending, for the most part, is also responsive although we did find that wax bloom was a bit higher than some of the other wax-based brands we have reviewed. If you want to know more about our incredible Satisfaction Guarantee, we’ve outlined all the details below. Satisfaction GuaranteedThe Arteza Expert Colored Pencils do have a lightfast rating on the pencil barrel, however, as I talk about in my video review, at the very beginning when Arteza first hit the art world, there was a lot of mixed messages about the actual scale being used. Some reviewers were being told that of the three star system used, one star was the highest lightfast rating and three was the lowest and visa versa. Being only available in 72-count sets (as far as we know) the Castle Art Supplies Colored Pencils provide an adequate range of colors to meet most artists’ needs. We particularly like the range of brows and tans which are perfect for coloring animals, furs, trees, etc.

Its also important to note the type of paper used in the testing and art work created with both the Arteza and Castle Art Colored Pencils, which in this case was the Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media paper. Also I completed some translucency and opaqueness testing, helping you to determine how the pigments react on a darker surface. If 72 beautiful colour pencils just aren’t enough for your artistic needs, then this is the set for you! Featuring 48 additional shades for you to create your best work with, this is the ultimate in affordable coloured pencil sets, offering an enormous amount of tones that you can really rely on. However, in addition to being popular with kids, colored pencils are now also part of an adult pastime. These days, you’ll find adults — professional artists and beginners alike — creating beautiful works of art using colored pencils. Available in dozens of colors, the pencils are used for drawing, sketching, shading and coloring. Easily the biggest selling point (and likely a huge reason why these colored pencils have become so popular) is their fantastic asking price. They are extremely affordable considering the number and quality of the pencil you get and this makes it within just about everybody’s budget. And it is also a big reason why these are so popular online. We feel that if money is tight but you are still after quality, these should be on your shortlist. Overall Ranking – 4/5 There were a few tiny little things that I mentioned about the set, however most of what I mentioned was really my own personal choice and subjective. For example the graphite grade location on the pencil barrel, the replacement of the woodless graphite pencil for a water soluble graphite pencil, a white pastel pencil or charcoal pencil and a softer kneaded eraser. As you can clearly see, most of the things I have mentioned are very subjective and not really to do with the performance of the product.This set features our premium quality coloured pencils that you can find in our other sets. Made with top quality materials featuring a strong centred core to prevent frustrating breakages and a Basswood rounded barrel for easy sharpening and added comfort, you can trust that these pencils will be there for you when you need them most. I really enjoyed using the new Castle Arts Gold Colored Pencils and it is obviously very clear to see that Castle are certainly making a name for themselves, they are not resting on their laurels by any stretch of the imagination. Castle have a wide range of products on their catalog but perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Castle eco system is the literature they provide with their products. Having a box or case to store your colored pencils makes it easy to manage the clutter that can come from having dozens of pencils. There are colored pencils that come in a metal durable, double-hinged storage tin case. The Crayola Erasable Colored Pencils, 50-Count comes in a peggable, see-through window box. There are two main techniques for using colored pencils: layering and burnishing. Layering is generally used at the start by coloring different colors on top of one another to create unique shades and tones. Burnishing involves additional layering and blending the layered colors until the appearance is smooth and shiny. For many artists and coloring enthusiasts, being able to layer, shade and blend colors is a vital factor when choosing coloring pencils. If the lead core is too hard, then the pigment won’t blend in and shading will not be smooth. Some sets have a soft core designed to glide smoothly across the paper, while other models feature ultra-smooth and even color laydown.

Of all the pencils that I have already compared and will compare going forward, I think the Arteza and Castle Art Colored Pencils are the most similar in so many ways. They are aimed toward the same market and price the points are very similar, so they are both excellent for people to compare and see which set, if any, is best for them. The core of your colored pencils also determines how useful they are for different drawing effects. “Hard-core pencils are best for creating sharp lines and drawing in details,” says Markham. “They are also great for lettering and outlines. Soft-core pencils are best for shading, blending and layering.” Also, the external shell color of the pencils is a bit off when compared to the actual color that they put out. Several readers have mentioned making a color template on some scratch paper before using these so that you will have a better idea of the true color and we certainly agree with that. Usability and Durability – 4/5 Our pencils feature a ‘soft series’ core, allowing for silky smooth application, as well as expert layering, blending and shading. This makes them incredibly easy to use, a fantastic feature for beginners and experts alike.For children, colored pencils are a cornerstone of fun activities. They are used at home and at school to make whimsical pictures, complete homework and doodle aimlessly.

Castle Art has explicitly come out and said that their cores are strong and reliable and help to minimize breakage. We do see the fruits of their efforts and have found that these cores are above average in terms of toughness and reliability. This is great for those of you who are notorious for pushing down very hard with your pencils to get that extra color out of them. And even for those that apply color with less pressure, it is good peace of mind knowing that these pencils will hold up to typical wear and tear.We work with our partners to develop and refine processes that mean we can offer both exemplary products and high-quality service to our customers at all times