Coloured Pencils
Our coloured pencils range covers school, student and hobby sets for drawing, colouring and general creative work. The current grid includes Faber-Castell, Staedtler, Crayola and Dats, with packs ranging from 12 pencils to larger classroom and colouring sets.
How to choose coloured pencils for your project
Start with what you want to make. A kids' drawing session, an adult colouring book, a botanical study and a portrait all ask different things of a pencil. Pick the project first, the pencil follows.
Focus on core softness, intended use, colour range and whether you need standard or water-soluble pencils. The current collection is weighted towards school and hobby pencils. Artist-grade oil-based and lightfast ranges sit elsewhere on the site. For most people a 12 or 24 pack is a smarter start than a 72 or 120 set. A smaller set of better pencils forces you to learn layering and colour mixing. Those are the skills that actually change your results.
New to this? The Faber-Castell Classic 24 pack is a sensible starting point. Want a step up without a tin price tag? The Faber-Castell Black Edition 12 pack. Browse our wider drawing range if you're still mapping out what you want to try.
Wax based or oil based coloured pencils
Soft coloured pencils lay down colour quickly and are useful for colouring, broad coverage and layering. Faber-Castell Black Edition has a supersoft, highly pigmented lead designed to show on light, coloured and dark paper. Firmer artist pencils such as Faber-Castell Polychromos hold a point longer and suit controlled detail, but they are found in Riot’s wider Faber-Castell range rather than this collection.
Polychromos is marketed as an oil-based artist pencil and is generally less prone to visible wax bloom than softer wax-heavy pencils. Performance still varies by range, so choose by lead firmness, lightfastness and intended technique rather than binder alone. For the full oil based range, head to our Faber-Castell coloured pencils collection.
Artist coloured pencil sets
Artist grade pencils give you more pigment per stroke, better lightfastness and a more consistent core from one colour to the next. That matters when you're layering six or eight times to build depth, or framing work you want to still look right in a few years.
Worth knowing. Artist grade is not uniformly better across every colour. Lightfastness varies most in yellows, reds and violets, even inside a good set. If you plan to sell or display, check the lightfast rating on individual pencils, not just the brand.
The current collection does not contain a clearly artist-grade coloured-pencil set. Faber-Castell Black Edition is a soft hobby and colouring option, while the Grip range is designed around ergonomic use for younger artists. For documented artist ranges and lightfastness information, explore Riot’s Faber-Castell, Derwent and Prismacolor collections.
Watercolour pencils for drawing and washes
Watercolour pencils work dry like a normal pencil, then release pigment when you brush water over them. That makes them a favourite for travel sketchers, mixed media work and colouring book pages where you want a soft wash finish.
The Faber-Castell Watercolour Pencils tin of 36 is a solid first set, with enough colours to mix without feeling limiting. If this is the direction you want to take, our full watercolour pencils collection has more options and matching paper.
Coloured pencils for adult colouring
For adult colouring books, wax based pencils are usually the easier choice. They lay down smoothly on standard book paper and blend without much effort.
You don't need a 120 set. For most books, 24 to 48 colours is the sweet spot and will cover almost every page without the box becoming overwhelming. The Faber-Castell Classic 48 pack provides a broad selection for adult colouring. The Crayola 48 Share Pack is better suited to classrooms and group use because it contains four pencils in each of 12 colours, rather than 48 different colours. For other formats, see our full pencils range.
Paper and sharpeners for coloured pencils
The paper you draw on matters more than the pencil for most beginners. Coloured pencil is a dry medium that needs tooth to grip pigment. Standard printer paper fills up after two or three layers and stops accepting more, no matter how good the pencil is. Look for acid-free drawing paper with enough tooth to hold the number of layers you plan to apply. Paper weight alone does not determine suitability. Heavier paper is useful for repeated layering, firm burnishing or solvent blending, but lighter drawing paper can still work well. Our drawing pads for dry media are a more useful upgrade than moving up a pencil grade.
Soft wax cores also dull quickly and crumble in a blunt sharpener. A sharp, well-maintained pencil sharpener keeps your points clean and your paper intact.
Student or artist coloured pencils
Beginner and school. Dats, Staedtler Noris and Crayola suit classroom work, shared supplies and everyday colouring.
Student and hobby. Faber-Castell Classic and Grip provide dependable general-use options. Black Edition adds a supersoft lead and stronger coverage on coloured or dark paper.
Artist. The current category does not contain a dedicated artist-grade range. For finished or sellable work, browse Polychromos, Derwent or Prismacolor pencils and check the documented lightfastness of the individual colours
Why shop coloured pencils with Riot
- More than 40 years supporting Australian makers across every skill level
- House and exclusive brands including Holcroft, Art Star and The Paper Mill
- Customer support Monday to Friday, reply within one business day
- Clear shipping and returns pages so you know where you stand
FAQs
Which coloured pencils are best for beginners?
For most beginners a wax based student set like the Faber-Castell Classic 24 is the best place to start. It lays down easily, blends without fuss and gives you enough colours to learn mixing without being overwhelming. Kids and school use are better suited to Staedtler Noris, Crayola or Dats packs.
What is the difference between wax based and oil based coloured pencils?
Wax based pencils have a soft core that blends easily and suits adult colouring and loose work, but can develop wax bloom on heavy layers. Oil based pencils, like Faber-Castell Polychromos, are firmer, hold a sharper point for detail and don't bloom. Many artists end up using both for different jobs.
How many coloured pencils do I need to start?
Twelve to 24 colours is plenty to start. You can mix and layer to extend the range further than the box suggests. Jumping straight to a 72 or 120 set often slows learning because you reach for a ready-made colour instead of building one. Add pastel pencils later if you want softer effects.
What paper works best with coloured pencils?
A paper with slight texture and a weight around 200gsm or more. The tooth grips multiple layers of pigment, which is where rich colour and smooth blending come from. Smooth, thin paper fills up after two or three layers and won't accept more, no matter how good the pencil is.
Are Faber-Castell or Derwent coloured pencils better?
Both make excellent artist grade pencils and the choice is largely personal. Faber-Castell Polychromos are oil based, firmer and great for crisp detail. Derwent offers a wider spread of ranges, including wax based, oil based and water-soluble options. Try a small set of each before committing to a large tin.
Do you deliver coloured pencils across Australia?
Yes, we ship coloured pencils Australia wide from our online store. Delivery times and costs depend on your location and chosen service, with details on our shipping page. Not sure which set is right for your project? Our customer support team replies within one business day, Monday to Friday.