MY FAVOURITE COLOURED PENCILS 2021 ✷ Colours I love from different brands in my collection!

In this video I'm sharing some of my favourite coloured pencils from five different ranges; Derwent Drawing, Derwent Lightfast, Caran d'Ache Luminance, Faber-Castell Polychromos, and Holbein Artists' Coloured Pencils. I could have chosen far more from each brand, but I tried my best to narrow it down to just a few colours from each one that particularly appeal to me. I found this video very inspiring to film, and I think I may have unintentionally discovered a new colour palette too! Let me know in the comments below which brand or range of coloured pencils is your favourite and why, and also any colours you love to use or couldn't be without!
Derwent Drawing: www.jacksonsart.com/derwent-d...
Derwent Lightfast: www.jacksonsart.com/derwent-l...
Caran d'Ache Luminance: www.jacksonsart.com/caran-d-a...
Faber-Castell Polychromos: www.jacksonsart.com/faber-cas...
Holbein Artists': www.jacksonsart.com/holbein-a...
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ART SUPPLIES
I buy most of my materials from Jackson’s Art Supplies. If you click on the link below to go to their shop, I'll receive a small commission on any order you place at no extra cost to you. New customers also automatically receive 10% off their first order! This affiliate link helps to support my KZbin channel, so a big thank you in advance if you choose to use it.
Jackson's Art Supplies: www.jacksonsart.com/?acc=b8c2...
DESK
My studio desk is the E7 Standing Desk by Flexispot: bit.ly/2UaUYH3 (previously gifted)
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LINKS
✷ INSTAGRAM: / natashanewtonart
✷ SHOP: www.natashanewton.com/shop
✷ MAILING LIST: Join for free to gain exclusive access to new collections of work as soon as they're released: www.natashanewton.com/mailing...
✷ WEBSITE: www.natashanewton.com
MUSIC: Epidemic Sound

[@shetland_pone]

You should do a comparison video of every Payne's grey art supply you own. I'd love to watch that!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

This is such a fun idea! I may film something like this. Thank you!

[@lauraflint6533]

I'm absolutely obsessed with all of your colour palette choices across your works (and videos) Thank you for sharing these videos!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you so much, Laura!

[@lizhart81]

I'm very fond of the Derwent Inktense pencils, I enjoy the different effects I can get when using them either wet or dry. Out of the 30 or so I own, my most used are probably Leaf Green, Baked Earth, Bark, Deep Indigo and Burnt Orange. There's one other colour I own that often screams out to me but gets a bit less use - the Teal, because it's just that pretty! I only have 6 of the Derwent Drawing pencils from a little set I bought a while ago, but I use them a lot because their texture is fabulous. The Ivory Black from that set is one of the few blacks I use often, because it's quite muted without looking too grey or brown (though when mixed/blended with the Chinese White from the same set, it actually does produce a lovely neutral grey tone). The other 4 shades I own are Chocolate, Sanguine, Brown Ochre and Sepia Red.

[@nematarot7728]

This was a really enjoyable watch, and I took some notes! Love videos on art supplies 🎨 and I loved how slow and clear everything was! Thank you!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed the video and found it useful, thank you!

[@thebirdartistscottage]

I enjoyed this color pencil “tasting” so much! When I first started illustrating birds, I used colored pencils quite a lot and then moved away from them. I’ve only used Prismacolors so it was very helpful to see the other brands swatched out like this. And to get your impressions and commentary was lovely. Thanks for sharing your pencil collection with us! ✏️

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks so much for watching! I've never used Prismacolors but they're the favourite pencil of another artist I follow too. :)

[@thediscoveredline4783]

I searched through a lot of the the comments in the hope someone asked what brand the pencil case you're using is, but I don't think anyone did (I'm surprised!) Love the video and I'm looking to buy pencils so it s been really helpful.

[@beccascraps8141]

i'm watching this, and swatching out my pencils. Again. I'm starting to feel like that's all i do with them, hahahha...love it though!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Hopefully the swatching will inspire some artwork! 🧡 Swatching is so much fun though!

[@tarabooartarmy3654]

I love all your color choices, but those Holbein colors are incredible! The anthraquinoid pink from Luminance is my all-time favorite pencil I’ve tried so far.

[@aprilg3193]

I've been watching your videos the past few days and absolutely love your style. It kind of reminds me of a piece of art my mom had in her bedroom when I was a child. I would love for you to do a video where you talk about artists that inspire you or that have influenced your art and why. Also, thank you for keeping me company while I sketch!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That's lovely to hear, thanks April! ♡

[@agrestnoir]

Love you all color pencil's videos 😊 I bought some you have and they amazing! Love your gentle & calming voice 💙

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you so much! ♡

[@nina1528]

So lovely. Your selection of colours for luminance was my fave 😍

[@brookerose773]

I’m so happy you loved Celadon, that was my recommendation. It’s such a gorgeous color! We def overlap in our faves. Have a great weekend!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Ah yes, it was you! Thanks Brooke, I think it's a gorgeous colour.

[@jillc2700]

Love a great pencil swatch video. :-) thanks for sharing your faves!

[@Chief..]

The Luminance apricot (041) goes FANTASTIC with the anthraquinoid pink you should try it! In the larger luminance sets they’re placed together in the neutral sections and they stick out like a bright creamy sunset.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks for the tip!

[@brigitteitg]

Beautiful colours - I definitely have the same affinity to the muted earthy greens, dark blues and dusky violet greys! I haven’t tried the Holbein pencils yet but I’m tempted to get their pastel colour selection - they are just sooo expensive in the UK…

[@avirtualcanvas7584]

great to see a video focusing on a more specfic favourite medium that you like to work with. Derwent are my goto stable in my own cache. It's great to see how you put your colours together and your reasons for choosing them and putting them together and your insights on how they work for you and how you actually use them. I have full sets of every range thar Derwent make,including many they no longer make.I have other sets of other Brands too. Each brand/range has properties unique to that range and ecah one can bring something to your work as you use them. My bias is more towards water soluable ranges of pencils. Paynes Gray is a reall verstile colour in all it's differnt tint percentages,I find sepia is like this for me.But I could see a final palette from all the colours you swatched,but asl smaler pallets of the other colours too.But it's great to see you trying new colours in colour pencils too thus expanding your range of colours in your pencil cache. I rarely use a pure black,but different blacks as you do,it adds a richess and a density but offers more versatilty too.Agree the four geens would make a great piece of work if you decide to use tem to create one.It made me smile to see how small some of your pencils have become through how much you use them. I find that hapens to for me as well,but not just in pencils in other meduims too.You talk about colour in a way that is so relatable and it makes me smile when you describe some of them as definite Natasha Newton colours,but always agree when you do.(matt) P.s the middle verdigris luminance pencil echoes the colour of that shaped roof that you see out of your studio window.

[@karenemmerich2572]

So many beautiful colors!! Love the palette ♡⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Karen!

[@mollyrobbins1515]

Hello Natasha, I was planning to do some pencil shopping this weekend , so this is perfect timing for me.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I secretly knew that! ;)

[@sailorfan86]

Love all of them. I do have a preference towards the Holbeins. I just love how they glide on smooth paper and the color range is fantastic. The Derwent Drawing set is sheer perfection. Derwent Lightfast are lovely. The Luminance tend to be too waxy at times but love the fibrancy. Faber Castell is local and love'em. Great color set. Again they're all great. Happy with all of them.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Agreed, they all have their strengths! :)

[@PeterBlakeMaths]

What a lovely range, especially for landscapes. I’m new to your channel. I appreciate everything you do. Your understated style and muted style agrees with my tastes. Thanks so much.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you so much!

[@AndreaSmallArt]

hi Natasha - thanks for video. I was fascinated by the different sound the pencils make - the Polychromos in particular 🙂

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I love the sound of pencil on paper!

[@AndreaSmallArt]

@@NatashaNewtonArt me too!

[@rfwomon]

I was looking for a desk and I found one on IKEA that is very like yours! I like it very much and it is push button raise and lower as I have arthritis. I bought it a few months before I noticed your note about your desk. I find that coincidence fun! If anyone is interested, it is called the Bekant Sit/Stand. With up/ down buttons. There is also one with a crank to make it go up and down.

[@sarah_hedges_creates]

Loved the video, I am building up my pencil collection so always appreciate your recommendations x

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Sarah, I'm glad it's helpful! x

[@kriksis]

Watching this video now and I must agree about Derwent drawing, all of those colours from that set is gorgeous! I fell that is the only set I could buy and actually use all the colours. Those Derwent lightfast look lovely! That spruce green is now pencil I really want to buy! Reminds me of ash green. Also Paynes grey 30% remind me of my favourite pencil, Derwent colorsoft cloud blue. Thank you for swatching that out! I can see your colour palette trough these coloured pencils, such lovely video! :)

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you, Kristiana. Payne's Grey 30% is such a useful and beautiful colour! ♡

[@deborahmeyers7839]

I loved this Natasha... The colours are beautiful I particularly love the cooler colours and purples and one or two lilac I work in watercolours and use watercolour pencils dry on my dried artwork for texture and that little extra they give to my finished piece I use they are Derwent watercolour pencils and I love them they were a gift so I didn't buy them but I love watching your videos and love your artwork very much. Hope alls well with you love and hugs xx

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thanks Deborah! I've used the Derwent Inktense pencils (I only have three though!) and I was amazed by how vibrant they are when water is added. I don't know whether those are the ones you have or another range as I'm not really up-to-date with all of the different watercolour pencils! Hope you're having a lovely weekend. :) xx

[@feverfrolic]

ive just bought my first luminance pencils!! heavily influenced by your recommendations! thank you so much

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

You're so welcome! Have fun experimenting with them, Emily!

[@ebiosh2032]

olive yellow is my favourite colour ever, its like the colour of sunlight streaming through a leaf, or a ginkgo tree in fall… and you’re right its got a beautiful subtlety! its very common in nature 🍃

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

It's so beautiful and I love your descriptions of it!

[@recoveringsoul755]

It would be fun to also see these colors, especially the lighter ones like that Aqua, on Black paper, or toned tan, toned grey, kraft or some other colored paper to see how they show up. I've seen people show how to draw bubbles with colored pencils, but they use black paper for the bubbles to show up. This was fun

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That's a good idea!

[@artifexmom3824]

Thanks for sharing your video. That’s nice to know it.☺️❤️ God bless you.🙏🏻

[@TheBenevolent]

Hey Natasha! Hope you remember me! After watching your videos featuring the gorgeous collection of pencils, I bought a set of 12 polychromos and I’m loving it! All thanks to you! 🌻🦋🌸🙏🌸🦋🌼

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Hello again! This is so great to hear - I'm pleased you're loving them. I can't even imagine a time where I didn't use coloured pencils now!

[@TheBenevolent]

@@NatashaNewtonArt yes! I want you to check out some really cool murals I found! They belong to the the 11th century chola dynasty style. Let me share the link in a bit.

[@nafordebi]

i love muted colors love the graphetinr wish there were more colora

[@jillc2700]

The 12 set is a great place to start. I used them a lot in one of my coloring books, built up my greens especially over time- and was lucky enough to get the full set as a Christmas present a few years back. Enjoy your pencils!

[@nafordebi]

@@jillc2700 i have the 60 set and i think blick has them 1.92 after 12 pencils and found full set for 130 have to see if that'll be more cost effective

[@lefthandstory1280]

Great work friend 👍😃beautiful😃😃

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you so much! :)

[@JoAnneMOwens]

I could be wrong, but it seems as though there are quite a few muted tones throughout the Derwent pencil lines…this makes me happy as I love muted and earthy colors! However, if I could only have one set of pencils, it would definitely be Luminance! The quality of the pencils and the color range can’t be beat! X

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I agree with you! Luminance is my all-time favourite for many reasons, but Derwent comes a close second. I've been super impressed with their Lightfast range as well as the Drawing pencils. :) x

[@MsJMac72]

Hey there beautiful ... the only pencils I own are a huge tin of Derwent Studio pencils an Aunt bought me (dare I say 20+ years ago 🤭!) Over this last year I find I am incorporating pencils into my work far more, but bless those ancient Derwents they just aren't cutting the mustard. So although I will be forever grateful to my (incredibly) old tin of wonderment 🙏, the time has come to upgrade my stash. I'm going to give Luminance a whirl first 😉. Much Love to you & thanks for another super video xx xx

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I think you'll LOVE Luminance! ♡ I don't think I've ever heard of Derwent Studio pencils. I might Google them to see what they look like! I was never into pencils in a big way until last year, but I have a feeling that they've probably advanced quite a lot in the past 20 or so years! :) xx

[@MsJMac72]

@@NatashaNewtonArt I went for the full tin of Derwent drawing pencils in the end. Kinda fell in love with the muted colour selection & couldn't for the life of me select just a few from open stock! I have put some Luminance on my Jacksons favourites list for next month though! & some more Roman Szmal, & some Khadi paper, & ... & ... & ... 🤣😂🤣

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

@@MsJMac72 Ooh, enjoy experimenting with them! They're such beautiful pencils to use.

[@kriksis]

Had no idea but I have simmmilar video coming up after 3h. Gonna see your video later this evening! :)

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Oh wow, we must be telepathic! I look forward to watching yours - your videos are like a special weekly treat for me. :)

[@kriksis]

@@NatashaNewtonArt Haha, we must be! :D Same here! I am looking forward to your videos every week!

[@remyasajusaju4429]

Derwent drawing pencil is my favourite..❤

[@tl338]

German and Swiss brands make the absolute best art supplies - schmincke, Faber Castell, caran d’ache.

[@megperry5586]

Just a thought, when I am drawn to new colors I look them up. Green represents hope, growth and renewal and is the color of your heart chakra. Seems like a good place to be, I hope that is true for you! Thank you for sharing your lovely palette and soothing voice.

[@thebirdartistscottage]

What a lovely idea! Do you just google them or is there a particular site or book you use? 💚

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

This is interesting because it fits with what's been happening in my life over the past few years. :) Thank you!

[@megperry5586]

@@thebirdartistscottage I have several books on healing with colors and Chakras and energy. But a quick google search will do the same!

[@thebirdartistscottage]

@@megperry5586 Wonderful, thanks! If you’re willing to share book titles, I’d love to have those, too. ✨

[@Christine_R]

I knew I've been missing some greys and maybe a black in my collection... I have bought a small collection of Polychromos open stock this year. I think you would like their Coral, Burnt Ochre and maybe Burnt Sienna. I think they are really nice colors to have. The Coral is actually one of the renamed "flesh" colors. I would never think of skin tone with these.. I'd rather think of raw bacon... But it's a really lovely more muted Coral, I think.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I have the Polychromos Coral pencil and I LOVE it!

[@louisebourne5779]

Hello Natasha, love this vlog like I do with all your vlogs. I have a few Derwent lightfast they are ok but prefer luminance above all my other coloured pencils. I have the same few colours of Luminance as you. Can’t wait now for your next vlog. When are you doing your patreon? Xx

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I love Luminance so much! Just everything about them. I'm probably going to be launching Patreon in November, but I've been so busy (and we've had a lot of personal/family stuff going on) that I haven't had as much time as I'd like to work on it. Soon, hopefully! :) xx

[@louisebourne5779]

@@NatashaNewtonArt I’m so sorry you’ve had a lot going on you take care of yourself xx

[@cristina8928]

What an enjoyable video! The page at the end with all the swatches is beautiful... I see the 4 seasons at night and day. The anthraquinoid pink and the olive yellow make an interesting and gorgeous combination with the rest of the colours. I love the subtle contrasts with the right intensity in yr palette. Thanks to you, I decided few month ago, to buy better quality colour pencils than the one I had. I got some Holbein, Luminance and I am so happy with them. I have a greater respect for that medium :) Thanks again for sharing.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

That's lovely to hear! Enjoy your new pencils, Cristina! ♡

[@vilvile]

Staedler’s colored graphite has nice dark muted colors, and I find them easier to use than Derwent’s Graphitint (which are also great). Musee Acuarelle also has wonderful tones.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I'll have to check them out - thanks for the suggestion!

[@lizanicole8410]

Agree!❤

[@lennymac5915]

Great video. I think my local art store will get a visit through the week. Would you mind telling me which pencil wallet you have (turquoise), an how do find working from it.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I can't remember exactly what it is called but I got it from Amazon!

[@elainebrenner9350]

It looks like you use a Palamino pencil to label your swatches. Which version do you use? Your hand printed labels always look so neat and easy to read because of the darkness of the graphite. It also seems there is no smudging. I love watching your videos. They are very informative and your voice is so soothing. Thank you.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Hi Elaine! I have a few (all given to me as gifts by two friends!), so I vary them. The one I use most often says "Half the pressure, twice the speed" on the side, if that helps! :)

[@tlembro]

Hi Natasha is there a video of you painting the pink bird? Would love to watch it!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

No, sorry Lynn - I didn't film that one!

[@grahamekellermeier8280]

Favorite pencils have a few brands after 40 years i must have close to a 1000 pencils.

[@larastark599]

I love the zippered book you hold your colored pencils in. Do you know where you got it and maybe what it’s called or the brand? I’ve bought almost all the colored pencils you’ve ever recommended. 😂 so I have a lot!

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Hi Lara! I found it on Amazon. I just searched for "pencil storage case" or something like that! There were a few variations and I'm really happy with this one. :)

[@larastark599]

@@NatashaNewtonArt thank you!!

[@ArtorLifeTorB]

Beautiful presentation ✍️😀✍️😉✍️🆙🌼🌺🌸⬆️👍

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Thank you so much! ♡

[@pennypop408]

A cheaper dupe for the anthraquiniod pink by Caren D ache is the colorsoft 180 by Derwent Also faber Castell 130 and 131 are also similar colors. The color soft also feels like a Caren D ache.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I have a Coral (I think it is) from FC which is very similar!

[@pennypop408]

I prefer the feel of the color soft one, its very like the Care d ache as well as hue. Also cheaper :)

[@firdyk]

Love the swatching videos. My go to pencils are prismacolor. They layer so well over watercolour and oil pastel. I own the polychromos set too but reach for prismacolor almost every time

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I've heard so many good things about Prismacolor but they're so hard to get hold of here in the UK!

[@firdyk]

@@NatashaNewtonArt I bought a large tin for my sister's birthday on Amazon UK. A bit pricey but definitely worth it. Usually we pay hefty prices for art supplies in Australia but prismacolor is easily available in the art shops even open stock. I recently replenished a few colours from an ebay seller. Maybe you could try that.

[@gardeniainbloom812]

Doesn't the pencil cut through your oil pastels?

[@firdyk]

@@gardeniainbloom812is they do somewhat but you still can get a good effect and some of them are really soft

[@anncapps5844]

Hi Natasha - Being a bit new to colored pencils I was wondering what does the % mean when you talk about Paynes Grey? I think % is mentioned with other colors but seems like Paynes Grey has a few different %'s. Thanks.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I think it means that the pencil is 60% Payne's Grey with 40% white, and the 'Payne's Grey 30%' pencil would be 70% white, which is why it's such a pale blue. Does that make sense?! They do it with some of the other colours too; Burnt Sienna, Sepia, and French Grey to name a few!

[@liezelhaupt7172]

Natasha, how much pressure do you apply on your pencils when making the swatches?

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

I press down quite firmly, and that’s generally how I use them when I work too!

[@nafordebi]

i am in love with your work i know u sell originals art work are there prints on ur shop , having a great time using my caran d'ache pan watercolor set wish there were more than 15 colors in in love with thwm , have you tried them? i would give them a go or it's just a suggestion , i dina them gorgeous

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Hi Deborah! Thanks and yes, I have some prints and postcards of my work in the shop at the moment. I've just Googled the Caran d'Ache gouache set and it looks really nice!

[@Cerydwyn87]

I have the Derwent Drawing pencils and they are lovely. I'm terrible for not using them though! Do you have any suggestions for where to start with mixed media pieces? I'm too cautious/nervous and have no idea where to start. Thanks for the great video! :)

[@thebirdartistscottage]

I second Nikki’s request for suggestions! I would love to hear those, too. Thanks for the idea, Nikki! 💝

[@mydogeatspuke]

The best place to start is literally anywhere. Just do it. The rest will follow. There is no right way to do art.

[@Cerydwyn87]

@@mydogeatspuke I wish I could! I also suffer from the fear of ruining paper/sketchbooks (silly I know, it's what its there for after all) so I find it really hard to just do. Having a suggestion of what to do/where to start or a tutorial to follow along with is super helpful for someone like me. Hope that makes sense and doesn't come across as dismissive or anything 😅

[@mydogeatspuke]

@@Cerydwyn87 nah, it's a common thing for people to feel like they're going to waste or ruin their supplies, but there are tonnes of tutorials out there already that you could follow, but you haven't for some reason? It's OK if you spent all that money just to look at your supplies instead of using them, plenty of people collect stuff just to look at it. You'll never get to a point where you don't feel like you're wasting your supplies if you never stop being so precious about them, that's all. Or just buy cheaper stuff you aren't worried about wasting until you feel comfortable. But you do actually have to do art to, well, do art 😜

[@Cerydwyn87]

@@mydogeatspuke I have looked for tutorials (but maybe not very well 🤷‍♀️) but none seem to either stand out or be what I'm looking for. Natasha’s work, meanwhile, is the type of thing I'm looking for. I'm probably being too fussy and letting my fear get in the way of using my supplies. If you have any tutorials you recommend I welcome the suggestion 😊

[@recoveringsoul755]

26:00 did you say "Kaput Mortem violet"?? Seems a strange name for a color. I noticed there were No yellows or real reds in these choices. Aren't there any flowers of those colors in your landscapes? No sunrises or sunsets? Green is my favorite color I am all for the greens, simply cannot imagine a world without green.

[@NatashaNewtonArt]

Yes, you heard correctly! Caput Mortuum Violet. :) And I do own some yellows and reds but they’re not my favourite colours, so as this was a ‘favourites’ video I didn’t include them!

[@recoveringsoul755]

@@NatashaNewtonArt OK it's spelled differently, maybe it means something else