TomBow Irojiten

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TomBow is a Japanese company, originally setup back in 1913, from this date on, TomBow have been producing cutting edge art supplies at mid table affordable prices. This may be a stereotypical comment to make, however I don't intend it to be, but the Japanese as a culture are immensely hard working and invest so much pride into their work that the end results are immaculate and TomBow is no exception to this.

[@TheArtGearGuide]

My previous video had a few problems with images and so I had to make change the video to get rid of the purple screen showing when images should have been appearing. I know a lot of you left comments and I am so sorry that those comments have gone because of the changes. I think that this video will be better for you all because the images will appear as they should. Please by all means leave your comments again and I will reply to them as usual. Thank you so much for your understanding on this matter. My theory is that the images I take are too high resolution and are not rendering correctly when uploading. When I take images on my camera they are in RAW format so that I can enhance them and then compress them to JPEG. I have reduced the size of the images but maintained the quality. I am so sorry for any inconvenience I have caused.

[@suewilkinson910]

You didn't cause anyone any inconvenience. I thought it was me at first because I had an old monitor that failed by doing that to the screen at random times and for just a few seconds before it finally died.

[@TheArtGearGuide]

Sue Wilkinson Hi, Sue, normally when I upload a video I double check it to make sure the purple screen doesn't happen where the images are supposed to be, but because my parents were over I over looked it. But to be honest I haven't got a clue why it happens, I am only guessing it has to do with the images because it happens where the images are supposed to be, it must be the size of the image. But I really wanted to fix it because there is nothing worse than that purple screen, it drives me nuts lol.

[@jannek123]

I have all the Polychromos, Pablos, Luminance, Derwent Colorsoft and Artist pencils, but the Irojitens are my favorites. They are pure joy to color with, and colors so unique and beautiful. I have purchased open stock direct from Tombow. Thank you for your review. I love these pencils!

[@TheArtGearGuide]

jannek123 thank you so much for your comment.

[@ambient_landscapes]

Thank you for this 🎉I love the layering test, quite inspiring

[@juli696]

Hi Harry, ignore the negatives they always have to find something to pick at. Your health comes first above anything.. Reviews cost a lot of money and time for the reviewer so you're appreciated by those who care :D . You always go direct to the company and can only review what they tell you about the product, so if a company selling the item you're reviewing sells the product differently it is not your fault or mistake. Thank you for your reviews.

[@JohnnyCornbread]

I love the Irojiten pencils. I recently purchased the 10 newest colors they released so I have the full 100 set of them. I have the Prismacolor 150 set and the Polychromos 120 set and these might actually be my favorite. I also have run into people who really hate them and I think it just shows how different we all are. Stay safe and healthy. 🌸 Hadassah

[@TheArtGearGuide]

I completely agree with you, I like the Irojiten, since doing this review I have learnt so much more about paper and how important the surface is for your art work. I’d love to buy the other two 30 sets but I just can’t afford them yet but they are on my list. Thank you so much

[@twingytwango6971]

Hi Harry, I think there is a new set out in a flat box which covers some colours which are not included. I found this on Amazon Japan.

[@TheArtGearGuide]

Thanks Twingy I think I know the set you are referring to but if they are out only in Japan it will be difficult getting hold of them but I would absolutely love to. The first time I reviewed the Irojiten was right at the beginning of my art life so to speak and to be absolutely honest, I didn’t fully understand the importance of paper back then or the surface you use, but I learnt a lot from the review you have just watched and the new review I uploaded recently when I reviewed the full 100 range of colours. I used a gorgeous paper and the results the second time round were night and day and so because of this I absolutely love the Irojiten pencils, but on the wrong paper, they can be difficult to use, mainly when it comes to layering, use the right paper and they can layer all day long.

[@danettetrostle7173]

Thanks Harry, I've been wondering about these pencils. I'm not an artist I just like to color so they would work for that. You really do a great job with your reviews and I look forward to them. Please don't be so hard on yourself and most important is your health. So many of us are wearing your same shoes..they may not be the same size, color or style but they are shoes. Keep up the good work 😎

[@suewilkinson910]

I love these pencils for colouring. I've also taken to trying to make a little sketch every day in my diary because my drawing is poor. I seem to always reach for these to colour the drawings with. There are a few papers that they don't like, but I've not had much issue and they feel lovely in the hand. I have one book, a greyscale book of images, the paper is cheap printer paper by the feel of it, but they cope admirably. They will layer up to about 4 times on it too.

[@margarethanson8330]

This is another excellent review. You're my favorite artist. Your reviews are always honest and complete. My therapist gave me a new non-drug product which has stabilized my pain and I'm able to use my pencils again! Whoo hoo! I just love these pencils because of their unique color assortment and the "creative" packaging and branding. You have to admire a company that not only provides excellent products to creative people, but is creative in that process! God bless and thank you for your inspiration!

[@hollyzessin2886]

In the USA they are available as single pencils. I do have all the sets as of now. Thanks for your work.

[@cynthiarichter792]

Thanks for doing another great review. I never heard of these and since I am just starting on this journal it helps me a lot to watch your videos.

[@carolesauter4205]

I love them too and bought them!

[@atvalleau]

Harry, I see this video is maybe 3 years old, but Irojitens are now available open stock for all 90 pencils, at least in the US. I get my individuals from Blick Art Materials. When I got my full set of 90 a couple years ago (ebay for around $80), I wasn't thinking about the lightfastness, but it is a bit disappointing that Tombow doesn't do testing or provide more info on the lightfastness of these pencils. Overall, I really like them, especially for detail work. Thanks for the informative video!

[@kindonwazzagod]

Great review as always Harry mate

[@DrawingWithFire]

Great video Harry! 😁

[@OscarLopez-bh7yo]

Excelente!

[@lindarowley749]

I am only a "for fun" adult coloring gal, who has more pencils than I should. These, for me, are wonderful. I love the way they look, feel, and lay down color. It makes me feel special to use them. Thanks for your review.

[@linwong1494]

Linda Rowley lmao me. I do adult coloring but Im also sort of an artist and aspire to improve with color pencils. Need to do my collection some justice, cause it feels like a crime to not use them at all.

[@terrisimmers9784]

Jennifer stays was at a art supplies convention in Utah in 2016 and tombow had a stand of all the 90 colors in a stand just for buying out of the sets.

[@suewilkinson910]

Harry, I'm sorry if I caused offence on the other review video by mentioning seeing a few single pencils for sale on Amazon. I had seen them when I was looking for the cheapest set to buy. But I've just gone and checked and they are ridiculous prices and not shipping from the UK. They are not direct from Tombow either. I should have checked before I said anything. This channel, your videos and you are all amazing and well loved. It's one of my favourite resources. Please don't think about stopping. Just take your time. Go at your pace and don't feel pressured into doing things you don't want to do. This has turned into a bit of a business for you (even if you are not being paid for it, it's still work) and you didn't expect that. Business of any sort, with customers/audience/deadlines, is hard work and stressful at the best of times, let alone with a disability like yours to deal with. It takes some adjusting to work out the balance needed between work and private life/rest when you get going. It took me years to realise I needed to actually have a home life as well! We are just customers of your work, and sometimes customers suck. When we overstep the mark just fume a bit to the dogs and then ignore us. That's what I do. Well, there are no dogs in my warehouse, but you get the gist.

[@TheArtGearGuide]

Sue Wilkinson no no no You absolutely did not cause any offence, I was referring to something totally different, it didn't happen on the video or my web site, but it just got me a bit frustrated because the individual didn't just point out the fact that the pencils are now open stock, the individual insinuated I deliberately mislead people which I became defensive over and in hindsight, I should not have done so. I have no problem what so ever with someone saying "Hay Harry you've got this wrong" or "Hay Harry, I don't find the pencils smooth I find them hard" all of that is legitimate and very relevant. But when I'm accused of deliberately misleading people, I wrongly, jumped on the defensive. I can tell you Sue, hand on heart, it had nothing at all to do with anything you said. I promise you.

[@kassaArt]

Thank you so much for your review Harry, you mentioned that you are considering getting the full set now especially as you know more about paper, what paper would you recommend now? Thanks to you, I'm keen to try these as your amazing videos turned me into a colour pencil lover.. you can't have too many or so I tell myself! 😂😂😂 Thank you!

[@juliemaitland1176]

Harry, don’t be so hard on yourself you are producing some really interesting and helpful reviews. You are not speaking for the elite few coloristas, rather those of us who are enthusiastic amateurs who enjoy a friendly, less slick review. I have read a few other reviews on Irojiten and it is the way you presented them that have made me want to own the whole set, despite having several sets of premium pencils. I like the idea of different colours from the usual sets and think they have a huge potential to get the most out of Colouring books. I too have health issues that result in the inability to function at times and long periods of fatigue and depression so I can well understand the difficulties you face. I’d like to think that what you are producing is helping you cope with whatever problems you have. Just keep going when you are able - I’m sure your fans are happy to wait. Take care 🎨😺💕

[@terrisimmers9784]

these pencils are 71. something in change per each set of 30 colors for the 90 pencils it is 213.00 in total or 2.37 @ per pencil. I can not justify that pricepoint.

[@elainehowell2510]

I initially came across these pencils from the wildlife art work and subsequent colouring book of Tim Jeffs who uses these pencils for his work. You can find him on Facebook in case you'd like to take a look. I enjoy using these pencils for the variety of colours they give you, I use them alongside my Polychromos, Prismas and Caran D'Ache but it is rare for me to complete any artwork with these pencils in their entirety.

[@karencollins3017]

I was thinking of buying this set. But i have Osteoarthritis realy bad. Its in my right hand badly swollen it's not in my left yet wich I'm glad. This wont be good for me will they if there a hard pencil as i cant press hard. So that's why they have to be easy lay down. So what i am asking is. Are they easy to use or do you have to press hard. I would appreciate what you think in my situation. Karen.

[@barbarak.7637]

I bought a set of five just to test them. They even looked attractive in the clamshell pack. I was impressed by their performance so I had to get every set. They do look beautiful in the box and even by non artist friends enjoyed trying them. They are on the harder side texture wise; much different than say Prismacolor.

[@lennymac5915]

Hi Harry, I believe these are available 'Open Stock' from Dick Blick in the US.

[@TheArtGearGuide]

Lindyjanemac Mac hi Lindy I am currently in a huge debate about this very topic and seriously considering stopping reviews and pulling the channel. As I've mentioned many times before, when I write a review, especially one going out in COLORED PENCIL Magazine, the review is written and submitted approximately two to three months before it is published. At the time I wrote this review I had a lengthy email exchange with TomBow asking them questions about the pencils, again, which I stated in the video. The very first question I asked them was about open stock, now at the time I knew from many other reviews that they did not sell them open stock, but I thought as they where from Japan, maybe they sold them in Japan open stock and it would be something interesting to add. They told me, and I've sent copies of the conversation to a few people this morning already, that they did not sell them open stock. Not forgetting that I had the conversation on Feb of this year. When a company tells me something I have no reason to second guess them and write something else. Also, once I submit my review to CPM, if the pencil company make changes to the pencil between the time I submit my review and it is published, there is nothing I can do to change it. I will be making a video today or tomorrow showing the email and explaining why I may be stopping the reviews. One individual has basically implied that I have deliberately misinformed people and they didn't even say it to me, it was to someone else. I love writing reviews and I have tried my very best to give the most detailed and honest reviews in contacting the companies and not writing about second hand sources. I now spend more time, proving and providing evidence that a company has given me the information than actually writing the reviews and it is difficult.

[@lennymac5915]

I absolutely love your videos and you do a fantastic job with all your reviews. Seems silly a company would give you half arsed information, but like any company you deal with, depends who you get on the other end of your questions. I only mentioned it because I have been looking at these pencils for a few weeks and noticed DB had them when I checked a few days ago and thought you might like the info for others. It was in no way being negative, just passing on info. I thought perhaps they only get the OS in the US. Thanks for all your hard work. It is always much appreciated.

[@TheArtGearGuide]

Lindyjanemac Mac hi Lindy I absolutely know you meant nothing at all by it, I think the best thing for me to do is make a video, chatting to everyone about this issue, because I fear when I am replying to you guys about this, my frustration is coming out in my messages, which is a frustration aimed 100% in another direction and most certainly not at you or anyone else on my channel or site. I don't want you or anyone else to feel I am annoyed at you or anything like that for this is absolutely not the case. If I talk in a video you can all hear my tone of voice and hear exactly who and why I am frustrated at. Thank you so very much for your comment and please know that I am most definitely not annoyed with you or anyone here.

[@lennymac5915]

Thanks Harry. And on a different subject. I hold you responsible for my new obsession with Caran D'Arche Luminance. I bought a couple on the weekend hoping they would be just nice, and they are my 2 favourite pencils in the world. But like Noah's animals, they'll have to come 2 x 2 for the moment. haha

[@TheArtGearGuide]

Lindyjanemac Mac I hear you Lindy they are amazing pencils but really expensive. But you'll have the full set before you know it.

[@francisconunez720]

i need to buy this pecils

[@kristiofca1]

I just received my set of Irojiten colored pencils yesterday and I must say, for the price, I expected better color lay down. I am using Caran D'Ache full blender bright sticks for blending and have found that they are quite useful. But, I digress, the packaging and beautifully categorized and organized system has me loving these. I'll keep them for beauty's sake, but for performance, I'll stick with my Polychromos and Caran D'Ache Luminance 6901 colored pencils. Thank you for a really good review.

[@eleanordixon9678]

The problem I have with these pencils is that too many of them are incredibly pale and just don't show up on the page. They are lovely to look at though!😊

[@exhortationsofanartist8118]

I recently bought a set and I agree it looks too pale on regular paper but if you use it on legion Lennox cotton paper or black paper it looks amazing!

[@mrsearlgrey]

I'm sorry to read about your concerns. My pencils were actually made in Thailand which surprised me. I hope you keep reviewing. Don't let the b******s get you down. Anyway, what I had been going to say - I think the pencils make a nice addition, but I don't exactly think they are necessary. I kept mine in all the original packaging and having the paper sleeve around the box makes it much easier to find the colors (which I also swatched in my book). They are also a breeze to put away because of the way they are packaged. I can't really think how one would sort them if you took them out. I only color but so far have used them when hunting for a color that wasn't in any other set. There are some really different colors in there. Thanks for the review.

[@Irisphotojournal]

I love books so they appeal to me and I also love the colors so maybe I'll try the seascape set at some point. Shame they are not such high quality though, I can think of a lot better products to spend £90.00 on.

[@dagmarsart]

Not in parr with the price imho

[@kallyneab1558]

Do they have many unique colours? I own a 120 Polychromos set and I wanted to complement the set with different colours. I thought of buying the 150 Prismacolor but I don't want to have such amount of pencils. I love adult colouring books, and I really like the pale tones, but I can't find a nice collection for a reasonable price (like the Holbein pastels, for me they are too expensive). The pastel and the grey tones were very appealing.

[@Holambrart]

They are too expensive lol Better buying Caran d'ache Luminance set of 76 for almost the same price .😀

[@TheArtGearGuide]

The price of these has come down significantly, any one of the three sets are being sold for approx £25 each, so that is 30 pencils for £25 but you are so right and something I never thought of at the time of doing this review, you could almost have bought a set of luminance for the price of the irojiten.

[@mariaraqueloliver9014]

Hy! excellent video. this pencil os oil base? and Holbain are tren San e pencil? in base?

[@marvelenia6702]

Mariaraquel Oliver hi, no they are mixed oil/wax pencils. Holbein is much higher quality and oil based.