Unboxing the FULL SET of HOLBEIN Colored Pencils! [My First Impressions]

[@ruthieu38uys38]

I found 30 second hand holbeins in my local art shop recently and will now buy more open stock. Sadly the gentleman who originally brought them had passed away. His family returned them but because they'd been sharpen, they couldn't be resold at full price. I hope he's looking down on me, knowing how happy he's made me.

[@dee-ellencook763]

I received a set for Christmas after asking all my family to combine my gifts into just one item. Yippee! They did. I am so anxious to see how you are going to organize them into that pencil binder.Such fun!!

[@BiteSizedCrafter]

Congrats! Hopefully you can make some amazing art and sell it to buy more in the future ( if you chose to ).

[@nitecap991]

I just ordered the 150 set from Japan for 240 dollars plus 50 bucks shipping. I will get them in 1 week. Can’t wait

[@raggedblossom508]

Rosie looks so sweet in her pink striped pyjamas! Jennifer, you well deserve these gorgeous pencils. I'd love to see what art you can produce with them.

[@cherryblossomgirl9670]

These sound amazing! I had always had the Luminance as my ultra VIP top dream pencils, but now with this video, I am re-considering the Holbeins. Maybe we need a battle between Luminance and Holbeins :)

[@user-wk1mw9nj3i76]

Excellent review! I appreciate the thoroughness of your descriptions of the pencils. Best one I’ve seen yet on KZbin. I’m looking forward to your follow-up videos where you put the pencils through their coloring paces. (There are a few rather mean comments that are in the list here. I thoroughly disagree with any opinion that you and Steve aren’t an up front and honest channel. That’s why you don’t take sponsorships, right? Thanks for being a dedicated, wholesome, well-spoken, cheerfully friendly channel, and your knowledge is very appreciated by your many loyal viewers.)

[@mjpete27]

Truly amazing review! I have watched Amie Howard Art’s Channel and she makes her Holbein pencils work far and above the norm! Thank you for sharing this unboxing and swatching of this set! Thanks to You and Steve n Rose too! Excellent video!

[@cynthiaslater7445]

I've had my set for several years and I still like them the most of all the sets I own. They are much less on Amazon now but who knows how long that will last. Also, Blick has the Holbein Meltz colorless blender which works really well.

[@MissEddieBlueKawaiiKrafts]

Your right they’ve been going on sale on Amazon lately, I got a second set of the pastels for only 180$ Canadian including shipping which is only 130$ US!!! Mine did not come with the warnings tho, tbt one reason I got the second set is because I wanted to see if the US set would be different from the set I got from Japan but I think I ended up with a second set from Japan. I think I may remove the whites & the cream now, that definitely freaks me out just a bit too much 😅🙈🙈

[@biancavictoria8746]

@@MissEddieBlueKawaiiKrafts WHAT!!! They're currently £400 (480 USD) on amazon UK. I'm so jealous!

[@winterstar183]

Seems a few negative comments for this video - everyone is entities to there opinion but may be if your that agreived just go watch something else. I love learning about the different grade pencils available and I have to say while these in this video are more expensive end of pencils , you do get what you pay for! In my experience I have wasted so much money on cheeped brands as they just do not hold up in the same way and I rather have a smaller set of decent quality than a large set of cheaper pencils ( the old adage is true by cheep by twice !!!). As the premium pencil brands offer open stock it enables me the ability to buy colours slowly but surely as I too am on a budget. The thing that helped me most was getting over the ‘whole set syndrome’ I just buy colours I will use. I usually buy 3 at a time so I have a blend group -(thanks Jenifer as this is the most important advice I think any of us who enjoy colouring can learn ) and I have a mix of the more expensive pencils making up my collection as have wanted to try different pencils and on the whole most play well together ( it’s being aware of if they are oil or wax based I think but to be fair as I buy 3 colour blend set at a time it’s not an issue for me ) And the big plus with higher end brands is with open stock it is easy to replace colours as needed and this is not the case with cheeped brands . I appreciate these videos as helps me get the best quality for my budget and inspires me to save to try new pencils and add to my collection ....... and when I say save I may take months to save enough for a 3 blend set but it’s so worth it 😊😊😊 . Each to their own but pleas don’t dis things just because you can’t afford it as not fair and especially not when Jenifer has many videos on other lower cost products too 🥰

[@themaddtatter6679]

I think a beautiful fall themed page on the tan paper with tray 2 is a great idea👍👍👍 also I'd love to see a glow effect page on black paper with tray 3👍❤ congratulations on acquiring your full set

[@tanyaknapp5985]

What wonderful ideas!!! That does sound Awesome! 👍

[@christinescoloringandcrafts]

I am SO happy for you!!! I got the full last year and I have loved using these pencils!!! Looking forward to your related products!

[@sgraham4533]

Thanks for investigating these pencils. I love to learn about new products, even if expensive. Gives me insight on if it is worth the $ and if I should save up for it.

[@azzuparis]

These pencils looks so yummy 😍 the earthy and pastel colors are so beautiful !! Thank you for swatching these and for sharing your review ❤

[@debnealey3590]

Thank you for sharing...I didn't realize how different they look on the different papers

[@sometimeswrite239]

Pastels on black paper are gorgeous

[@777Liezl]

I just bought the 150 set from Discover Japan and paid $240 plus shipping, so almost $300 total.

[@tanyaknapp5985]

Ouch! Wow I did know these were that expensive?!

[@harshreality2672]

Awesome 😊. Thank you Jennifer. I haven't had the chance to mention (don't THINK I have, that is 😬 lol), but purple is my lifelong favorite color and doing art really DOES help distract from physical pain (I was training for the '88 Olympics in gymnastics, years with Bela Karolyi until I was injured, then got MS 12yrs ago, a very painful and incurable brain disease). I have known pain my whole life, sigh. But I just wanted to thank you and Steve again. Your channel is really fantastic 😊.

[@tanyaknapp5985]

That is awesome your were a gymnast! I absolutely love gymnastics. They wanted to start training me at the age of three when a coach that was training girls for the 78 Olympics saw me running doing cartwheels at that age. My folks thought long and hard but decided that my education was more important. They told me years later and I was upset but understood where they were coming from. I’m sorry for diagnosis that is unfortunate my sister in law also has M.S. ugly disease. We’ll take care! Tanya Camano Island WA.

[@harshreality2672]

@@tanyaknapp5985 Why, thank you 😊. We sound VERY similar. I also couldn't keep my feet on the ground as a young child either! 😄 Except I was fortunate that while being born in Philadelphia, I started school in Malta (we had family there and moved for an extended stay, while I turned 5) and when coming back to the states at almost 6yo and enrolling in school here, I was massively tested and the fact that my birthday is Dec 11th-half way thru the school year, they didn't know which grade to even put me in (public school, nuff said 😐). I tested at a Mensa level but thankfully, my mother knew that my entire heart was in gymnastics (yes, even at 4yo, I was also one that HAD to flip around)! It was in my blood to be airborn 😜👍. But my mother had told me this story when I was much older, that I was laying on the couch by myself smiling one day, she thought I was watching TV. When she came in the room and saw that the TV was off, she asked me why I was smiling and I told her, " Mom? The way I'm laying on this couch right now, I'm not in °ANY° pain!" 😳 I was 11yrs old. She started crying, thinking that she caused it by allowing me to go into the sport, till I told her no, there was no WAY she could've kept me from my dream and I wouldn't trade ANY of the pain off, for not doing what I °loved° to do 😔. 51yrs later, I'm still paying the price, but I STILL wouldn't trade a second of it in my memory, for what it was. I got to work with my dream coach, even though I broke one of the cardinal rules, never give gymnasts "time off" 😐, we tend to do stupid things 😬. I frinally got a chance to go back home for a week to visit family, went to my old gym and tried to show my old coach how I was learning a full twisting double front and broke the second cardinal rule, NEVER stop flipping mid-air. Going into the second flip, I saw the old equipment and my mind just froze mid way through and I fell from 14' in the air, onto the back of my neck. Ya. I don't call myself "The World's Smartest Dumbass" for no reason. Having to make that phone call to say that I'm not coming back-after getting a mouthful of Romanian cursy words, he actually then hired me to come work for him as a coach "You trained by the best, now come coach the best". Getting paychecks from the very man I dreamed to work with my whole life was surreal, but I had to make peace that my dream ended with one stupid decision that I made and I just had to move on with life. My life, of pain. 💜

[@tanyaknapp5985]

@@harshreality2672 wow what a life! I am so envious! Well thank you for your telling your story. I pray that the rest of your life be as adventurous as your past. And that your pain will subside. Take care! 😊

[@harshreality2672]

@@tanyaknapp5985 Lol, the things I've gone through, well, every decade of my life could be a novel! 🤣🙌👍 But 5 FULL novels that would make people laugh 😄, cry 😭, be shocked 😳, be amazed 😮 and yet be SO appreciative 😊-because my message throughout ALL of my life is always this, no matter WHAT comes your way, you CAN get through it❗ and you can do it with style! 😜. Humans have no IDEA how powerful we are 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦. And I always tell people this MAIN message, NO matter WHAT you enrdure, NO one is guaranteed another day, we get no promises down here, so live every single DAY the °BEST° that you can and know you're NOT alone!! 💜 And laugh 😆. A °lot°. It is the °literally° the easiest and FASTEST way to "raise your vibration" and ease the difficulties of living life here in 3Dland 😊. Pleasure to chat with you! Thank you for makin me smile, big 😁, lol. The best to you, as well! And as Bela would say in his Romanian accent lol, "Be STRONG! 💪 Like °bull°!!!", lol. Amazing things are coming our way soon, to ALL of our HumanityFamily, trust. That is WHY we all came down here! 💜😊💜

[@Mirrigold]

Their pencils had cadmium pigments in them, that was the issue, which I believe meant they didn't comply with some of the US requirements for health and safety risks. The warning on the box is because some of the pigments have the same potential issues which I believe has to be warned about in the US (we don't have the same warning on boxes here in the UK if I remember rightly, I got my box direct from Amazon Japan and imported it to the UK at a much reduced price so I'm not sure if my box is for sale abroad or an original Japanese one). They're only a risk if you (generic) plan on eating multiple amounts of pencil, the small elements included in the pigment formula is minisqule. They are incredible pencils, in my top five along with my Polychromos, Caran D'Ache Luminance and Derwent Lightfast.

[@Colorfullife2046]

Such beautiful pencils and that sure is alot of swatching but definitely worth it to see how they are on all paper thank you for all your hard work.

[@alanaherbert8510]

Sooo pretty! These might even be one of the very few sets that are cheaper here in Australia than in the US!

[@da1latinbeauty]

Congratulations. The Holbein’s look 👀 beautiful. The last tray is so beautiful ( pastel) would look gr8 with fantasy drawings. Beautiful 😻

[@bethmegansmith4642]

Lovel your review thank you for sharing. I have the 50 set I got them from Japan December 2023. I hope to get the 150 set hopefully beginning of October 2024

[@annemorgan2928]

I love the oil based pencils. I didn’t know Holbein was Japanese! How wonderful for you. Yum!!😊

[@erionafrancescasherifi4492]

I’m already getting all hyped about them, and we’re only on minute 3:59 😅😂😂 but I could not not comment on your nail polish. I love it!!! What is it? 😊 …. Back to the video 😊

[@lisakaye75]

Thanks Jennifer for the review. I have the pastels only. I love them and I so enjoyed swatching them. Now you have me thinking I need the full set. Looking forward to seeing you color with them.

[@MsGabinha]

Wow they are awesome!! Thank you Jennifer, you are the best, always showing excellent materials and giving us useful tips. Love from Argentina!!!

[@GentlePace8]

Those look wonderful, I’d like to have them one day as well.

[@pamelab6046]

Thank you so much Jennifer, what a great job you’ve done, they are absolutely beautiful ❤️♥️❤️💫

[@marytesta3003]

I love Holbein everything. My dream just to have these to look at.

[@lawrenceballard6342]

Congrats on your beautiful purchase of HB pencils! I agree with the previous comment about owning a full set. One day I would like to get the small set just to see how well they work. I'm excited about watching this video!!🤗

[@astridgarcia888]

Excellent review of this gorgeous pencils ! Thank you very much to both of you for the hard work you put in every review !

[@ineszwiener3701]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I especially loved the background music 💗

[@loriki8766]

Swatch Tip: Use your printer/copier to copy the manufacturer's swatch paper onto your colored pencil paper. It at least saves you the time it takes to write number/name of every color.

[@jesspjordan]

Your excitement is infectious! Now I need a set :)

[@SMBDesigns]

I'm so excited for you! I love these pencils...its just a different experience.

[@belindagirard5163]

Wow that's a marathon that in total 450 swatches just for that set alone

[@lesliemischel1159]

I’ve been buying these pencils a few at a time open stock. Beautiful set! Enjoy! 😊

[@LindaCrowder10021950]

Thanks for clarifying that!

[@susanmayes9705]

The holbeins are lovely. So many colors so little time. Swatch books are on my wish list ❤️

[@fantastic_pudding]

Those are gorgeous pencils, and the case is really pretty too 😍

[@ArtBrain]

Oh nice. I was just working on justifying my FS of Albrecht Durer. You're making me feel better, ha! ;-). I'm glad you have them. You deserve them!

[@lawrenceballard6342]

Also, I'm not into fingernail polish, but as my daughter would say..."Your nails are beautiful"!!😍👍🏾

[@danyelhudon458]

Good idea to present your swatches book in below, TKY I am looking quite often to yours ones! But as I am managing my money due to the inflation at the moment! 😊

[@PursuingHeaven]

Oh I am so happy for you! I have had these a while and love them, they are my favorite pencil and as I get more advanced in my skills I just love them more and more. I'm glad they finally did the industry standard lightfast testing just so people won't criticize them any more for not doing it. Their lightfastness is well known in Japan. I can't wait for you to make the color wheels and tri tone charts. I encourage you to get their specific blending solution Meltz, I think it's better than Gamsol because it makes them watercolor, almost Inktense pencil like. Experiment on different paper. I enjoy them in my books with smoother paper (Like Rita Berman's books) that need less layers and quicker color pay off, but they work on all paper I use. They remind me of oil pastels. So fun!

[@ilustralilian_]

This is my dream set. I wanted them many years before they became widely available. I remember I saw a picture of them and I searched for a long time until I found them on a site in Japan. It was crazy. It was maybe 7-8 years ago. Maybe one day I can get them. I hope. But if it’s difficult for you guys on the US, imagine here in Brazil where our currency is losing its value really fast in this economy. Oh well… I can wait. I do have the 12 pastel pack that I got maybe some 5 years ago and they are amazing. Love them! So I know they are worth the price. In my opinion, of course.

[@kyliescolouringindownunder3098]

I love these pencils I have the full set too.. it’s strange my set of 150 did have cancer warning on the pencils it’s so strange .. thank you for the information with the swatching too much appreciated.. I hope u enjoy your beautiful new pencils ❤xxx

[@jjsmakeupobsession323]

I always find it interesting how/why we all use different pencil cases, I like the individual loops for my pencils. I accidentally bought a 3 loop one, it holds my Copic markers, lol.

[@robertlacombe4960]

I have a friend you will visit Toyko next month, is it less expensive to buy Holbein that you purchased here on that video here in USA, Canada or Japan as I won't have to pay taxes with his tax exemption 800.00 here in Canada. Thank you to share your huge talent.

[@krystinatremblay826]

Beautiful! Thank you so much!

[@donnadurham8543]

So happy you got the pencils. I finally treated myself a few years ago with the last of the government stim. checks. I went through Etsy and paid under $400 for the whole set - I believe it was like $380. I think you will really like them - I know I do - but I save them as they ARE so very expensive! Thanks for unboxing and swatching them online. I'm sure others will enjoy watching this as much as I am right now!!!

[@danettetrostle7173]

Looking forward!😎

[@deborahchadwick210]

Got these for Christmas. I switched them. They are so beautiful, I can't take them out of their box and put them in a carrying case!! They look like candy in a candy store!!

[@aliciacolorsandcrafts]

Thank you for this! There is a lot of negativity about these pencils in the coloring community. Layering and smooth paper seem to be the issues. Wondering if you could do a coloring page using these in a future video.

[@carolaasen9345]

Jennifer....these are beautiful 😍 I don't have them "yet" but my Valentine birthday is just around the corner and my hubby just asked me what I'd like....hmmmm 🤭❣❣❣❣ By the way... I have switched out all my cases to this one you showed. They all are a different and I added a black heavy duty tag so I can grab them quickly 😏 Thank you for this video 😊❣❣❣❣

[@leonnehaaijman4709]

I have several of those cases, the outer loops in the front and back flaps hold 4 or 5 pencils, depending on the thickness of the pencil.

[@courbry123]

I’ve always wanted these pencils. I wish Dick Blick sold them individually so we could try them before buying a whole set. Thanks for sharing.

[@chachiwahi]

Blick does sell them individually on their website.

[@marjoriebevan6982]

Beautiful! Thank you for all that work - lucky thing xxx

[@BoGilmore]

I love your puppy companion. The rainbow of colors are beautiful. It would be hard for me to take them out the display box and put them in a case. They look so pretty in a row together. I guess as far as the Cancer warning, just don't eat the pencils and you should be OK😊

[@BiteSizedCrafter]

It’s cause they were made with an animal fat that when mixed with the other ingredients can be linked to cancer. I think the newest ( most expensive ) formula doesn’t use that. Holbiens used to use animal fats in general as the “oil” in their pencils. At least that is what the research someone else I watch found.

[@BiteSizedCrafter]

As for the pupper, her name is Rose and she is a really good girl!

[@Emmawilliams83]

These pencils look absolutely amazing , oh how I wish I could try these .. I have that pencil case in a bigger size mine holds 450 🤦‍♀️.. such a beautiful pencil case for the most amazing pencils . Rose is looking beautiful as always .. tysmfs 🥰💕

[@cyndibailey7812]

Thank you Jennifer!

[@jeanneduvall4728]

Pastels are beautiful

[@lorilewis5657]

I love your videos. I would never spend that much for pencils that have such low lightfast rating. I love pencils as much as you do. I just think their prices are to high for this product. I color portraits of my family and give them for gifts, so I don’t want them to fade. Not very good but my family loves them anyway. Your reviews have helped me a lot , so thank you

[@diannafitzhenry3259]

I too have this set of holbeins. I actually haven’t used them but I have swatched them. I’m looking forward to your opinions

[@babysquaw3769]

Love the coloring pencils, also your nails... what color are they?!? What is the brand of nail polish?!?

[@LexiandAimee123]

Wow. How I wish I could afford this set.

[@StnFlwr]

Cancer warning is probably for some ingredient that require warning labels in places like California.

[@veystone2580]

I died laughing, cause Rose was standing up so attentive, and when you said: We have so much to do with these pencils.... ROSE SAT DOWN AND LOOKED AT YOU LIKE: 'OK MOMMY I"M READY!!!' 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@MelJ44]

I so much would love some these pencils but I cannot afford them I have faber castell polycromos Prisma colour I always wanted holbein pencils and Mitibushi ones too But cannot afford them at all I have few singles caran d ache white Which there £5 a pencil There so expensive But I WANT THESE SO BADLY XX thank you for sharing your so lucky

[@CuriosityRocks]

Thank you for the review

[@renmuffett]

I just needed to say that Holbein one star ⭐ doesn't actually mean fugitive. It mean moderately durable. No star at all means fugitive. Paint or pencils made with florescent dye instead of actual pigments will vanish totally pretty fast. I would not give a florescent dye even one star.

[@nitecap991]

Thanks!

[@debnealey3590]

Another question...what type of book did you use for the swatches?

[@kekab.8161]

They’re gorgeous, congrats!❤

[@alexandragomez5460]

Nice 😊 I got mine a week ago

[@itsallspent]

Nicely done .

[@bette-annflood835]

Beautiful pencils. But not my budget. Thanks for all your work.

[@samiirox21]

I feel so torn seeing the lightfast paper in there with all the controversy over Holbein and their lightfastness. I love them regardless but I wish I knew what’s true lol

[@Peppmintleaf]

oooh you got the unicorn of colored pencils :00 lol I've always viewed Holbien colored pencils as these "rare/mystical" colored pencils since very few colorists (that I've seen) own them and for a time they were very hard to get a hold of. I've always wanted to get the full pastel set because it's really the only brand of colored pencil, aside from the irojitin by Tombow, that has a dedicated line of gorgeous pastel shades. I have a handful of some of the holbien pastel colored pencils and I do hope to someday get the full 50 set :D

[@orchdork775]

Brutfuner has a large pastel set, too! Lindsey from the frugal crafter has a review video where she compares them to the Holbein pastel set. They are way cheaper, and she gave a positive review!

[@denisegardner784]

Ok, so a year ago you did a video of these up against Prisma and Prisma ranked a more favorable score of 13 while these only ranked 11?

[@ernavanderwoude2242]

Thanks for the video

[@AbraCassandraCrafts]

*me learning Holbein has colored pencils AFTER I swear not to spend more money til I use up the art supplies I have* 👁👄👁

[@ashleymarie9156]

These are beautiful but out of my budget for sure😂😂😂😂I’m content with my prismas, derwent inktense and my budget kalours..these are gorgeous though and the color lay down on the swatches looks good too!

[@miriamrivera3742]

I bought that set! But I honestly didn't like them. I prefer my Caran d ache luminance pencils. I have other brands too, but if I'm gonna pay that much money I want to be happy with the ending results. Another thing that I was so disappointed was the fact that the point kept on breaking. As I kept sharpening the pencils the point kept on breaking more and more. As I saw the pencil getting smaller by the seconds as I was sharpening all I could think was that my hard working money was being wasted in the blade of the sharpener!!!! So if I have to give an honest opinion it will be........ DON'T BUY THE SET!!! Just try them by buying one or two individually, if you like them, then save your money and buy the whole set. 🌺🌻🌸🌼

[@carolynbice7972]

Happy for u

[@gibson2623]

oh dear, good lord..... The Rolls Royce of pencils.....Nice ;)

[@chuckswain8299]

👍😃 yes priceless. But just to own 12 to 24 would satisfy me.

[@MagicXarko]

It's awful! These pencils are so pretty, the set is so beautiful that we admire them while hesitating to take one

[@MissEddieBlueKawaiiKrafts]

Your suppose to wash your hands immediately after using the Holbein whites & not touch your face or mouth & now I know why!! My sets did not come with those warnings & I will definitely be removing the whites & the cream now so thank you so much for sharing the warnings! 🦋💘🍭

[@leslieladyhawke]

These are too expensive for most folks. But they look good.

[@LCLand]

Nice!

[@白雅萍-y9g]

我要買

[@leonnehaaijman4709]

Odd, one of the whites doesn’t seem to be capped.

[@AlongfortheThrill]

That sticker on the white was super suspicious. I wonder what it is in that pencil that is the cause for the sticker! Also, what's the point of a 1 star if it fades fast?

[@ColoringBliss]

Fades “fast” is a relative term. almost any colored pencil will out last the ink in an alcohol marker that is exposed to sunlight. It only really matters if you are displaying your art without extra UV protection.

[@AlongfortheThrill]

@@ColoringBliss ahhh thank you!!

[@marlenaamalfitano2727]

I love these. I got them as a gift. However I have several complaints. WAY too few yellows. 33!!!! Yes 33 grreens, 12 grays. Too many reds too close together. BUT. The pastels, blues pinks and purples are lovely. Almost every media simply does not have enough yellows.with a lot of work and many brands, I have built up a nice selection of them. I do love these

[@artandmorewithrachelnicole]

Lovin it 💕

[@beckymadrid5894]

I wish i could afford them.

[@IZZYCHAN13]

Lol they added a new paper for lightfast ratings; still way too expensive as you're paying for import costs Dx

[@maybee...]

Do colored penils get too old? I have a set that the color is very hard.

[@ColoringBliss]

If stored properly, colored pencils can lest decades.

[@jamiespurlin7132]

Hi everyone 😊

[@jeanneduvall4728]

So expensive....can't do them!

[@ciannacoleman5125]

For such an expensive set I would have expected them to be 90% 3-4 star with a smattering of 2s and zero 1s. I love seeing any and all art supply tests and reviews, but I can see zero reason to pay that much when there are solid less expensive options that have few if any fugitives.

[@DuchesseJudith]

Exactly. They are way overpriced imo. Hype, not quality.

[@renmuffett]

Caran D Ache Luminance are not all like the three star Holbein lightfast rating. Luminance will mark a pencil as either a one or two. Luminance uses Roman numerals and I is the highest. II is Medium. I have Caran D Ache Luminance and some of the pencils are a II. Not all are the tip top highest rated I. Thanks for sharing! God bless!