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Choosing the Right Faber-Castell Drawing Pencils

As an artist or a serious hobbyist, you know that the right tools make all the difference. Faber-Castell is a name synonymous with quality, but its extensive range can be overwhelming. Watercolour, pastel, graphite—which set truly suits your style and projects?

In this article, we'll guide you through the options. We highlight the features of various Faber-Castell drawing pencils to help you make an informed decision. This isn't marketing fluff, but practical information based on product specifications.

What to Look for When Buying Faber-Castell Pencils

Before we dive into specific sets, here are a few key considerations to help you choose the right artist supplies.

1. Choose Your Medium: Dry, Wet, or Pastel?

The most important choice is the type of pencil. Faber-Castell offers several lines, each with unique properties:

  • Coloured Pencils (Oil-Based): Like the renowned Polychromos line. These are water-resistant and ideal for detailed work and layering.
  • Watercolour Pencils: These pencils, such as the Albrecht Dürer pencils, contain pigments that are fully water-soluble. You can draw with them dry and then use a wet brush to create watercolour effects, offering tremendous versatility.
  • Pastel Pencils: The Pitt pencils provide the texture and blendability of pastel chalks but in the form of a pencil. This gives you the precision for fine details that are harder to achieve with a block of pastel.
  • Graphite Pencils: For sketching, drawing, and monochromatic work, graphite pencils are the standard. They are available in various hardness grades, from hard (H) for light lines to soft (B) for deep, dark shadows.

2. Lightfastness: A Mark of Quality

For professional coloured pencils, lightfastness is crucial. This rating indicates how well the colours resist fading when exposed to light over time. Faber-Castell uses a star system on many of its products to denote lightfastness. A high rating (often indicated by ***) means your artwork will retain its vibrant colours for years to come.

3. The Composition of the Set

A Faber-Castell pencil set can range from a basic selection of 12 colours to comprehensive chests containing over 100 pencils. Consider which colours you truly need. A smaller set is often sufficient for starting out, while a larger set offers more creative freedom without the need for constant colour mixing.

Recommended Faber-Castell Pencil Sets

Based on their specific properties and applications, we have selected three popular sets that cater to different artistic needs.

Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils Set - 36 Pieces

Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils Set - 36 Pieces

Why This Set Stands Out These pastel pencils combine the rich texture of pastel chalks with the control of a pencil. The core is wax- and oil-free, ensuring a dry, powdery laydown that you can easily smudge and blend. With a 4.3 mm core diameter, they contain a high concentration of pigment for vibrant colours.

Key Features

  • High pigment quality and lightfastness.
  • Ideal for fine details in pastel drawings.
  • Colours are easy to blend for smooth transitions.
  • Requires minimal fixing to preserve colour intensity.

Who Is It For? For artists who already work with pastel chalks and are seeking more precision, or for drawers who want to explore the soft, blendable properties of pastels without the mess of loose chalks.

View the Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils Set on Joybuy.nl

Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils Set - 36 Pieces

Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils Set - 36 Pieces

Why This Set Stands Out The Albrecht Dürer pencils are renowned for their versatility. Use them dry for bright, intense lines, or add water to fully dissolve the pigments and create stunning watercolour effects. The 3.8 mm thick core is extra break-resistant thanks to a special bonding process (SV bonding).

Key Features

  • Fully water-soluble for endless blending possibilities.
  • High lightfastness, indicated by stars on each pencil.
  • Break-resistant lead due to special SV bonding.
  • Made from certified cedarwood and easy to sharpen.

Who Is It For? For illustrators, mixed-media artists, and anyone who wants the freedom to switch between drawing and painting with a single medium. Perfect for working on the go.

View the Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils Set on Joybuy.nl

Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Pencil Set - 11 Pieces, Matte Black

Faber-Castell Pitt Graphite Pencil Set - 11 Pieces

Why This Set Stands Out According to Faber-Castell, this is a world's first: a graphite pencil with an extremely matte finish. The innovative Pitt Graphite Matt was specially developed to reduce light reflection on paper. This creates a maximum depth effect, especially in dark tones. The sheen typically seen with soft graphite pencils is virtually absent here.

Key Features

  • Ultra-matte graphite laydown that minimises reflection.
  • Creates exceptional depth in monochromatic work.
  • Complete set with 8 pencils (HB to 14B), an eraser, a blending stump, and a sharpener.
  • Ideal for sketching, drawing, and writing.

Who Is It For? For drawers and illustrators who specialise in graphite work and want to eliminate the frustrating glare on their scanned or photographed artwork. An excellent choice for those seeking maximum contrast and depth.

View the Pitt Graphite Pencil Set on Joybuy.nl

Haven't Found What You're Looking For?

The world of drawing materials is vast. If the perfect Faber-Castell pencil set for you isn't listed here, or if you're curious about other brands and types of pencils, take a look at our broader category.

Discover more sketching pencils on Joybuy.nl

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Faber-Castell Polychromos and Albrecht Dürer pencils?

The main difference is the core's base. Polychromos pencils have an oil-based core, making them water-resistant and highly suitable for layering multiple colours. Albrecht Dürer pencils are watercolour pencils; their core is water-based and fully soluble, allowing you to achieve painterly effects.

How should you sharpen pastel pencils?

Pastel pencils have a softer, more brittle core than graphite or coloured pencils. For the Pitt pastel pencils, it is recommended to use a sharp craft knife instead of a standard sharpener. This allows you to carefully shave away the wooden casing and shape the point without breaking the core.

Are Faber-Castell pencils suitable for professional artists?

Faber-Castell produces several lines, including series specifically aimed at the professional market. Features such as high pigment concentration, excellent lightfastness (indicated by stars), and the availability of individual pencils to supplement your set make series like Polychromos, Albrecht Dürer, and Pitt highly popular among users of professional coloured pencils and artists worldwide.


Written by the Joybuy Product Recommendation Officer