Choosing Faber-Castell Pencils: A Practical Buying Guide

Choosing the right pencils can be a challenge. Faber-Castell offers a wide range of options, from watercolour pencils to pastel sets, and each line has its own unique properties. Whether you're a hobby artist or a seasoned illustrator, the right set can elevate your work. This guide is designed to help you navigate the selection and find the Faber-Castell pencils that match your creative goals.

What to Consider When Choosing Faber-Castell Pencils

Before making a choice, it's helpful to consider a few specifications. This will help you find a set that aligns with your techniques and projects.

Choose the Right Pencil Type for Your Style

Not all pencils are created equal. The three main types you'll encounter are:

• Coloured Pencils: These are the traditional wax- or oil-based pencils. They are ideal for detailed work, layering techniques, and creating smooth colour blends.
• Watercolour Pencils: These pencils contain a water-soluble binder. You can use them dry like a normal coloured pencil, or add water with a brush to create a watercolour effect. The Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer line is a renowned example of this.
• Pastel Pencils: These pencils have a core similar to pastel chalk, but in pencil form. They are perfect for fine details in pastel drawings and can be easily blended or smudged. A pastel pencil set like the Pitt line is specifically designed for this purpose.

Set Size: How Many Colours Do You Need?

Faber-Castell offers sets in various sizes. While a large 120-colour set is impressive, it's not always necessary. A 36-piece pencil set often provides an excellent balance. You get a broad colour palette to work with without it being overwhelming. It's a solid foundation that allows you to draw most subjects and mix colours to create new shades.

Quality Attributes: Pigment and Lightfastness

For professional-grade art supplies, two attributes are crucial: pigmentation and lightfastness. A high pigment concentration ensures vibrant, opaque colours. Lightfastness indicates how well a colour resists fading when exposed to light. Faber-Castell often uses a star rating system on its packaging to denote lightfastness, which helps you make a long-lasting choice.

Our Recommended Faber-Castell Pencil Sets

Based on product specifications and applications, we've highlighted some popular choices for you.

Faber-Castell Pitt Pastel Pencils Set - 36 Pieces

Why It Stands Out The Faber-Castell Pitt pastel pencils contain a high concentration of pigments and are wax- and oil-free. This makes them ideal for adding fine details over existing pastel layers. The colours are vibrant and can be easily smudged for soft transitions. According to the manufacturer, they require minimal fixing, allowing the colours to retain their brilliance.

Advantages

• High pigmentation for bright colours
• Wax- and oil-free core, ideal for details
• Easy to blend and smudge
• Core with a 4.3 mm diameter

Who Is It For? This set is an excellent choice for artists who already work with soft pastels and are looking for more control and precision for details. These pencils are also highly suitable for portrait artists and fans of realistic drawing styles.

Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Pencils - Studio Box 36 Pieces

Why It Stands Out The Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer pencils combine the properties of a coloured pencil with those of watercolour paint. The 3.8 mm core is fully water-soluble, ensuring smooth transitions and vibrant washes when you add water. The special SV bonding makes the lead highly break-resistant. The lightfastness of each pencil is indicated by a star rating system.

Advantages

• Fully water-soluble for watercolour effects
• High lightfastness for long-lasting artwork
• Highly break-resistant 3.8 mm lead
• Eco-friendly water-based varnish

Who Is It For? These watercolour pencils are ideal for illustrators, urban sketchers, and artists who enjoy experimenting with mixed media. They offer the control of a pencil with the fluid properties of watercolour, making them highly versatile.

Faber-Castell Black Edition Coloured Pencils Set - 36 Pieces

Why It Stands Out The Black Edition pencils are specially designed to stand out, particularly on dark or coloured paper. The soft lead provides an exceptionally smooth and rich colour laydown. The pencils are made from black wood and feature an ergonomic triangular shape that fits comfortably in your hand during long drawing sessions.

Advantages

• Bright, vibrant colours, even on dark paper
• Soft lead for a smooth colour laydown
• Ergonomic triangular grip
• Stylish design with black wood

Who Is It For? This set is a popular choice for hobbyists, students, and anyone who enjoys working on coloured paper. The vibrant colours and ease of use make it an approachable set for creatives of all levels.

Looking for Other Options?

Haven't found the perfect set for you yet, or are you looking for pencils more geared towards beginners? There are many more options to discover. Explore our full range to find the set that best suits your needs.

View more beginner art pencils

Frequently Asked Questions about Faber-Castell Pencils

What is the difference between watercolour pencils and regular coloured pencils?

The main difference lies in the core's binder. Watercolour pencils have a water-soluble binder. This allows you to activate the applied colour with water and a brush, creating an effect similar to watercolour paint. Regular Faber-Castell coloured pencils are typically oil- or wax-based and are not water-soluble.

How do you sharpen Faber-Castell pastel pencils?

The core of a pastel pencil is softer and more brittle than that of a regular coloured pencil. According to Faber-Castell, the Pitt pastel pencils are best sharpened with a sharp knife. This gives you more control over the shape of the point and reduces the risk of breakage, which can happen more easily with a standard pencil sharpener.

Are these pencil sets suitable for professional use?

Lines like the Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer and Faber-Castell Pitt are popular among professional artists due to their high pigment quality, lightfastness, and specific properties. The Black Edition is a widely used set for hobbyists and students, but its vibrant colour laydown also makes it suitable for professional projects, especially on coloured paper.