The best colored pencils for back to school

 

The first steps in writing are taken nothing more and nothing less than with a pencil. Even the first scribbles in kindergarten are also made with pencils, although in this case the colors are preferred.

The pencil is that great ally at the time of the accounts, because it allows us to return on our error without leaving traces. Logically when drawing, we always start with the pencil.

There are different types, the main difference is between black and colored pencils. But each of these families, have their groups and characteristics to each other.

We are going to offer you a brief guide on pencils, so that in this return to school we choose the most suitable ones and those that best adapt to each school activity.

Some curiosities

In 1564, graphite was discovered in England. The pencil we use today was invented by Nicolas-Jacques Conté, a French painter, military and airman; whose last name gives name to a well-known brand of pencils.

Another last name that gives name to a brand of pencils is that of Johann Sebastian Staedtler, but this is due to the authorship of the colored wax pencil, one of the first colored pencils.

The word pencil, comes from the Latin lapis which means "graphite stone", material of which the pencil mine is composed. In Greek, the word graphite is translated as graphein, whose meaning is "draw."

Graphite is a black-colored carbon mineral that is extracted from rocks. The other material that combines with graphite to obtain the pencil lead is clay.

Types of colored pencils

Unlike the black pencils that use graphite for their stroke, colored pencils use a wax mine, a more fatty material or a more water soluble mine.

To any of these three types of mine, pigments are added that will result in the immense palette of colored pencils.

Wax crayons

They are the most used in school and the most economical. Depending on the quality of the wax used, the colors will be more successful and can even be mixed together.

Oil Based Pencils

They are considered within the scope of pencils intended for artists and illustrators. The colors can be mixed very well with each other and even if they are diluted with turpentine essence (turpentine), you can achieve a similar finish to the oils.

Watercolor pencils

The peculiarity is that, being its water soluble mines, finishes similar to watercolors are achieved.
Pastel pencils

They are also pencils designed for artists and their main feature is that they blur very well on paper, achieving very artistic effects.

Other pencils

There are many more colored pencils with very different uses. For example, blood pencils have a reddish-brown mine and are widely used to make sketches.

The polychromos pencils of the Faber Castell brand achieve up to a range of 120 colors, much more vibrant, intense and light resistant.

Skin colored pencils achieve a more realistic tone in portraits or figures of the human body. White pencils are used to mix colors.

Blender pencils are used to blur and we also find multicolored or metallic pencils that achieve drawings with truly original finishes.

Other features

Many of the pencils are also classified according to the shape of their body. Hexagonal pencils are the most common and allow diversity in grip. Round pencils make the grip less "tight" but more slippery, so it is very common to add a grip. Triangular pencils are the most used for artistic teaching in children, since they are much more ergonomic.

They also differ in the material of their body. The vast majority is manufactured with cedar wood, but others are instead made with wopex, a technique that uses graphite, plastic and sawdust. Resin is another of the materials used, similar to wopex, but which are made of sawdust.