Choose Your Pencil

At Derwent, we sell so many different types of pencils, all with their own unique qualities, that it can become confusing about which is the best suited to your artwork requirements. We have put together a handy guide to explain each pencil we sell, so you can find the pencil for you.

Colouring

Coloursoft 

Ideal for a wide range of drawing styles; from bold landscapes to more detailed illustrations, portraiture and fashion design.

Bold, ultra soft colour for smooth coverage

• Wax-based, soft, velvety texture with rich, vibrant colour laydown. 
• Create sharp detail or blend the colours together. 
• 72 colours in the range.
• 88% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

All products are vegan friendly. 

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Drawing

Ideal for landscape and sceneries due to the earthy colour palette.

Unique velvety finish and natural colour range - ideal for nature drawings

• Wax-based, creamy texture for a soft velvety finish. 
• Versatile with high pigmentation and dense colour application. 
• Use dry or with water-soluble mediums.
• 24 colours in the range. 
• 100% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions). 

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Lightfast

Ideal for detailed and colourful drawings that want to stand the test of time.

100% lightfast for up to 100 years, oil based for exceptional layering and colour mixing

• Oil-based, creamy core for a smooth velvety texture.
• Can be mixed and layered on the page to give paint-like effects.
• Versatile with high pigmentation and vibrant colour application.  
• Control the pressure and create different levels of pigmentation. 
• 100 colours in the range.
• 100% Lightfast - according to the ASTM  6901 standard, rated LFI or II. (Lightfast = colours remain the same for 100 years, under museum conditions). 

All products are vegan friendly.

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Procolour

Ideal for detailed drawing and colouring.

The smooth pencil with exceptional fine detail, intense bright colour

• Wax-based core with a smooth colour laydown. 
• Covering power of a wax yet glides like an oil.
• Richly pigmented and smudge free.
• Sharp point with minimal chipping and dusting.
• 72 colours in the range.  
• 72% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years
• under museum conditions).  

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Metallic

Ideal for a wide range of fine art and craft projects.

Shimmering metallic colour, outstanding on dark paper

• Shimmering, highly metallic pencils with an intense formulation, that pops off the page.
• Blend and layer beautifully together. 
• Great on white, black and coloured paper. 
• 20 colours in the range.    

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Tinted Charcoal 

Ideal for detailed landscapes with muted tones.

Unique blend of charcoal with colour

• Charcoal with a hint of colour in pencil form.
• Smudged and blended easily.
• Control, precision and less mess of a pencil.
• 21 colours in the range.  
• 100% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

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Charcoal

Ideal for life studies and portraiture.

Fine grade charcoal in a pencil - clean to hold and use

• Chalky, powder-based charcoal encased in wood. 
• Traditional charcoal effects and techniques but with less mess.
• Suitable for blending, layering and erasing.
• 3 degrees in the range.
• 100% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

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Water-Soluble

Water-Soluble Sketching

Ideal for delicate graphite washes.

Delicate graphite washes, easy to blend and layer

• Smooth, wax-based graphite that is water-soluble. 
• Add water and use line and wash techniques for further versatility of this product.
• Suitable for blending, layering and erasing.
• Strong point for detailed work.
• 3 degrees in the range.
• 100% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

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Pastel

Ideal for colourful portraiture and life studies.

The beauty of fine grade pastel within a pencil

• Chalky, powder-based, water-soluble pastel core.   
• Add water to create light washes.
• Suitable for blending, layering and erasing.
• Create fine detail with minimal dusting.
• 72 degrees in the range.
• 87% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

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Graphitint

Ideal for landscapes, animal studies and portraits.

Unique blend of graphite with colour

• Smooth, wax-based, water-soluble graphite core.   
• Use dry for a hint of colour.
• Add water and the graphite transforms into rich vibrant shades.
• Suitable for blending, layering and erasing.
• 24 colours in the range. 
• 100% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

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Graphitone

Ideal for quick coverage in sketches.

Pure compressed graphite sticks for quick coverage

• Smooth, wax-based, water-soluble graphite stick. 
• No wood casing, just pure graphite.
• Use like a pencil, a block or break it into chunks for different effects.
• Add water to create washes.
• 4 degrees in the range.
• 100% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

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Inktense

Ideal for vibrant, permanent artwork on a variety of paper, fabrics and materials.

Permanent when dry - doesn't wash away like watercolour. Intense vibrant colour. Suitable for use on fabric and other surfaces

• Wax-based, firm, highly pigmented core for vivid ink-like colour. 
• Use with water to create ink-like washes, but once dry, Inktense is permanent and can be worked over without affecting previous layers.
• Use on paper and fabrics for a wide range of fine art and craft projects.
• Can be blended and layered.
• 72 colours in the range.
• 87% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

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Watercolour

Ideal for subtle landscape paintings.

The beauty of watercolour within a pencil

• Soft, wax-based, water-soluble core. 
• Use dry for soft colour laydown or use wet for interesting colour flows.
• Hexagonal barrel.
• Suitable for blending and layering if used dry, but colours will move around when wet.
• 72 colours in the range.
• 80% Lightfast (Lightfast, colours remain the same for 100 years under museum conditions).

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