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'Proper' Art pencils wanted - help?
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aliasojo
Posts: 23,053 Forumite


Daughter has always been a 'crafty' sort and she's becoming really good at drawing.
She's asked for a set of good quality, proper art pencils to replace the bog standard Tesco ones she has now.
I have no idea what's good and what's not. Can anyone point me in the right direction.
She's a good kid on the whole and I'm happy to encourage her in this (anything that keeps her off her DS has to be a good thing, lol) so I don't mind shelling out for something good but I have no idea what to be looking at.
Any arty types out there who could advise me please?
Edit: I should maybe add that she does a lot of anime drawings just now and talks about shading but says her Tesco pencils aren't good for this.
She's asked for a set of good quality, proper art pencils to replace the bog standard Tesco ones she has now.
I have no idea what's good and what's not. Can anyone point me in the right direction.
She's a good kid on the whole and I'm happy to encourage her in this (anything that keeps her off her DS has to be a good thing, lol) so I don't mind shelling out for something good but I have no idea what to be looking at.
Any arty types out there who could advise me please?

Edit: I should maybe add that she does a lot of anime drawings just now and talks about shading but says her Tesco pencils aren't good for this.
Herman - MP for all!

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Edit: I should maybe add that she does a lot of anime drawings just now and talks about shading but says her Tesco pencils aren't good for this.
I've seen some kits at art shops for beginners - so might be a nice gift to get her started - also try looking at what type of pens they are and just get a set of those and a sketchbook - you can get cheap sketchbooks... £5 etc, they just don't have the big name logo on them but yet just as good.
http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Faber-Castell-Creative-Studio-Getting-Started-Manga-Drawing-Kit/4281339/product.html?cid=133635
I got this one but from cass arts in london so it was cheaper than this amazon price:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letraset-Pro-Marker-Manga-Pack/dp/B000P4LE9M/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=toys&qid=1284631484&sr=8-13
these are the same pens as above so you could just get a sketchbook to go with it: (they are also double ended)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ProMarker-Comic-Art-Set-1/dp/B000LFM93K/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=toys&qid=1284631484&sr=8-3
also try looking on ebay to see if you can get them cheaper - once you know what type of thing you are looking for then it's easier to google!
a lot of people think that if you are good at art you have to buy the 'proper' stuff which is very expensive but you don't.. just don't buy from the pound shop(or you could if you have very small kids!) - I've got sketchbooks from tescos and other whsmiths and they worked fine.
I'm now at Uni so they have a shop that is discounted which is very nice - they mostly stock the cheaper brands of paint etc (and the higher end) but it's still good quality.Light bulb moment April 07: [strike]£3,655 [/strike] Oct 07: [strike]£2,220[/strike] now 0 - 3 years of Uni debt to be added at a later datenow at Uni as a Mature student -update: now has a First Class BA!0 -
I second the Derwent pencils, my daughter has a degree in Animation & Electronic Media & she used them all the way through uni & still uses them when she does commissions
they do an Academy range for students, so you don't have to go straight on to the artist's quality if you don't want to
if you can't find them locally, you'll find a good selection on-line0 -
Hi there, I'm an art student. I agree with Swan, Derwent are good as are Daler Rowney and Faber Castell. Take a look at the site below which generally sells art stuff at good prices
http://www.artdiscount.co.uk/department/pencils/0 -
My DD has some really nice ones from the art section in "The Works" they are much stronger in colour than kids colouring in pencils, more vibrant. Try her with these for a few pounds a tin, then graduate onto something more expensive for her Christmas?Member of the first Mortgage Free in 3 challenge, no.19
Balance 19th April '07 = minus £27,640
Balance 1st November '09 = mortgage paid off with £1903 left over. Title deeds are now ours.0 -
Another vote for Derwent from me
As a side-line they have a great museum/shop in Keswick which is well worth a vist :T
http://www.pencilmuseum.co.uk/
Back to topic... Colemans do a variety of serious art equipment.0 -
Thank you all. :T
A very kind MSE'r has sent her some water colour pencils which she is using just now but I think I will 'collect' various types for her as she's really good (imo) and I want to encourage her. She has a set of drawers that is just for her art stuff ....I wish she'd keep the rest of her things as tidy.
My uncle is an artist but we're not close otherwise I'd ask him to give her some tips etc. Obviously the arty gene missed me out and passed on to her.:DHerman - MP for all!0 -
Depends what your looking for - if you want watercolour pencils then Staedtler also do a range (available at Rymans) Derwent watercolour pencils are quite hard and do not readilly disolve when water is applied. Faber Castell are good but expensive. Staedtler are very reasonably priced and are excellent quality. If you really want to see vibrant permanent colour then buy your daughter a box of Derwent Inktense pencils. Use them like coloured pencils and then apply water and - wow - a little expensive but worth every penny0
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Are you able to get to London at all?
See if you can get to a Cass art shop or a London Graphics Center store. There is also the Atlantis store if your wanting to order quite a bit, the price difference is small but worth it if your buying alot. If you can take her to a store then she can try stuff out and get a feel for what she likes.0 -
If she like doing anime drawings lots of people use copic or pro markers I have both and like copic the best. They are very good at shading lots of video on youtube and you can do an online course.
For pencils prismacolor are really good you blend with sansodor. The only thing is the cost with both the prismacolor and the copic but you get very good shading.I would like to be a glow-worm.
A glow-worm's never glum.
Its hard to be downhearted when the sun shines out your bum.0 -
Are you able to get to London at all?
No, we're in a small place in the Highlands of Scotland so I usually ask advice on stuff then buy online as we're not always able to see things in the flesh as it were.If she like doing anime drawings lots of people use copic or pro markers I have both and like copic the best. They are very good at shading lots of video on youtube and you can do an online course.
For pencils prismacolor are really good you blend with sansodor. The only thing is the cost with both the prismacolor and the copic but you get very good shading.
Thanks v. much. Will look into the online course suggestion too.Herman - MP for all!0
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