Premium Caran d'Ache Pablo 120-Colored Pencil Set in Metal Tin Box (666.420) - Ideal for Professional Artists, Sketching & Fine Art Projects

Caran d’Ache produces an exemplary line of professional artists products that include a variety of color pencils, one of which is their Pablo line. These pencils are lovely & come in sets of 12, 18, 30, 40, 80, & 120 providing a wide array of beautiful colors.Caran d’Ache Pablo pencils are predominantly oil based & sharpen to a fine point that’s effective for fine detail work while also offering a smooth, consistent application.I find these pencils work best on surfaces with a little tooth to enhance their ability for blending & layering resulting in rich color payoff & seamless transitions.Many people seem to ask for comparisons between Pablo pencils & Prismacolor pencils but they are quite different in many regards. The most common questions seem to be weather Caran d’Ache Pablo color pencils are as buttery soft & creamy as Prismacolor Premier & the answer is no. I believe Prismacolor pencil cores are wax based & are indeed very soft resulting in rich color payoff without the need for multiple layers for blending & color saturation. Pablos are oil based & have a harder core more like Polychromes which is an asset for fine detail work. I’ve learned to apply multiple light layers over each other for blending & building color saturation & the result is beautiful & smooth. I think this gives more depth to my work & I like the effects. I don’t mind the time or effort it takes to develop this effect however I’m not sure I’d be inclined to put in the time & effort for coloring or casual works. That being said, these are certainly some of my favorite color pencils, I just wish they were a bit more budget friendly.It’s important to mention that Caran d’Ache Pablo color pencils are a permanent medium which are not conducive to erasing. This does make them highly lightfast, a necessary element to consider when classifying “professional” artists mediums & supplies.The individual lightfast ratings are printed on the pencils in the form of one* to three ***, three being the most lightfast, something you’d want & expect in a commissioned piece. According to Caran d’Ache their one* rating is resistant to fading from 8 to 25 years, & 3*** resistant up to 100 years & this lightfastness is a factor in their pricing.If you are on a budget but want to try these color pencils out, you might spring for a set of 12 or 18 which will actually give you a great selection of colors due to their blending & layering qualities.These pencils are lovely but come at a hefty price so I wouldn’t recommend these for “coloring”, scholastic use, or for children unless you plan on framing & displaying something for many years to come. I save mine for commissioned or sellable work & employ more practical & affordable options for everyday color sketching & layouts.These color pencils are beautiful, perform nicely, & are a joy to work with. I’ve worked with them for many years now & highly recommend Caran d’Ache Pablo color pencils for professional artists & anyone with a little money to burn!