Prismacolor Premier Graphite Drawing Pencils with Erasers & Sharpeners, 18-Piece Set
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Niki
Greater than one weekI have used Prismacolor color pencils for over ten years now and their markers for 3 years. I am an avid believer in the brand, which is what led me to try their graphite pencils. Until I bought this set, I was using Derwent pencils. I am pleased to say, that Prismacolor has once again impressed me as one of the best brands out there. They are a bit more expensive than some others, but the quality is well worth it. I would have bought them sooner, but waited until my skills improved with the Derwent pencils, enough to make the jump to a better quality product more worth it. Buying This set was the best thing I could have done! It gives you everything you need to get started, if you are looking for a great quality set to start out with. You will have plenty to experiment with. It is also great for pro artists that want to delve into graphite on a more serious level and need all the goodies (erasers, sanding board, etc.). I am freelance, but have been an artist for over 14 years. Amazons price is more than fair for this product. Unless there is a dramatic change in the quality of Prismacolors products, I will be an advocate for them until the day I die. The woodless graphite pencils (2B, 4B, 6B, 8B) are very soft and lay down wonderful jet black strokes. These are the best for getting high contrast work done fast and easy! Extremely dark areas dont take forever to build up (with lighter/harder grades), if you have these! Out of the 7 turquoise pencils (8B,6B,2B,B,2H,4H,6H), I have used 2B, B, 2H and 4H. They have worked beautifully. Im guessing I would say the same for the other grades. I havent yet tried any of the 3 water-soluble gray graphite pencils(HB,4B,8B), but am just about to. I will update this review when I do. They way things are going, I dont expect Ill be disappointed. I found the Magic Rub Eraser (vinyl eraser, latex free) is perfect for graphite, but especially for erasing the lighter (harder) pencil grades. For the darker stuff, I switched to the good old kneaded rubber eraser. Im always forming it into odd shapes to fit my highlighting needs and it sucks up dark graphite very well. Ive also used this kind of eraser for pastel chalks and charcoal, so I knew what to expect. Prismacolors version isnt any different than any other brand of kneaded eraser Ive tried, but it is not anything less than expected. The sanding board was a big plus in buying this set, for me. It is great for sanding your pencils to any shape you desire, giving you more leeway to produce the kind of line you want (I use it for the woodless pencils). I especially like to shape them flat, so I can get a very fine line holding it horizontally, or a nice thick line holding it vertically (or anything in between)! I would also recommend only using the provided pencil sharpener, unless you know what youve got. If you have something of lesser quality and try it on these nice, soft pencils, you might be disappointed. I havent tried any other sharpener, so dont take my word to the bank on that, but I would stick with what they give you unless you are a more experienced graphite user. This sharpener works perfectly well anyway. I would recommend this to both professional artists and artists that want to get into graphite for the first time!
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debbie d
> 3 dayThese pencils are back on track like they were years ago! This is my 3rd set in the past 2 years and I see zero flaws and have had zero issues! I love the way the woodless pencils so easily flow onto the paper...great for arthritic hands because you dont need to apply any pressure as there is enough weight in the pencils that they do the heavy lifting....you just need to be the guide ;) The turquoise pencils are back and great as they were from the beginning. Being a watercolorist, Im looking forward to trying the water soluble pencils. Ill update this review if I run into any issues. Ive been drawing graphite portraits for 40 years and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND these awesome pencils!!!
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Hailey Glaser
> 3 dayBought these for a project in my art class and Ive fallen in love with them! Theyre very easy to use and look incredible as well!
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Harv
> 3 dayThe eraser somehow burned through the plastic and left a whole and a damaged magic rub eraser. I tested out the water soluble graphite and I want to do some more practice with them but I think they’re great. The other doodle is with the woodless graphite.
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Dawn Gagnon
> 3 dayI got a full set but it was missing a pencil in the lineup. Not sure why but from what I understand this is something Prisma does with all their sketch sets? At any rate the pencils you have are pretty nice, and you get most of what you need to produce good work. The case is nice and sturdy and I would think this would be good for the beginner, art student etc.
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Dee Garcia
> 3 dayWhile I sometimes prefer to draw with a mechanical pencil, this set has become essential. The pencils are super high quality and pigmented, the eraser doesn’t disappear after a few uses, and the kneading dough is top tier amazing. 10/10 recommend!
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Nikoi
> 3 dayI decided to buy these pencils along with a new sketchbook I bought (Strathmore brand) and these are honestly very nice. I don’t often use graphite pencils like this and often opt for using regular mechanical pencils you use for non-art purposes. These are so much better feeling, though. I definitely recommend it! The erasers are extremely good too! 10/10 from me
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Mars
> 3 dayIm not joking when I say these are the best pencils I have used. I have tried Faber Castell pencils before, and I cant say Im a fan. However, the moment I tested these bad boys out, I was in love. The lead lays down so smoothly! I also love the different varieties of pencils you get in this set, including the water soluable graphite pencils. I didnt even know water soluable graphite pencils even existed! Awesome pencil set, and its not even too expensive!
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Celine
> 3 dayThis set is really good for beginners who’s looking for a set that fits their needs. The range of the graphite pencils acceptable for beginners/students. I’ve never tried any water soluble and woodless graphite before so I don’t have any reference from other brands. Overall, this pack is pretty good if you’re just looking for a set that has the essentials for graphite drawings. The price is pretty acceptable even for students that doesn’t have a lot of money.
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Dani36
> 3 dayIf you or someone in your life is serious about drawing, but you dont want to go broke getting supplies this is the kit to get. It would make a wonderful gift. The quality of artwork is definitely effected by the quality of the art supplies. With this kit you can create professional quality artwork.