Exploring Polychromos Pencils by Faber-Castell
Every artist has that one material they keep coming back to. It might be a favourite brush, a trusted sketchbook, or a pencil that simply feels right the moment it touches the page. For many coloured pencil artists, that pencil is Faber-Castell Polychromos.
Whether you are building your first collection of artist pencils or adding to a well-used kit, Polychromos has earned its reputation through consistent performance, exceptional colour, and a drawing experience that encourages you to keep creating. If you've been exploring premium coloured pencils NZ artists trust, this range is well worth getting to know.
In this guide, we'll take a closer look at what makes Faber-Castell Polychromos so highly regarded and how artists use them to achieve everything from detailed sketches to richly layered finished pieces.
Why Are Faber-Castell Polychromos So Loved?
Some art materials become favourites because they're familiar. Others earn their place because they consistently deliver beautiful results. Faber-Castell Polychromos belongs firmly in the second category. One of the first things artists notice is the richness of the colour. Highly pigmented and beautifully balanced, each pencil produces clean, vibrant marks that remain true as you layer and blend.
Unlike many coloured pencils, Polychromos features an oil-based core rather than a wax-based one. That difference becomes more noticeable the longer you work. Colours layer smoothly without developing the wax bloom that can sometimes dull finished artwork, allowing artists to build depth gradually while maintaining clarity and vibrancy.
Another reason so many artists continue returning to this range is its versatility. With 120 individual colours available, you can begin with a handful of carefully chosen pencils or gradually build a personalised palette over time. Every pencil is individually numbered, making it easy to replace favourites as your collection grows.
While Faber-Castell Polychromos sits firmly within the professional-quality category, they're approachable enough for artists at every stage of their creative journey. Good materials don't create great artwork on their own, but they do allow your skills to shine without the material getting in the way.
Getting the Most from Faber-Castell Polychromos
Layering and building up your colour.
This is where Polychromos truly comes into its own. Because the oil-based core remains clean and responsive, you can continue building colour without the surface becoming overly waxy or resistant. Subtle transitions, soft gradients and richly developed shadows all become much easier to achieve. Whether you're working on botanical illustration, portraiture or detailed wildlife studies, the ability to develop colour slowly gives you remarkable control over the finished result.
Blending.
One of the qualities artists often appreciate most is how naturally these pencils blend. Complementary colours can be layered directly onto the paper to create smooth transitions, while a colourless blending pencil helps soften edges and unify areas of colour without sacrificing detail.
Some experienced artists also choose to blend using a small amount of mineral spirits, gently dissolving the binder to produce an effect that feels surprisingly close to traditional painting techniques. Used carefully, it opens up another creative dimension for those looking to experiment. The key is to work patiently, building colour in light layers rather than trying to achieve full intensity immediately. Polychromos rewards a thoughtful approach.
Sketching and line work.
Many soft artist pencils sacrifice a sharp point in favour of rich colour. Polychromos manages to offer both. The core retains its point exceptionally well, allowing artists to move comfortably between precise line work and broader tonal areas without constantly sharpening. This makes the range particularly well-suited to illustration, technical drawing, and any work where detail matters.
Using the side of these professional-grade artist pencils alongside the sharpened tip also introduces a wider range of expressive marks, making it easy to move between sketching, shading and final rendering within the same drawing.
Beyond illustration
Although Polychromos is widely recognised as a professional artist's pencil, its appeal extends well beyond traditional fine art. Designers, illustrators, architects, journal keepers and colouring enthusiasts all appreciate the smooth application, reliable colour and control these pencils offer.
Whatever the project, quality materials have a way of making the creative process feel more enjoyable, allowing you to focus on your ideas rather than working around the limitations of your tool
Why Artists Continue Choosing Polychromos
Art supplies are a personal choice, and every artist eventually develops their own preferences.
What has kept Faber-Castell Polychromos at the top of so many collections is not simply its reputation, but its consistency. The colour remains vibrant, the pencils perform predictably, and the quality encourages artists to return to them project after project. These materials quietly cement your confidence over time.
Discover Faber-Castell Polychromos at Ribbon Rose
Whether you're investing in your first professional-quality coloured pencils or adding a few carefully chosen colours to an existing collection, Faber-Castell Polychromos offers exceptional quality that continues to reward artists as their skills develop.
At Ribbon Rose, we've carefully curated our art range to include materials that artists genuinely enjoy working with. Explore the full collection of Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils online, or visit us in-store to compare colours, build your own palette, or find the right supplies for your next creative project.