The Pencils I NEVER thought I'd buy!~Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils

I am finally trying the Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils (even though I never thought I would!) This video is not sponsored.

More info on these pencils:

Materials (affiliate)-

Please note: Product links used in description are often affiliate links, this means I earn a small profit when someone uses my link to purchase a product. However, there is no additional charge to the person who is purchasing the product.

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Music:

Song 1: "Club Fiesta- Habanero Man" provided through my video editing program Corel Video Studio x10.

Song 2: "Dreamland" by Aakash Gandhi provided through YouTube Audio Library.

Piano sound in the beginning is my own.
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Let's be pals, find me on social media!!

[manthasagittarius]

I found this review very useful and listened carefully to it. Then I went back and watched the landscape drawing process with the narration turned off and replaced with some light Japanese flute and koto music I use for not getting distracted when I write. Just watching the way you built that lovely rich sky and the gorgeously complex foliage, and the texture of the foreground road I could feel under my feet -- just amazing. Thank you!

[RamoArt]

I don't think I've ever seen such a gorgeous landscape drawing done in Colored pencil! You are incredibly skilled and patient. I can't believe how much detail you packed into this relatively small drawing.

[danieljamesbinderystu]

I've been using Holbein Artist colored pencils as my main staple, along with all of the other Artist grade brands. I always have 2 new 150 sets in my studio at all times, but I buy mine straight from Japan. It is literally HALF the cost of the ones being sold at Blick. The 150 sets from Japan do fluctuate alittle bit, but they are usually 215$ to 245$... and that includes taxes, expedited Shipping, and international fees. With tax, the 150 sets are about 500$ after tax... THATS RIDICULOUS lol... but worth it, if you can afford it. The 150 set only has 12 - 1 star rated pencils ( not including the neons ) with the neons, 18 - 1 star pencils. I hear some people saying that these can't be trusted... I've tested all of them for 8 months, and their ratings are dead on. My friend, whom lives in the desert in Arizona... blasted these pencils in the desert sun ( where ASTM tests ) and left them out for months... they stand up to their ratings. Also, Holbein doesn't rely on human eye to rate their pencils. They use a super high tech computer system, that can spot the slightest of any change in color, fading or darkening.... that a human eye could never see.

[loondabo]

The holbein bomb dropping on the art community is a blast to experience. I absolutely love your drawing, it's so inspiring to see this while we still have a ton of snow and ice over here. And the foliage....it's so varied and interesting.
I'm considering the 24 or 36 set for some summer sketching. Do you think they would work together with the Derwent artist layered on top for small details?

[CautionArtistatPlay]

Hey guys, it seems I have just been having the worst luck with audio the past couple weeks! Later on in the video when I do my voice-over, you may notice a static sound in the background. My fan on my laptop would not shut off the whole time I did my voice-over, I tried multiple voice-overs, and the fan just kept going on and off. I am sorry if it's distracting, I am aware, I did my best to fix it but it's still there. I'm sorry. I really wanted to get this video out because I'm excited about it. Hopefully next week I will have better luck with technology! I hope you enjoy this despite that nuisance lol.

[carltanner]

I'm looking to grab a set of Holbein pencils myself. I'll most likely go with the 50 set as it has a good range of colors. Though, they did put some pastels in that set. I'll probably replace those with some of the other pencils in the range and keep those as spares, as I may also get their set of pastels as well. But, we'll see, with that. I may just stick with just the color pencils and use the pastels in that set if and when I need them. Yeah, the full 150 is a pricey proposition, for sure! I can get a set from Japan for $385, but out here in Australia they normally retail for $630 in the box. For the ones in the presentation wooden box...if you have to ask, you can't afford them!!!

[eileenvalachovic]

Beautiful picture. Thank you for sharing for skills and professional assessment of the Holbein pencils. As you were talking about how you could use less layers, I was thinking that brings the material cost down in a way. If they last longer, that could go into your material cost calculation.
Again, beautiful picture.

[Airelda]

What a beautiful, vibrant and realistic landscape! I enjoyed watching you create this.
I bought the full set of Holbein pencils a few years ago but they were pretty much unused as I had two babies after that. I’m so glad to find such a useful and informative video on this brand - for some reason (maybe price?) they aren’t as commonly used as other brands and I was starting to wonder if I should have bought a different brand

[bobnolin]

Thanks for the review! I've bought a few of the grey greens, they're lovely. The pencils seem extremely well-made, like Faber-Castell. Both cap the the ends, which looks very classy, but prevents you from seeing if the lead is centered. Just pointing that out. When buying Prismacolor in person from open stock, always check the end. If it's not centered, it will never sharpen properly.

[thescribblequeen]

You draw so beautifully! It was lovely seeing you paint with odorless mineral spirits in a pen so naturally.

Unfortunately, I'm also an art supply fiend, so I'm DEFINITELY interested in getting this, despite loving my Polychromos pencils!

[manthasagittarius]

Marvellous "tutorial" without words, especially after you popped the size of the image up. Still enjoying it and making little swatches of foliage effects based on your technique.

You are using a sort of engraving tool like a slant-tip scalpel with a white tip, to scrape and make fine lines. What is that called, and what's the tip made of? Is is ceramic? And where do you find them? I have used the tiny rounded point of a fine lace-making crochet hook for lines, but it isn't good for flat scraping like your tool is.

[tanyachmilar]

Thank you for this review. I love my holbein pencils

[SmillyDonut]

I really appreciated this review. You really worked with the pencils, did your research, and had good comparisons and commentary. Not a coloured pencil artist, but was still interested in seeing what you thought about the Holbein's.

[s.b.]

Holbein has the prettiest and brightest color palette including 2 whites and 2 blacks: white and soft white, and black and lamp black. The soft white and the lamp black are the more opaque. Did you try the soft white against the Derwent Chinese white? You might like it better.

[SaraMakesArt]

I love the texture of the bushes and the perspective of the evergreen trees in your piece. I personally won't be buying these pencils because I know they're expensive and I don't work in colored pencil very often, so I wouldn't get my money's worth. I'm happy for you, though.

[karin]

Most of my colored pencils are still FC Polychromos( 60 set). I ordered a small 11 pencils set fron Holbein recently because I was pretty shocked by the tests I have seen of the 'Polychromos' whcih faded bigtime. I also have small sets of the Luminance and the "Lightfast'. Overal I think the latter 2 and Holbein laydown layers better. I will replace the FC pencils overtime because of the lightfastness test..I just don't trust the Polychromo's anymore..I was a bit sceptic on Holbeins colors and performance but I love them!!

[claudiahemmings]

Great video. A superb landscape drawing, and I really enjoyed watching you build it up, while listening to your thoughts on the Holbeins. Very enjoyable.

[renmuffett]

Your work is fantastic!!!! I also wish Prismacolor would go back to the Barol formula. I have those old vintage ones too. My mother in law owned them and I got them when she passed. However, My Barol vintage Non-Photo Blue is so far off center, it breaks in any sharpener. I'll need to do it by hand. I bought all my Holbein open stock so far. Lightfastness matters to me. ;-) I found some Holbein open stock at a better price than Blick! Thanks so much for sharing. Holbein often gets a bad rap even in watercolor but those are wonderful!

[grazinax]

Holbein makes fabulous, very high quality soft pastels and oil paints, and would trust their coloured pencils as well.

[starvingartistscollective]

Great review Shana!! Just found your channel now after Joseph's livestream. Have a lot to binge watch now!!! New subbie!!