HOLBEIN vs PRISMACOLOR | Colored Pencil BATTLE!

By popular request, here is my Holbein vs Prismacolor Premier colored pencils review! Are Holbeins really better than Prismacolors? Which of these two popular colored pencil brands will come out on top in this colored pencil battle?

Watch my in-depth review and testing of the Japanese Holbein Artists’ colored pencils–you can even download my free colored pencil testing chart (see link below.) I was legitimately surprised by the results!

The Holbein colored pencils are expensive–costing a lot more than the Prismacolor Premiers. In fact, their cost is more on par with the Caran d’Ache Luminance and Derwent Lightfast colored pencil sets. But I wanted to know how they compare to one of my favorite colored pencils–the Prismacolor. Do they blend better? Are they as soft and creamy? Do they have the same vibrant colors? What about their Lightfast ratings? I test all of this and more in this video!

CHAPTER MARKERS
00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
00:01:23 - About Holbein Pencils & Swatching on White, Tan & Black Paper
00:12:48 - Battle: Availability & General Information
00:24:15 - TEST 1: Best Color Swatches
00:26:45 - TEST 2: Best White Pencil
00:30:12 - TEST 3: Best Black Pencil
00:33:54 - TEST 4: Best Color on Black
00:37:53 - TEST 5: Best Layering Pencils
00:42:41 - TEST 6: Least Amount of Crumbs
00:45:01 - TEST 7: Least Amount of Pigment Transfer
00:46:35 - TEST 8: Least Water-Soluble Pencils
00:50:00 - TEST 9: Best Blending Pencils
00:54:04 - Best Sharpening & Easy on Hands
00:55:40 - Final Tally & Winner!

FREE DOWNLOAD - Get My Colored Pencil Battle Worksheet!

GIVEAWAY - FULL SET of Daler Rowney FW Pearlescent Liquid Acrylics & Storage Case ($135 Value!)

VIDEO TRAINING - Enroll in Our “Colored Pencil Fast Track” Video Training!

BLISS PRODUCT - Chibi Bliss (Volume 1)

RECOMMENDED VIDEO - Does Lightfast Even Matter?

RECOMMENDED VIDEO - Jennifer’s Rule of Blending Thirds

FACEBOOK GROUP - Share Your Results in Our Coloring Bliss Facebook Group

AFFILIATE LINK - Jennifer’s Favorite Colored Pencil Paper

AFFILIATE LINK - Holbein Artists’ Colored Pencil

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[themaddtatter]

This is why you are my absolute go to when I have swatching concerns. You are the only artist I know whom constantly swatches on white, tan, and black paper. 👍❤ it is a real game changer when you add that extra touch

[jeanne]

I’m not a colorist but a nature journaler who prefers colored pencils over watercolors. I’m learning so much from watching your channel. I appreciate all the work you both put in to produce these top quality videos. Thanks!

[Becca-UK]

I absolutely LOVE how your little fur baby has her/his own place on your art desk ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[kerlygerl]

I agree with Lark, below. Let’s see Luminance and Lightfast🤩🥳

[NCangel]

I will say that here in Japan the full set of the Holbein colored pencils are 24, 898 yen which translates to roughly $248.98 USD. I can buy Holbein pencils open stock at my local art store here in Okinawa for 219 yen, or $1.98 USD depending on the day. Yen rate changes daily so that's something to keep in mind.. I honestly don't know why Holbein is so expensive stateside. It doesn't just apply to their pencils, it applies to everything. I can buy 15ml tubes of their watercolor for 547 yen depending on the series which is just under $5 USD whereas American vendors charge upwards of $10/15ml tube... and the soft white Holbein pencil is where it's at. It's so much better than their normal white.

[terrieblazek]

Would love to see another Battle of the White Pencils please

[bluesonicstreak]

I want to throw in a vote for Luminance vs. Derwent Lightfast. It is very rare to see a direct comparison between those two brands because they are both high-end pencils, and VERY few people own both...but they are direct competitors!

[PursuingHeaven]

Thank you for the great comparative tools and all your work. I know I am biased towards pencils that are a blend of oil and wax instead of being dominant in one area, and for that, I enjoy using Holbein better than either Prisma or Poly Chromos. I truly only like using Prisma with Poly Chromos together. I just find it really hard to use Prisma by itself, though I have finally mastered better technic for both Prisma and Poly Chromos so I like them better now than I did when I first started. But my favorite pencils are Luminance, Holbein, and Lightfast (in that order). I was very frustrated with Prisma when I first started for the poor pencil quality, and the waxy mess that can build fast without a light hand so in my search I found Holbein and fell in love with them. Also, when I was younger my art experience started with oil pastels so moving to Holbein was like muscle memory -a very easy transition. Holbein is unique in that they are a blend of oil, wax, AND fat which makes them unique. Many people who have done reviews do not like that fat component but I do because of my oil pastel experience. I layer a lot differently than you do I guess (I crosshatch, and then use ovals on my last few layers rather than color only vertically, and then I use an OMS ). My experience is they layer better than Prisma, but they are very close. Artist Jane Bush reached out to Holbein and got a response in regards to the lightfast issue. You might like to watch her video, she uses Holbein a lot and is very bias towards them but I am ok with people loving their pencils on either side, I am very passionate myself. Holbein is run by chemists so I am fairly satisfied with the response and many Japanese artists use and like Holbein. Also from what I have read these expensive industry lightfast tests are bias themselves. I have heard that even pencils like Poly Chromos that have the tests behind their name are not really performing over time the way the test says they should so not sure if I trust all that testing. I am currently very annoyed that Blick is charging so much for them so until they reduce the price I will only buy them from Amazon Japan. Finally, I will say that pencils are so specialized so I appreciate having so many options to meet my needs. I see them as tools, not good or bad but a tool for what I need.

[srun]

I would like to see Lightfast and Luminance.

[MultiFly]

I got my 150 Holbein set from Amazon Japan as it seems to be a bit more reasonable....still, they are pretty pricey! Love this video Jennifer and Steve!

[imissnickplur]

yes, big agree, we need a new WHITE-OFF Challenge, good thinking!

[rvkhart]

White pencil battle would be awesome to see especially tested on both toned and black papers

[nancymensch]

The Holbein soft white pencil is better than the Holbein white, it’s more opaque. It is my favorite white pencil.

[rickricci]

Great job and I am glad I have my full set of Prisma pencils. I would love to see a challenge between Derwent Lightfast and CaranDache Pablo pencils

[kekab.]

Whenever I buy new supplies my favorite part is swatching! Lol

[thefrugalcrafter]

I don't think that 2012 is out if date if they have not changed their formula. It is terribly expensive for companies to do astm testing and I bet all of the brands tests are old because the results shouldn't change if the formula is the same.

[carmenvogels-aagaard]

Thank you for your review and test between the two.
I did the test in the Netherlands and than it is a draw. Because for us both pencils are very expensive and the best way to buy them is on line.
Sadly I do not like the Prismacolors. They are to soft for me and I think they smear to much. Fantastic colours though. I have not given up on them yet, I will keep trying to colour with them.

[laurarebel]

Back in the day prismacolor used to make a lightfast set. When they discontinued that and then made the 150 set - 12 of the 18 new colors that were added were from the lightfast set :)

[debschoen]

Thank you for this information! I was curious about the Holbein but my goodness the price point.

[kelleysnyder]

All this time I just assumed the OP stood for Oil Pencil. I enjoyed this review, thanks for all the hard work you do into bringing these videos to us. Always enjoy hearing your thoughts on coloring supplies.