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I just bought my first set of Prismacolor pencils (72ct). My question is, how do you store them? I know they came in plastic trays but it's hard to shut the lid if I leave the trays in the tin. I'm afraid to take them out of the trays and put them in the tin b/c I don't want them to bounce around. Maybe I am just crazy. Any help would be appreciated!
I just bought my first set of Prismacolor pencils (72ct). My question is, how do you store them? I know they came in plastic trays but it's hard to shut the lid if I leave the trays in the tin. I'm afraid to take them out of the trays and put them in the tin b/c I don't want them to bounce around. Maybe I am just crazy. Any help would be appreciated!
just be careful of the point. you don't want to have to sharpen them more than necessary. Bouncing around is OK, they are sturdy, just keep the tip from breaking. They are higher quality than any other colored pencil out there- it shows in the work you can make.
Prismacolor Verithins are have a harder lead than the other prismacolors. If you are using Gamsol you want the lead softer so the Gamsol can melt the wax in the pencil.
If you are doing heavy blending see pic below then you need a softer lead not the Verithins.
If you color lightly or sketch you proably would like the Verithins because the harder lead makes nice thin lines.
My preference is to buy individual regular prismacolors. They are worth the money and sets will give you too many colors that you may never use.
Go to ebay and get the largest set that you can afford. I thought that I would NEVER use all 120 pencils in my set and I was wrong. Especially about the greys.....I thought "How in the world will I use all those greys" But I do! They are artist grade.....your cards ARE a work of art......get the best supplies you can for the best look. The wax and color saturation of the prismas is wonderful! Are there other pencils that are comparable? I can't answer that!
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
Go to ebay and get the largest set that you can afford. I thought that I would NEVER use all 120 pencils in my set and I was wrong. Especially about the greys.....I thought "How in the world will I use all those greys" But I do! They are artist grade.....your cards ARE a work of art......get the best supplies you can for the best look. The wax and color saturation of the prismas is wonderful! Are there other pencils that are comparable? I can't answer that!
Ann I agree I love my Prismas! They are my favorite way to color and have to be the best investment I have made! Oh and the other great investment was the stumps I bought from you!
I agree, I could not believe the differences in the greys. I love having so many choices.
Friends are like the walls of a house. Sometimes they hold you up, sometimes you lean on them. But sometimes, it's enough to know they're just standing by.
Prismacolor Verithins are have a harder lead than the other prismacolors. If you are using Gamsol you want the lead softer so the Gamsol can melt the wax in the pencil.
If you are doing heavy blending see pic below then you need a softer lead not the Verithins.
If you color lightly or sketch you proably would like the Verithins because the harder lead makes nice thin lines.
My preference is to buy individual regular prismacolors. They are worth the money and sets will give you too many colors that you may never use.
That's a great image.....reminds me of some of the images my friend colored when she took a pencil class from Terry Medaris (sp?).
I have very few colors that I haven't used in my 120 set. I figure if I spend $50 or so getting the 120 set off ebay or spend $50 getting 50 or less pencils purchasing them one by one I could not use half of the pencils in the set and still have a better deal getting the set! But it all depends on how much you will want to spend in the long run.
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
How stinkin' funny that I ran across this thread. I have not used my pencils in a few months and I got them out last night. I have been coloring off and on all day.
Yep, worth the $$$$ IMO. :mrgreen:
How stinkin' funny that I ran across this thread. I have not used my pencils in a few months and I got them out last night. I have been coloring off and on all day.
Yep, worth the $$$$ IMO. :mrgreen:
Shanon!
I haven't seen ya in months! How's ya doin' girlfriend? love your pic with Chris! You look awfully happy!
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
just be careful of the point. you don't want to have to sharpen them more than necessary. Bouncing around is OK, they are sturdy, just keep the tip from breaking. They are higher quality than any other colored pencil out there- it shows in the work you can make.
The secret is DON'T DROP THEM! Being colored pencils, the lead is softer than a regular lead pencil. Therefore, the lead will break easily inside the wood. If broken, it is very hard to sharpen into a good point. I bought my big tin w/ 50% coupon at Michaels. I was close to breaking out into a rash til I could get them home and sharpen them. I was soo scared that someone had dropped the tin. Since then, I have bought several single pencils to increase my colors. Hint- when buying singly, look at the end of the pencil. Be sure the lead is centered so you can sharpen properly.
I bought a sturdy white plastic box w/ pink handle on the lid, not unlike a tackle box, at Hobby Lobby w/ 40% coupon. It has pink latches, 2 storage compartments on top and a pink tray inside. I lined it, bottom & sides, w/ some soft, dense foam and used it to take my pencils, OMS, etc. on vacation last year. I cut a foam divider so I could put everything but pencils in the smaller end. I had sorted my pencils by color and rubber banded each group together. I like it so much that this has become their permanent home. Now they're ready to go this year. I also bought some of that perforated rubbery shelf liner at my dollar store. I lay it out on the table and lay my pencil bundles on it. Now theres no stray pencils rolling toward the edge!!
You could buy a few to see if you like the technique.. then I'd go for the biggest set you can afford!! Ann is soo right.. I use all my grays. At first I thought.. why so many grays! lol
I've bought from Ann's Stump Share 2 times. They're great stumps!!
May God bless, Sandi
__________________ StormyElf'd '07Humble Ink Smears If at first you don't succeed, talk to God! Then, go put on your big girl panties!
Last edited by SouthernStorm; 04-03-2008 at 06:11 PM..
Yes, they are absolutely worth it. I use them for 90% of my coloring. I couldn't afford to buy the big set in the tin, so I bought a smaller set and am buying 20-25 a month at www.markersupply.com. Soon I'll have them all. I keep mine standing up in a decorated can.
Oh, and I've never used gamsol. I'm perfectly happy with the Prismacolor blender pencil.
__________________ Debra ---artist * teacher * designer Say yes. Be generous. Speak up. Love more. Trust yourself. Slow down. ---Patti Digh
Yes, they are absolutely worth it. I use them for 90% of my coloring. I couldn't afford to buy the big set in the tin, so I bought a smaller set and am buying 20-25 a month at www.markersupply.com. Soon I'll have them all. I keep mine standing up in a decorated can.
Oh, and I've never used gamsol. I'm perfectly happy with the Prismacolor blender pencil.
Hay Debra! Reading all the raves about *Gamsol Magic* here on SCS is what convinced me to initially try the technique. I bought about 5 pencils and the Mona Lisa brand of OMS, in the artist section, at Michael's w/ my 40% coupon. My Wal-Mart Super Store also has it in the craft section. Just the other day, I was checking the indiv. pencils to see if Mikes had any new ones (no, they didn't) so I picked up my 1st P. blender pencil. After working w/ it for a while, I became very frustrated. It just did not give me the smooth blended look as I get w/ OMS. In fact, I wouldn't say it blended very well at all. It was like there was way too much wax. If you get a chance to try someone's OMS, do it! You just may fall head over heels. JMHO! May God bless, Sandi
__________________ StormyElf'd '07Humble Ink Smears If at first you don't succeed, talk to God! Then, go put on your big girl panties!
Hi sweetie. I just popped back around here and saw your post. We haven't talked in FOREVER. A ton of changes in our lives (obviously). ;) We are doing great! We will have to get together SOON!
Quote:
Originally Posted by stamps&cars
Shanon!
I haven't seen ya in months! How's ya doin' girlfriend? love your pic with Chris! You look awfully happy!
Well, we were hemming and hawing over whether to buy these or save up for the markers. (I liked the finished look of markers better), but I think I am heading to Michaels to pick up a few of the pencils and give them a try first.
This was a great thread. Thanks for all the info!!!!
I just recently started stamping but am having trouble finding a way to color that I like. After reading up, I am really interested in using colored pencils with gamsol or another odorless mineral spirit. Usually when I read about this technique, it's in use with Prismacolor pencils. They are really pricy though! The only pencils I have right now are the cheapy ones from Walmart. (Roseart I think.) So I am considering getting the Prismacolors, but I want to be sure they are really worth it! What is your experience with them? Worth the $$? Do they last long? Also, what set would you suggest -- the 72 count or the 120? The frugal side of me says to just get the 72, but then I figure, if I am going to spend the $$, bite the bullet and get the bigger set! But is 120 overload? Will I really use all those colors? HELP! WWYD? TIA for any help!
You'll love them if you get them as the quality is just the best and you get what you pay for. I've used others that I can get here in UK but the prismas beat them all on the initial colour lay-down as they are so soft. They blend beautifully too. I've always used water colours previously but I'm addicted to the prismas now. I initially bought a set of 12 to see if I liked them and immediately wished I'd gone for a bigger set as you then get the graduation of colour tones for shading. My friend has just been on a holiday to the USA, had a fab time and has brought me back a set of 72 because I'm always raving about them LOL! Mine were bought at Michaels where they are on special offer at the moment. I can't wait to start using all the additional colours. I hope this helps you decide.
__________________ Chris :-) ........................ ~ Fan Club Member ~ My Blog
At the risk of being tarred and feathered , I have tried Prismas and I don't like them as well as I like the Koh-i-noor woodless pencils. In my comparison tests the Koh-i-noors lay down smoother color and blend much better and they are so much cheaper. You can get 24 for around $14.00 at Michael's.
I was using Crayola colored pencils for awhile and they did fine. Prismacolors took my coloring to a whole new level. They work great on watercolor paper..you do have to build up layers however. I don't even use Gamsol anymore because once you build the colors up you can use a pencil to blend or the Prismacolor colorless blender. Another cool technique is to undercoat with Copics or watercolor so you don't have to build up the colored pencil as much.
The Verithins are nice too to lay down some color in tight spots. I have more control with them in small areas. I find that the hardness and softness of the regular Prismacolors vary with the color.
Around here Ben Franklin has the lowest price. Check out my gallery to see some samples!
Well, after reading all the additional posts on this, I am now terrified. It seems like a very complicated process...(building up the colors), using gamasol etc.
I still may get a few at michaels, but now I am concerned that I am getting in way over my head.
Paula
__________________ Paula Anne www.candywrapsandmore.com
Yes, they are absolutely worth it. I use them for 90% of my coloring. I couldn't afford to buy the big set in the tin, so I bought a smaller set and am buying 20-25 a month at www.markersupply.com. Soon I'll have them all. I keep mine standing up in a decorated can.
Oh, and I've never used gamsol. I'm perfectly happy with the Prismacolor blender pencil.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for that link! I was able to order colors I was missing
Yes, they are absolutely worth it. I use them for 90% of my coloring. I couldn't afford to buy the big set in the tin, so I bought a smaller set and am buying 20-25 a month at www.markersupply.com. Soon I'll have them all. I keep mine standing up in a decorated can.
Oh, and I've never used gamsol. I'm perfectly happy with the Prismacolor blender pencil.
So you dont necissarily have to use the gamsol? How does the Prismacolor blender pencil work? I am not having much luck with the gamsol technique.
So you dont necissarily have to use the gamsol? How does the Prismacolor blender pencil work? I am not having much luck with the gamsol technique.
I would love all the help I can get.
Thanks
Jaunice Minor
I'm not crazy about the prismacolor blender but it can come in handy. It will not give you the watercolor blended look (i.e., Gamsol technique). I actually prefer to color with just blending the pencils without gamsol. When doing heaving coloring the blender pencil can help move the colors to blend them.
To get a good gamsol/watercolor look there are a lot of different ways, but I prefer the inkyantics method. They have a great tutorial online.
As for paper, I get good results on SU! ww and just plain old 80lb cardstock.
I bought mine thru a fellow SCSer and LOVE them! I use the blender pen from SU and I also used baby oil, which was suggested on one of these forums. I totally agree with stamphappy1650 on the SU paper!
I used the gamsol technique and it just wasn't for me. I've been using the prisamacolor blending pencil and like that, but I end up with these tiny little shards of color from blending and if I'm not careful when trying to get rid of them, they smear.... ugh! How frustrating.
I guess I am in the minority here, also...I bought some single Prismas and I had a set of Derwent, and I don't see any difference. Now, I am in no way an "artist" like some of you, so perhaps that is why. I do like the idea of getting the colors I want in the Prismas, instead of whatever set they choose to put together, so I did buy a few just to have the colors I wanted. But I don't really notice any difference in look or feel.
I also haven't had much luck with the whole Gamsol technique, in that my paper tends to peel off if I used enough to get a good blend. Otherwise, it just looks like lines instead of watercolor to me. I like how the color pops but I don't like how it blends. I'm going to try the baby oil and GooGone that have been suggested...
At any rate, I second the idea of getting a few to try first, and then you'll know.
__________________ Lynn
"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right�--Lincoln
