Choosing the Right Art Pencils: Binder Types Explained

Understanding Pencil Binder Fundamentals

After analyzing this video, I recognize a critical pain point: artists often lump all colorful pencils into one category, leading to frustration when techniques fail. The binder—the substance holding pigment together—is the invisible game-changer. Traditional colored pencils use wax or oil binders, while watercolor pencils rely on water-soluble gum arabic. Pastel pencils? They’re pure compressed chalk. Misidentifying your medium means missing its full potential, whether you’re layering, burnishing, or activating with water.

Traditional Colored Pencils: Wax and Oil Binders

True colored pencils dominate the market with wax or oil binders. Wax-based versions (like Prismacolor) layer smoothly and respond best to burnishing with colorless blenders. Oil-based options (Caran d’Ache Luminance) handle solvents like turpenoid for painterly effects. Burnishing—pressing pigment into paper texture—creates vibrant, painting-like results but demands binder awareness: force wax too hard, and it crumbles; under-layer oil, and solvents won’t penetrate.

Water-Soluble Pencils: Beyond Basic Activation

Watercolor pencils (e.g., Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer) use gum arabic binders that dissolve with water. Unlike traditional pencils, they resist layering dry and can’t be burnished. Instead, activate them with water for translucent washes. For mixed media, apply traditional pencils over dried watercolor layers to avoid pigment disruption. Derwent’s Graphitint (tinted graphite) and Inktense (ink-like permanence) are niche exceptions: Graphitint yields earthy tones, while Inktense intensifies when wet and locks permanently—ideal for fabric art or underpaintings.

Pastel and Specialty Pencils: Unique Binder Challenges

Pastel pencils (Cretacolor) contain chalky binders with zero wax or oil. They blend like soft pastels but crumble if overworked. Never layer them under traditional pencils—their gritty texture rejects waxy mediums. Meanwhile, charcoal or graphite "pencils" aren’t colored at all, despite their casing.

Actionable Artist’s Toolkit

Medium Selection Checklist

1. Identify the binder: Check packaging for "oil," "wax," "water-soluble," or "pastel."
2. Test activation: Swatch dry, then wet—see if pigment dissolves or resists blending.
3. Layer strategically: Use water-soluble bases first, then wax/oil on top.
4. Burnish wisely: Apply cream/white pencils lightly over wax; use solvents sparingly on oil.
5. Avoid mixing chalk and wax: Pastel pencils demand standalone workflows.

Recommended Resources

• Beginners: Prismacolor Premier (wax) for predictable layering.
• Watercolorists: Derwent Inktense for permanent, vibrant washes.
• Advanced Artists: Caran d’Ache Luminance (oil) for solvent-based techniques.

Mastering Your Medium

Binder knowledge transforms frustration into mastery. Whether you’re chasing the luminosity of burnished oil pencils or the flow of watercolor washes, your binder dictates the rules. Which pencil type has surprised you most? Share your experiments below!

Key Insight: "Colored pencil" is a misnomer—binder chemistry defines your art process.