Coloring For Adults 101: Your Complete Guide

No sharpening or peeling required, just twist up these drawing pencils to keep them sharp. Comes in a variety of set sizes.

Pros: Great color palette; no sharpening required, you just twist! The color goes on smoothly and wax-like, somewhere in between a crayon and a pencil. I love the feel.

Cons: There are no labels on the colors! You don't think labeling colors is important until you don't have them - some of the colors look the same so it was hard for me to remember what I had used.

Overall: I'm pretty much in love with these pencils. I'm going to be honest - I love two big things about them: 1) how the color applies to the page and how smooth it is and 2) how you don't have to sharpen them. Now having said that, sometimes it's hard to get a sharp tip on them for detail areas. But to me, if you want a nice set for a reasonable price, this is a great option.

These classic crayons are extra durable, wrapped for extra strength. I got a set of 8 for just a few bucks . . . and they go up to sets with hundreds of crayons in a metal container. It hasn't been that long since you've purchased them, has it? It's been years for me!

Pros: I just love the boldness of the crayon colors and the smooth waxy feel on the page. They are so easy to apply and are inexpensive. Who doesn't love crayons from their childhood?

Cons: Well, it's basically a waxy stick of color without a precise tip, so you aren't going to be able to do much detail work. AND they break. AND you can use them up quickly. AND they are hard to sharpen (unless you get the Twistables).

Overall: Here are my thoughts on basic crayons . . . these could actually be good to have in your arsenal for coloring in large areas. You don't have to use up your precious pencils or markers, and let's face it - you probably already have them in the house. I recommend having a set on hand just for the large areas.

Pros: The pencils tubes are hexagons which make them easy to hold; the colors go on smoothly and waxy just like I love; they are easy to blend.

Cons: The only bad thing I can say is that there aren't enough colors! I wish Pentel would have made some larger sets too.

Overall: LOVE this set! Your only limitation is going to be the colors available. So whether or not I'd recommend it depends on your color needs. I like it better than the more inexpensive sets I've also enjoyed (Artist's Loft, Faber-Castell, Sargents) - I'm just sad I can't get it in a larger range of colors or this would be my go-to set!

Soft core is perfect for shading and shadows. Thick, robust leads resist cracking and chipping, making them perfect for adult coloring books.

Pros: What can I say about Prismacolors except that they are amazing? Easy to layer, go on smoothly . . . they go over markers well and markers go over the top of them well.

Cons: To me Prismacolors are like the Copic markers of the pencil world. They are expensive. Having said that, the quality is there! I did feel like I had to buy a pretty large set to get all of the colors I wanted.

Overall: It's hard to complain about Prismacolors - the price is really the only thing that is daunting. In terms of pencils, these are the best quality as far as I'm concerned.

Each pencil contains three complementary shades and draws a multi-colored line. Make dimensional style effects you can't make with other pencils.

Pros: Makes VERY cool colors – so fun to experiment with! Includes a blending pencil.

Cons: You’ll still need a basic set with basic colors; these are all literally as they are described - three colors in each pencil tip.

Overall: Man, I really love these. If you get seriously into adult coloring and have a birthday or other holiday coming up, ask for the Tri-Tones. They are THAT fun. Color effects like no other . . . but they can't be your only set (unless you're just crazy with your coloring!).

The Sargent Art premium coloring pencils is a well-priced option for beginners who want a wide selection of colors.

Pros: Colors are vibrant; pencils are easy to hold; great value for number of pencils.

Cons: Hardly any! There's a bit of dust that comes off the pencil but unlike some of the others, it was easy to wipe away without getting any smears.

Overall: In terms of the wood pencils that you have to sharpen, these were my favorite - even above the Artist's Loft, which I also think are quite good! They were actually recommended to me by someone on Instagram who said she had arthritis and these were comfortable for her, so I had to purchase. I agree; they are easy to hold. You can't go wrong with the Sargent pencils.

Premium colored pencils have soft-core leads for superb color laydown and smooth and easy shading and blending.

Pros: Love how smoothly the colors go on and how well they fill in; I'm also impressed with the color selection in this set - I feel like they have every color I could want in a set of 30.

Cons: The eraser doesn't completely erase the pencil marks (don't know if it's meant to?); however, you can color over the top after you've erased (though you can still see the old color beneath). The dust smears so I recommend blowing it away instead of brushing with your hand.

Overall: If you've graduated from the basic colored pencils and want to spend a little bit more money for a larger set, you'll do well here - and it's not even that much more expensive!

These pencils feature unsurpassed lightfast pigments, vibrant colors, break-resistant tips, waterproof, non-smudge, and color matching to all other brand color lines.

Pros: Love the art grip handle and triangular shape; smooth going on; easy to build up, easy to sharpen.

Cons: You only get 5 pencils in this kit - and I couldn't really find Faber-Castell pencils in a larger set in stores. BUT you can purchase larger kits of their pencils online.

Overall: If you want to learn basic techniques of using colored pencils (more artistically I mean) then this kit is a great starter. You could use these techniques in your coloring. I also LOVE the Faber-Castell pencils themselves, so if you want to purchase a kit of them alone, I think you'd be happy.

These colored pencils are perfect for the beginning artist or the seasoned veteran who is interested in drawing and illustration. Easy to blend, they lay down smooth on your chosen art surface.

Pros: 36 pencils for a low price! It's hard to find that many pencils for only five bucks. I like the smooth, waxy feel on the page; they are easy to layer.

Cons: Not great for those who really like to fill in the area like I do - I like to color hard and make the color pretty solid, and these were just okay. Why? The pencils need to be sharpened frequently. Another complaint I've seen about this set - no blue/green shades (like teal) and too many basic greens. I agree with that assessment.

Overall: If you just want to get started for a low investment to see if you even like coloring and are going to stick with it as a hobby, these are your pencils to start with. However, the quality isn't really there for me. I'm personally willing to spend a little bit more to get a better looking result.

This is an exciting range of pencils. The soft, velvety strip allows you to quickly add lots of bold, vibrant color to your drawing and they're great for coloring in!

Pros: The Coloursoft pencils go on smoothly; they are easy to blend if you want to try doing that.

Cons: leaves behind dust used for blending which sucks if you don’t want to blend.

Overall: I don't love the Derwent pencils, but I don't hate them either. I like the presentation, but coloring is what this is about . . . and though they go on smoothly, I need something a little more. I'm going to put these in the category of "artist" rather than "adult colorer" like myself. If you just want to color, put your money elsewhere.

Pros: You'll get a basic set of colors, and they are vibrant and easy to color.

Cons: If you brush away the dust, the pencil smears.

Overall: These are not at the top of my list for the lower priced, wood colored pencils - I'm going to go with the Sargents or the Artist's Loft pencils if I only have a few bucks to spend. They aren't bad, but they aren't as high of quality as some of the others. You won't be crying if you purchase these, but I just happen to think there are better options.

Soft cores won't break easily, and pre sharpened tips are ready for use right out of the box. These pencils create brightly colored lines that are great for school projects and detailed artwork.

Pros: In typical Crayola fashion I love the color palette; they also have some fun options like metallics, etc; you can layer them easily.

Cons: These just don't go on as nicely as other colored pencils. It's funny, but you can actually hear it while you are coloring. They sound different (isn't that weird?).

Overall: I feel neutral about the Crayola colored pencils. I prefer the Artist's Loft colored pencils to these, and then I prefer the more expensive colored pencils that I've reviewed in this post even more. If these are what's available when you go shopping for supplies I don't think you'll be miserable; however, I do think that at some point (if you keep coloring) you're going to want to upgrade.

Pros: These pencils go on smoothly, easier to color than the Michaels brand watercolor pencils (which I didn't like at all). They have a grip and a triangular shape which makes them easy to hold.

Cons: The dust left behind on your page can’t be swept away, over $1 per pencil.

Overall: This is another set that I obligated myself to try because it was available on the rack. My mind hasn't changed writing this over any other watercolor pencil . . . if you are looking for a great coloring pencil basic, this isn't your set. However if you get to the point where you want to have some watercolor fun on your pages, these could be incorporated.

Pros: These colors on smoothly, and are easier to color than the Artist’s Loft Watercolor Pencils.

Cons: You might get a dust left behind can’t be swept away; they cost over $1 per pencil which seems hefty to me.

Overall: I don't love these - I think they are just okay. Now that we've explored the gamut of watercolor pencils, I'm going to choose the Faber-Castell over these. At least for adult coloring.

Copic is a brand of professional quality markers founded in 1987 in Tokyo, Japan. These durable graphic markers are alcohol-based, refillable. and available in various designs and in 358 colors to suit individual needs.

Pros: These are VERY easy to apply to the page – and Copic has an amazing color range! I love the fact that you can easily use a colored pencil on top or under them; they have a dual tip.

Cons: We all know how expensive Copic markers are. They just aren't cheap - you're making an investment! They bleed through but not enough to go to the next page. The longer tip is harder to control and stay within the lines but that expertise will come with time.

Overall: I mean, if you can afford it, Copics are the granddaddy of markers and perfect for coloring and using in concert with pencils. I can see using Copics about 10 - 20% of the time and pencils most of the time and making some pretty coloring pictures without breaking the bank.

A workaround could be to just purchase a handful of colors you use frequently. You can also ask Santa for a set OR save up your coupons. Whatever you do, if you get your hands on some Copics. you won't be disappointed!

While these are called "pens" - they are markers. Ideal for fine art, brush lettering, faux calligraphy, illustrations, watercolor illustrations, journaling and more! Durable nylon brush tip can create fine, medium or bold strokes.

Pros: Beautiful colors; easy to apply; dual tip.

Cons: I had no idea how to use the blender pen even though I gave it a try, though I'm sure that's user error.

Overall: If you can't afford Copics but you have about $2 - $2.50 per marker to spend, these are great. Copics are Copics, but these come close. If you want a selection of beautiful and easy-to-use markers for those detail areas, these are your markers.

High quality markers of brilliant color; they are well constructed, durable and long lasting. These markers will not bleed through most papers, they have superior coverage and are consistent from box to box.

Pros: I really love the color palette; you can color over the same color a few times without tearing up the page.

Cons: As far as I'm concerned, these aren't fine tip . . . they are a little bit more broad than that. They refer to it as a conical tip online, yet still call them fine tip.

Overall: I actually really like these for coloring in larger areas - the broader tip actually makes them great for that. I find that for most "fine tip" markers, I'd rather shove bamboo sticks under my fingernails than use really fine tip markers to color in large areas! These are perfect for that, actually.

These fiber-tipped pens create radiant fine lines and intense water-based colors. Snap fit caps help keep color pens lasting longer and prevent from dry-outs.

Pros: The fine point is great for detail; the colors are very vibrant; you get a good color range for 36 markers.

Cons: These are too fine point and dark for me to use anywhere other than in detail areas. I wouldn't want to color a very large area with them. Color back over what you just colored and you'll get page tear/bleed.

Overall: On Amazon.com this is the #1 best seller in "Drawing Markers" and I can see why. I can definitely imagine that they would be better used for drawing and artist's work rather than coloring - but if you want to add some fun details to your coloring pages, these would work just fine.

These markers are bright, washable and made from food grade vegetable dyes. Plus rehydratable ink! Connector Pens are made with water-based ink that allows you to rejuvenate your markers by just dipping the nib into water.

Pros: You get a lot of colors and the range is pretty good. You can color over them with colored pencils.

Cons: These are the same to me as the Artist's Loft Triangle Markers that I reviewed at the very beginning. You can color with them, but you can't really color over the same place too many times or the page will start to tear; also it's hard to get the markers back into the container unless you pull them all out. No color names.

Overall: I don't really get why the lids snap together, however on the inside there is brochure showing the markers being made into a helicopter and the outside says "6+" for the age. So I'm thinking the packaging at least is geared towards children - but hey, I'm a big kid. Personally based on the price, if I need a basic marker, I'm going to go with the Artist's Loft Triangle. They are so close to me that I'd rather pay $4.99.

Let your colors fly with these vibrant markers. With dozens of colors to choose from, these easy-to grip markers have fine precision tips that are perfect for detailing, drawing, illustrating, and coloring for beginning artists and veterans alike.

Pros: They are easy to hold because of the triangular shape; bright vibrant colors in a wide variety of shades; precision tips; look great with pencils.

Cons: “okay” at layering – you can overdo it easily and get bleed through. Not easy to use under colored pencils in solid blocks . . . the page starts tearing and peeling (however, doodling under pencils is fine). No labels on the colors and hard to keep organized in the container.

Overall: Great quality for the price! A perfect basic marker if you aren't looking for anything too fancy or expensive to start. You'll just have to make sure the pages of your coloring book aren't too thin (and I wouldn't use them on any printed pages because they will definitely bleed!).

These markers contain water-based ink that is suitable for use with water or watercolor paints. With a fine tip on one end and a brush tip on the other, you can create fine lines or thick strokes with equal ease.

Pros: The color applies very nicely to the page, and the dual tip gives you two choices of sizes.

Cons: I found the long tip harder to control. If you are a messy colorer like I am, you might have a problem staying in the lines. The colors were too dark for me.

Overall: This set was made to give you the watercolor effect already built into a marker. So now you have to ask yourself - do I want the watercolor effect in a marker? Could I use watercolor pencils instead?

My suggestion would be to wait and color for awhile before purchasing this set. I can imagine that if it becomes a pretty regular hobby and you'd like to experiment, this set could be really fun for adding unique details. I wouldn't buy them right away.

Gel-ink rollerball is ice cream smooth. Contains metallic, classic, moonlight, stardust, and stardust shadow dual color.

Pros: Mine have GLITTER in them (because they are the Stardust ones) which is so cool! They go on nicely under pencils and over markers. They are perfect for shading in small areas.

Cons: You can see from the number I got and the price that they aren't cheap. But they are just SO COOL.

Overall: I'm going to put them in the same category as the Koh-I-Noor Tri-Tones that I review below. These are specialty pens . . . and by that I mean, I'd get them if this is your regular hobby and you want to invest some money for some cool effects.

I love the glitter and I love using these to fill in small areas. As a result of reviewing the Stardust pens, I actually ended up buying the entire Artist's Set with 74 pens (includes the Metallic, Classic, Moonlight, Stardust, and Shadow varieties). I LOVE IT!

A roller ball pen set that is easy and comfortable to write with. Use on dark or light backgrounds; raised effect best on non-porous, clean, smooth surfaces.

Pros: Love the fact that you can draw on dark surfaces with them (in addition to white or light surfaces). They do draw over colored pencils. A lot of ink comes out so you get a bit of a 3-D effect with them.

Cons: They take a longer time to dry than other pens and markers (which must be because of the 3-D effect). They can be a bit messy.

Overall: A fine addition to your collection if you're looking for something specialty, but I'm going to go with the Sakura Gelly Roll over these for basic coloring.

Offers a full spectrum of distinctive inks that can add flair to your craft projects with the simple stroke of a pen. The free-flowing (sometimes?), acid-free ink shows up well on light and dark paper.

Pros: You get a variety of pens in this set: glitter, metallic, neon, pastel, etc. So if you're looking for a great deal for a wide variety of styles of pens, this is your set.

Cons: The ink doesn't apply evenly for some of the styles and it takes a long time to dry.

Overall: UGH - I have mixed feelings on these. I LOVED the glitter colors but I couldn't stand the neons. Random colors were blotchy on the page for me, but then some colors I really liked. Personally? I'm going to spring for the Sakuras.