12 Best Metallic Colored Pencils For Perfectly Shaded Artwork In 2023
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Have you ever used metallic colored pencils before? If not, you are missing out, as they create a whole new level of depth and interest in your artwork. They also add a touch of sparkle and shine, making your pieces stand out. This blog post will discuss the best metallic colored pencils on the market today. So if you're ready to try something new and push the boundaries of art, keep reading.
This review is best for artists looking for metallic colored pencils to enhance the style and look of their art projects. You’ll be delighted to find these metallic colored pencils are of the highest quality and perfect for anyone who wants to add a bit of extra pizzazz to their work.
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall: Faber-Castell Metallic Colored Pencils• Works well on black paper |
Best Break-Resistant: Derwent Metallic Colored Pencils• Creates striking metallic effect on black paper |
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Best Set for Kids: Crayola Metallic FX Colored Pencils• Non-toxic composition |
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Best for Professional Artists: Caran d'Ache Fancolor Color Pencils• Has a watercolor effect when applied with water |
Best Budget Choice: Royal Brush Metallic Color Pencil• Rich pigments |
The Best Metallic Colored Pencils
1. Faber-Castell Metallic Colored Pencils - Best Overall
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What Customers Have to Say
The Faber-Castell metallic color pencils are very affordable compared to other brands, and the colors are beautiful. They also layer well, perfect for those who like to color with multiple shades.
The only downside to these Faber-Castell metallic colored pencils is that some of the colors are muted, but overall they are a great purchase. Customers who ignored the negative comments and purchased these Faber-Castell metallic color pencils are glad they did because they are such a great value for the price.
Why We Think It's Great
The Faber-Castell Metallic Color Pencil is great for drawing on black paper. The lead doesn't break easily because of the special bonding technique applied to bind the core.
The pigments are non-toxic and the wood used is eco-friendly, thanks to the company's Climate Pledge Friendly approach to using farmed trees. Each of the 12 pencils in the set is also made of non-toxic enamel paint to identify the colors easily.
The color pencil also doesn't flake when blending, making it a great choice for artists who want to create smooth gradients. Overall, the Faber-Castell Metallic Color Pencil is a high-quality pencil that is perfect for creating stunning artwork.
Who Should Buy It
Faber-Castell Metallic Color Pencils are a great buy for those who like shimmer and bright colors in their pencil sets. Any artist can use these metallic colored pencils, but they're best for newbies in coloring.
2. Derwent Metallic Colored Pencils - Best Break-Resistant Colored Pencils
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What Customers Have to Say
Derwent's Metallic Color Pencils offer a great range of colors with a smooth laydown and good shimmer. Some users say the muted metallic colors are very addictive and layer well, even for details. They offer a creative range of colors that help bring your artwork to life.
Why We Think It's Great
Derwent Metallic Color Pencils are ideal for adding a touch of sparkle to any drawing. The strong, break-resistant core ensures that each pencil will withstand heavy use, while the non-toxic lead is safe for both artists and crafters.
The colors also blend smoothly and evenly, making it easy to create stunning effects. The 12-pencil set comes in a sturdy metal tin case, perfect for keeping them organized and protected when not in use.
Who Should Buy It
These colored pencils are best for artists looking to add shimmer and glitter to their artwork without being too overwhelming as to colors and techniques.
3. Sargent Art Metallic Colored Pencils
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What Customers Have to Say
Sargent Art metallic colored pencils have true-to-packaging metallic colors that are vibrant. The pencils lay down smoothly and evenly, making them a pleasure to use. They also provide excellent coverage, and the best part is the affordability of these colored pencils. Some users have said that these are the best colors they've ever used, and we can see why.
Why We Think It's Great
Sargent Art metallic colored pencils are best for drawing and illustrating. They also have a satiny feel when applied on black paper. The 12-count pack is artist-quality and is sold at an affordable price.
As a brand, Sargent Art is committed to bringing the delight of artistic expression to as many people as possible. They also provide high-quality colors that provide excellent coverage. These beautiful pencils lay down color with a rich, velvety smoothness that's perfect for adding shimmery highlights to your drawings.
Who Should Buy It
If you're looking for an art supply that will help you take your artwork to the next level, we recommend trying out Sargent Art metallic colored pencils. They're excellent for artists of all skill levels who want to add a touch of shimmer and pizzazz to their drawings.
4. Castle Art Supplies Metallic Colored Pencils
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What Customers Have to Say
Customers love Castle Art Supplies Metallic Colored Pencils for their beautiful colors. Depending on how you lay them down and blend them, you can also achieve several effects. With these pencils, you'll be able to achieve the perfect look for your project.
Why We Think It's Great
Castle Art Supplies metallic colored pencils are a great way to add a touch of class to your artwork. With 48 colors in one set, arranged in 2 plastic trays inside the presentation box, you'll have everything you need to produce stunning results.
This set includes a tutorial booklet and templates to help you get started, and the pencils apply smoothly for a consistent finish. If you're not satisfied with the results, you can return the pencils for a full refund with the company's unique money-back guarantee.
Who Should Buy It
If you're someone looking for a way to add pizzazz to your artwork, then Castle Art Supplies metallic colored pencils are a great option! These pencils can create stunning effects that make your work pop. Whether you're adding some shimmer to a drawing or painting or just want to experiment with different colors, metallic colored pencils are great art supplies.
5. MXXGMYJ Metallic Colored Pencils
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What Customers Have to Say
Artists love these metallic pencils because they use them for doodle art, journaling, coloring, sketching, and other creative projects. The pencils are great; they apply smoothly. The colors have a very close color selection for easy transitioning.
Why We Think It's Great
MXXGMYJ Metallic Colored Pencils are excellent for artists of all skill levels. The safe, non-toxic core is break-resistant, making them ideal for extended use. The ergonomic grip ensures comfortable handling, and the rich, shimmery colors are excellent for adding glamor to any project.
These metallic colored pencils are very affordable, making them a great value for your money. Each set has 12 colors that you can use for making several blending techniques for the desired effect you want.
Who Should Buy It
Artists of all levels can get these metallic colored pencils for various crafts, drawing, or cardmaking projects. If you often find yourself working on your piece for extended periods of time, then you should definitely buy this for its ergonomic design, which could help you stay comfortable all throughout the process.
6. Crayola Metallic FX Colored Pencils - Best Budget Set for Kids
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What Customers Have to Say
Customers recommend Crayola Metallic FX Colored Pencils for anyone looking for high-quality colored pencils at an affordable price. The soft tips of the pencils allow for smooth, even application, and the pencils are also great for adding accents and shading. Customer service is also excellent and stays true to Crayola's commitment to putting its customers first.
Why We Think It's Great
The Crayola Metallic FX Colored Pencils are a great option for those looking for an affordable and non-toxic way to add a little extra shimmer to their drawings. The pencils are made with reforested wood, whereas the company uses high-quality pigments and binders so that the colored pencils apply and blend smoothly.
These metallic colored pencils are also nice and easy to hold, making them comfortable to use for prolonged use. Colors are only limited to 8, but there is no duplication of colors in the set.
Who Should Buy It
Parents of young artists will love these metallic colored pencils. However, as customers have proven, these colored pencils also work well for creative Bible journaling and other fun, artsy projects.
7. Cretacolor MegaColor Colored Pencil Set
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What Customers Have to Say
Customers love the creamy application and very opaque and saturated colors of Crayola Metallic FX Colored Pencils. The 6.4mm lead is perfect for large surfaces, and the bold metallic colors are sure to make your art stand out. These pencils glide smoothly over paper, making them a joy to use.
Why We Think It's Great
Crayola Metallic FX Colored Pencils use non-toxic, ASTM D-4236 certified, high-quality pigments for smooth application. This 12-pencil set also conforms to eco-energy requirements, using reforested wood.
The 6.4mm core is larger than most colored pencils, perfect for working on large surfaces. They're water-soluble, so brushing over the finished project with a damp watercolor brush results in a shimmery watercolor effect.
The Cretacolor MegaColor Colored Pencil Set gives you more value for the money, especially if you're on a tight budget. These colored pencils work best with Cretacolor Mega Duo Sharpener to limit the lead breakage during sharpening.
Who Should Buy It
Crayola Metallic FX Colored Pencils are ideal for artists, crafters, and students who want to add a metallic sheen to their drawings and illustrations. They’re also for those environmentally conscious who want to support sustainable products.
8. Star Souce Metallic Colored Pencils
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What Customers Have to Say
Star Source Metallic Colored Pencils are perfect for anyone who loves colors and black paper. The 12-pencil set has a nice, soft core that applies colors easily on black paper.
However, the core can be too soft that it breaks easily. In addition, the Star Source Metallic Colored Pencils have an off-odor that some people may find unpleasant. Despite these drawbacks, these pencils are still a great choice for anyone who wants to add a little shimmer to their black paper art.
Why We Think It's Great
Star Source Metallic Colored Pencils are perfect for black paper. The high-quality black wood barrel with non-toxic enamel paint and non-toxic pigments creates a light shimmery finish. You can achieve a beautiful and unique look that will make your art stand out with these colored pencils.
This brand is best for those looking for a creative way to apply colors on black paper. As a trusted brand that produces high-quality products, you can be confident that their colored pencils will help you create the perfect work of art.
Who Should Buy It
These colored pencils are best for artists who want quality supplies for drawing, coloring, sketching, and card-making projects. They’re also recommended for those who often work on black paper as their canvas.
9. OOLY Modern Metallic Colored Pencils
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What Customers Have to Say
This triangular pencil is nice to hold, according to users. It has a wonderful range of colors and a pleasant feel on the hand. The leads on these pencils, though, are rather soft.
Why We Think It's Great
OOLY's metallic colored pencils are specially designed to provide a long-lasting sheen. The ergonomic design of the barrel makes them comfortable to hold, and the excellent quality of the pencils ensures that your drawings will be vibrant.
The portable case is perfect for taking this 12-pencil set on the go, and the easy-to-use design means that you can easily organize your pencils.
Who Should Buy It
The brand markets these metallic colored pencils for artists who love to draw, color, journal, scrapbook, and even faux calligraphy. It also makes an excellent gift to complement traditional colored pencils.
10. Caran d'Ache Fancolor Color Pencils - Best for Professional Artists
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What Customers Have to Say
Caran d'Ache Fancolor Color Pencils are amazing pencils that artists adore. They're easy to use with a mess-free drawing for everyone. Quality is excellent, so artists love them very much.
Why We Think It's Great
Caran d'Ache Fancolor Color Pencils are perfect for mixed media projects and conform with EN71 certifications. With their watercolor effect when applied with water, these pencils blend well and add a touch of color to any project. They are also great for blending, so you can create a wide range of colors.
The set comes with 12 colored pencils and is organized in a metal tin container. The Swiss brand has been making quality art supplies since 1915, so you can be sure that its products are of the highest quality.
Who Should Buy It
Whether working on a school project or a professional project, these pencils will help you get the job done. Caran d'Ache Fancolor Color Pencils are the perfect choice for any artist looking for a high-quality colored pencil.
11. Royal Brush Metallic Color Pencil - Best Budget Choice
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What Customers Have to Say
Royal Brush Metallic Color Pencils are great colored pencils with their medium-hard core that makes them easy to layer and blend without breaking easily. However, use only short-point manual sharpeners because long-point sharpeners (manual or electric) tend to break the colored pencils easily.
Why We Think It's Great
Royal Brush Metallic Color Pencils are high-quality pencils that offer rich pigments and excellent blendability at a very affordable price. They are also very affordable and resist breaking easily.
These metallic color pencils offer a wide range of colors that are perfect for adding a touch of brilliance to any drawing or sketch. They are easy to use and provide an excellent way to add dimension and interest to your artwork.
Each set has 12 colors with subtle color differences for smooth transitioning of colors.
Who Should Buy It
Most suitable for those trying to find metallic colored pencils to complement their regular colored pencils, the Royal Brush Metallic Color Pencils prove to be a good choice for just about any project since they're very affordable without lacking quality.
12. Aumaycheer Metallic Colored Pencils
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What Customers Have to Say
Aumaycheer Metallic Colored Pencils are a great gift for young artists. According to some customers, they are easy to blend and great for the project they are doing. Though it needs several layers to get the right saturation, customers recommend these metallic pencils to their fellow artists.
Why We Think It's Great
Aumaycheer Metallic Colored Pencils are excellent colored pencils with a good metallic texture for adding sparkle to your art projects. The lead is thicker than most metallic colored pencils at 3mm and non-toxic, so you're not putting yourself in danger.
The vibrant colors last for a long time without fading, and their high-quality pigments make them easy to apply and blend. As a set, it has 12 metallic colored pencils organized in a colored plastic box for easy safekeeping and travel. It also comes with a 30-day return guarantee for a risk-free purchase.
The pencils work for all artists, whether for doodles, sketching, coloring and blending.
Who Should Buy It
This metallic-colored pencil set is an excellent choice for people who want an affordable but high-quality gift for their artist friends. It's also a great tool to push your kids to develop their artistic abilities.
Metallic Colored Pencil Buying Guide
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Metallic Finish
The metallic finish of these colored pencils is mostly dependent on the paper color. The hue may be rather dull if applied over a white background. On the other hand, the bright paper will make them appear faded. It is best to use black paper to highlight the effect of metallic colored pencils.
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Color Selection
Metallic colored pencil sets are usually limited to basic metallic hues such as gold, silver, and bronze. However, some sets include other metallic colors, like purple, green, etc. Calligraphy projects, such as lettering and creating wedding invites, benefit from metallic gold, silver, and bronze-colored pencils.
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Design
Metallic colored pencils have different shapes, depending on the brand. Some have round barrels, while others have triangular or hexagonal. Some artists prefer hexagonal pencils because they feel more like regular pencils, while kids prefer triangular-shaped pencils for their grip. Meanwhile, multi-sided pencils limit the possibility of rolling off the desk.
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Blendability
Metallic colored pencils allow artists to blend to create a smooth transition and creative shading. Assess the pigments' quality; don't settle for low-priced metallic colored pencils since they usually use inferior kinds of pigments.
Some metallic colored pencils are water-soluble so that they can have a watercolor effect.
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Good Value
You may save money by choosing metal pencil sets with fewer color options or student-quality pencils. However, prices can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer. Whether cheap or pricey, make sure you're not buying a low-quality set.
Metallic Colored Pencil FAQ
1. What are metallic colored pencils used for?
Metallic colored pencils are best for giving a realistic effect on metallic items, bright areas, illuminated signs, sci-fi characters, and other graphic work. However, you cannot use metallic colored pencils on natural landscapes, areas with subdued colors, and animal fur or bird feathers. Some artists even use metallic colored pencils to add an eerie glowing effect to their artwork.
You can use metallic colored pencils to improve the reflective effect on the colored pencil drawing. However, if you plan to use your drawings with metallic colored pencils as an image to show in your portfolio, don’t expect too much since it won’t show on the image.
2. Can you use metallic colored pencils on white paper?
Metallic colored pencils don't fair very well on white paper because of light contrasting colors, affecting the visibility. However, these colored pencils work well on dark paper and best on black paper as they really make the colors come alive and stand out.
3. Why do metallic colored pencils have limited color selection?
Metallic colored pencils have limited color selection, unlike conventional colored pencils, because of the availability of pigments. The limitation on the use of metallic colored pencils is another factor.
Previously, art supply manufacturers only made natural metallic colors - gold, silver, copper, bronze. But with the increasing demand for more metallic colors, they decided to add more, incorporating rainbow colors into metallics.
4. What gives these metallic colored pencils their shine?
Metallic colored pencils use deeper pigments and more wax than conventional colored pencils to give them more sheen. The core of metallic colored pencils is softer because of the amount of wax in their composition. As a result, it is harder to erase metallic colored pencils.
Also, be careful when applying them, as the result may differ from what you expect. We recommend that you try it on a small piece of the same paper you use to see how it looks.
Conclusion
For this review, our best overall pick is the Faber-Castell Metallic Colored Pencils because they have non-toxic pigments that work well on black paper. Another plus is that they don't flake when artists blend the colors.
Derwent Metallic Colored Pencils get our vote as the best break-resistant colored pencils because of the strong core that creates a strong, metallic effect on black paper. The colored pencils are organized in a sturdy metal tin case.
The best set for kids is the Crayola Metallic FX Colored Pencils. It has non-toxic composition and has an excellent shimmering effect. It is also very affordable, making it a good choice for kid's art.
Our vote goes to the Caran d'Ache Fancolor Color Pencils for professional artists. These pencils conform with EN71 certifications and work for mixed media projects. These colored pencils are water-soluble, so they have a watercolor effect when applied with water.
For budget choice, the Royal Brush Metallic Color Pencil has rich pigments and excellent blendability.
Have you tried any of these metallic colored pencils? We’d love to hear about it – let us know in the comments below!