In recent years, there has been a real surge of interest in colouring books for adults, and better yet, there are huge benefits of colouring-in for adults. No matter your age or skills, Yours has rounded up the best coloured pencils for adults to help your creativity flourish.
In 2017, researchers in New Zealand found that anxiety and depression were reduced in adults simply by colouring in for as little as ten minutes a day.
But, whether you enjoy some mindfulness colouring in your adult colouring book or prefer to take to a sketchbook and journal for drawing, you'll need a good set of high-quality coloured pencils. They will enable you to create some beautiful works of art with vibrant and highly pigmented colours.
Should I start adult colouring?
The truth is, there are loads of benefits to colouring in. It really doesn't have to be a child's hobby!
Getting a colouring book and using colouring pencils has been proven to have advantages for mental health, including:
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• Improved motor skills
• Better sleep
• Improved focus
• Better mood
• Mindfulness
Should I colour with pens or pencils?
We would choose to colour with pencils to make the most of the relaxing process and to play around with detail and shading with precision. With colouring pencils, you can play with texture, colour intensity, gradient and can keep between the lines with ease.
This is harder to achieve with a thick-nib pen or one that may be likely to bleed outside of the edges or through the paper.
If you're looking for a quick and even colour throughout your drawing, it would be best to opt for pens. The vibrant ink will create a strong, bold line of colour but keep in mind that this leaves little room for error once the colour is on the page!
You can even get your hands on drawing tablets if you'd rather get more involved in graphic designing.
The best coloured pencils for adults to buy
Best for comfort
With an eco-conscious production process, these bright colouring pencils offer the best comfort as you colour with an ergonomic easy-grip barrel and non-slip rubberised surface. With six colours available, the soft lead will make a bold statement on paper.
Best professional colouring set
Designed and created by artists, Arteza's coloured pencils are highly pigmented, which makes blending and layering the colours a breeze. With 48 rich colours included, the sturdy, comfortable barrels of these pencils will help to protect the soft, wax-based core.
Best watercolour pencils
If watercolour drawing is your preferred medium, this set of 24 assorted colour watercolour pencils can be used as dry-blend and for delicate washes of colour.
Best for vibrant colour
This pack of 24 vibrant colouring pencils come lacquered for easy identification and have break-resistant lead so you can keep colouring smoothly for longer without having to sharpen so often.
Best range of colours
These premium and strong colouring pencils are great for beginners and colouring experts alike looking to create more depth with blending, layering and shading. Presented in a tin box, you can keep your pencils organised as you pick and choose between the highly pigmented colours.
Best budget-friendly pencils
These pre-sharpened wooden colouring pencils are available in 20 different colours and are a great price if you're dipping your toes into the colouring world.
Best range of finishes
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There is a whopping 60 pencils available in this Faber-Castell pencil set, which includes metallic, neon and pastel colours to really help push your artwork to the next level.
Best colouring starter kit
Whether you're a beginner or expert, this professional art pencil set comes with 72 pieces in total, including 12 colouring pencils, 12 metallic colouring pencils, 24 watercolour pencils, three charcoal pencils, 12 drawing pencils and much more.
Best for ergonomic design
This pack of 24 coloured pencils are rich in colour and break-resistant for increased service life. Perfect for all ages, these slim colouring pencils are designed in a triangular shape with a soft feel to make them more comfortable to hold in the hand. One of our Commercial Content Writers for Yours, Eleanor Weaver, has found these particularly comfortable as a left-handed user.
Top tips for adults to help boost your colouring skills
If you've got your pencils and colouring book at the ready and are looking to create beautiful designs whilst enjoying this therapeutic activity, why not follow some of the tips below from Simple Art for Adults?
Play with shades, hues, blends and gradients to create works of art that'll keep you busy and relaxed for hours.
Free printable colouring pages for adults
If you need some inspiration or are keen to start colouring but don't have a colouring book to hand, why not print out some free colouring pages online?
We've found free colouring pages for adults that are ornate, decorative and some that are great for a challenge! Simply print from your computer and get colouring.