Looking for the best colored pencils for adult coloring books that won’t break the bank? The ARTEZA Colored Pencils Set of 72 has earned a strong reputation among hobbyists and artists alike, and after putting them through real-world use, it’s easy to see why.
This 72-piece set delivers a surprisingly smooth, pigment-rich coloring experience that punches well above its price point, making it one of the most compelling mid-range options for adult colorists. The soft wax-based cores blend cleanly, the color selection covers a wide tonal range, and the metal tin keeps everything organized.
- 72 UNIQUE COLORS IN ONE SET: Work from bright highlights to deep shadows with a full colored pencil range for portraits, landscapes, illustrations, adult coloring books, and sketchbook pages. The set gives you enough shade variety to build gradients, match tones, and layer color without repeated pencils.
- SOFT WAX-BASED COLOR LAYDOWN: These colored pencils use soft wax-based cores for smooth application, rich color buildup, and cleaner transitions. Use them for blending, shading, layering, hatching, and detailed lines without the scratchy feel of harder pencils.
- 4 MM BREAK-RESISTANT CORES: The thicker 4 mm cores are designed to support stronger color laydown and regular sharpening. They give artists and hobbyists a balanced feel for filling larger areas, building depth, and keeping control on smaller details.
Each pencil arrives pre-sharpened and labeled with its color name, number, and lightfastness rating. That level of detail is something you usually only find in premium-tier sets, and it makes palette planning much faster.
The included color chart is a small touch that makes a big difference when you’re swatching or deciding on a palette before committing to a page.
Bottom Line
If you want a versatile, well-organized colored pencil set for adult coloring, illustrations, or sketching, the ARTEZA 72-set is a solid pick that delivers real value.
The smooth laydown, generous color range, and sturdy packaging make it easy to recommend for beginners and experienced colorists alike.
Overview Of The ARTEZA Colored Pencils Set Of 72
Packaged in a double-hinged metal tin, this set includes 72 unique colors with soft wax-based cores and a 4 mm lead diameter. The round barrel design feels comfortable during extended coloring sessions, and the ergonomic grip works for both left- and right-handed users.
Every pencil is pre-sharpened out of the box, so you can start coloring immediately. The barrels display the color name, number, and a lightfastness indicator, which is genuinely helpful when you’re building a layered piece and need consistent results over time.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Core Type | Soft wax-based |
| Core Diameter | 4 mm |
| Pencil Count | 72 unique colors |
| Barrel Shape | Round, ergonomic |
| Packaging | Double-hinged metal tin |
| Extras | Color chart included |
The set is designed for teens and adults, with recommended uses spanning portraits, landscapes, coloring books, and general illustration.
72-Color Range For Richer Shading And Better Variety
Having 72 distinct shades at your fingertips changes how you approach a coloring page. You get a deep selection of warm and cool tones across every color family, which means you can build smooth gradients without needing to mix or heavily layer two distant colors.
The range includes rich earth tones, vibrant primaries, and enough muted shades to handle realistic skin tones and natural landscapes. In practice, you’ll find there’s almost always a shade close to what you need without settling for a rough substitute.
Where this matters most is in adult coloring books with intricate designs. Having the right in-between shade lets you differentiate petals, leaves, or geometric sections without the colors looking repetitive. No duplicate pencils are included, so every slot in the tin adds something new to your palette.
Soft Wax-Based Cores For Smoother Blending
The wax-based formula is where these pencils really shine during hands-on use. They lay down color with a buttery smoothness that makes blending almost effortless, especially on thicker coloring book paper.
Layering multiple colors produces rich, saturated tones without the scratchy, chalky feel that firmer pencils tend to leave behind. You can build up color gradually or press harder for immediate vibrancy.
For adult coloring, the soft cores make transitions between adjacent colors look natural. Hatching and crosshatching are also easy to control, and detailed linework stays clean as long as you keep a sharp tip. The wax bloom that sometimes develops on heavy applications can be gently buffed away with a soft cloth.
4 Mm Break-Resistant Cores For Better Control
A common frustration with softer colored pencils is breakage during sharpening or while applying pressure. The 4 mm cores in this set are noticeably more resilient than thinner alternatives, holding up well through regular sharpening cycles.
During detailed work, the thicker core provides a balanced feel. You get enough width for filling larger areas quickly, yet the pencil still sharpens to a workable point for finer details. Pressing down firmly to saturate color didn’t result in snapping, even on harder paper surfaces.
For those who tend to sharpen frequently, a quality hand-crank or manual sharpener works best with these pencils. Electric sharpeners can sometimes be too aggressive for wax-based cores.
Metal Tin And Labeled Barrels For Easier Organization
Staying organized while working with 72 colors can be a challenge, and the packaging here genuinely helps. The double-hinged metal tin opens flat, giving you a clear view of every pencil at once. Each slot holds its pencil securely, so nothing rattles around during transport.
The printed color name and number on each barrel eliminate guesswork when you’re hunting for a specific shade. The included color chart serves as a quick swatching reference, which is especially handy for planning a palette before you commit to a page.
Portability is another win. The tin is compact enough to toss into a bag for coloring meetups, classes, or travel. The snap closure keeps it shut without any accidental spills.
Who These Pencils Are Best Suited For
These pencils sit in a sweet spot between entry-level and professional-grade sets, making them ideal for a specific range of users.
- Adult coloring enthusiasts who want smooth, vibrant color without a steep investment
- Beginner to intermediate artists exploring colored pencil techniques like blending and layering
- Students in art classes who need a reliable, organized set
- Gift buyers looking for an impressive, well-packaged art supply
If you’re a professional illustrator who demands the absolute highest pigment concentration and archival-grade lightfastness, you may eventually want to supplement with individual artist-grade pencils. For most adult coloring and hobby-level art, this set delivers more than enough quality and variety.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- 72 unique colors with no duplicates, providing excellent shade variety
- Soft wax-based cores blend and layer smoothly
- 4 mm cores resist breakage during normal use and sharpening
- Pre-sharpened and labeled for immediate, organized use
- Sturdy metal tin protects pencils and makes transport easy
- Included color chart helps with planning and swatching
- Competitively priced for the quality and quantity offered
Cons
- Wax bloom can appear on heavily saturated areas and needs buffing
- Softer cores require more frequent sharpening than harder pencils
- Round barrels may roll off angled surfaces
- Not quite as pigment-dense as top-tier professional brands
- Some lighter shades may need multiple layers for visible payoff
Customer Reviews
The ARTEZA 72-set has accumulated thousands of reviews and maintains a highly favorable rating. Buyers consistently praise the smooth color laydown and the impressive range of shades, noting that the pencils feel more premium than their price suggests.
Many adult coloring book fans mention that blending is easy and satisfying, even for those without formal art training. The metal tin also receives frequent praise for keeping pencils organized and protected.
Some reviewers note that the softer cores wear down faster than harder alternatives, meaning you’ll sharpen more often. A small number of users experienced occasional lead breakage with aggressive sharpeners, though most found the 4 mm cores durable with a quality manual sharpener.
Several buyers compare these favorably to more expensive brands, calling them an excellent value for hobbyists who don’t need the absolute pinnacle of artist-grade materials.
Conclusion
The ARTEZA Colored Pencils Set of 72 earns its reputation as one of the best mid-range options for adult coloring. The combination of smooth wax-based cores, a well-curated 72-color palette, and thoughtful packaging makes it a genuinely enjoyable set to use.
You won’t mistake these for top-dollar professional pencils, but the gap is much smaller than the price difference would suggest. For adult coloring books, sketching, shading, and general illustration, they deliver consistent, vibrant results session after session.
If you’re ready to upgrade from a basic set or looking for your first serious colored pencil collection, the ARTEZA 72-set is well worth your consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do these pencils perform for blending and layering compared with Prismacolor?
The ARTEZA pencils blend smoothly thanks to their soft wax-based cores, though Prismacolor Premier pencils tend to have a slightly softer, creamier feel with higher pigment saturation. For adult coloring and hobby-level work, the difference is subtle, and many users find the ARTEZA set comparable in everyday blending performance. The ARTEZA pencils also produce less wax bloom than Prismacolor in lighter applications.
Are the cores soft or firm, and how does that affect control and coverage?
The cores fall on the softer side of the spectrum, which gives you rich color payoff with moderate pressure. This softness makes blending and large-area coverage easier, though it does mean you’ll sharpen more frequently than with harder pencils. For detailed linework, keeping a sharp point is essential, but the 4 mm diameter holds up well under controlled pressure.
Do the pigments deliver consistent color payoff across the full range of hues?
Most colors in the set deliver strong, consistent pigmentation, with darker and mid-tone shades performing especially well. Some of the lighter hues, like pale yellows and soft pastels, may require two or three layers to achieve visible saturation on white paper. Across the 72-color range, the consistency is impressive for a mid-priced set.
How durable are the leads against breakage during sharpening and detailed work?
The 4 mm break-resistant cores hold up well during regular sharpening with a quality manual or hand-crank sharpener. Aggressive electric sharpeners can sometimes cause breakage, so a gentler approach works best. During detailed work, applying firm pressure rarely results in snapping, which is a notable improvement over thinner, cheaper colored pencil cores.
What’s the difference between the Premium and Expert lines, and which is better for artists?
The ARTEZA Expert line, which this set belongs to, uses softer wax-based cores designed for smoother blending and richer color buildup. The Premium line tends to have slightly firmer cores suited for more controlled, precise work. For adult coloring and general illustration, the Expert line is typically the better choice due to its easier layering and more vibrant color payoff.
Is the 72-color selection sufficient for portrait work, landscapes, and smooth gradients?
Yes, 72 unique colors provide enough variety for portraits, landscapes, and detailed gradient work. The set includes a solid range of skin tones, earth tones, greens, and blues that cover most natural subjects effectively. For highly specialized portrait work requiring dozens of subtle skin tone variations, you may want to supplement with a few individual pencils, but the core selection handles most projects without gaps.
