Welcome to our first in a series of Adult coloring. I’ve noticed a few of you ask: What type of pen or pencil to use? So I thought I give you an overview of the main types.

Colored Pencils
In my humble option Colored pencils are the best option if you are wanting to get the most control and variation in color on your page. Not all colored pencils are created equal, they do vary significantly in quality. If you like a smooth consistent finish then I recommend using Staedtler Luna or Noris. My favorite are the Luna

These pencils are great, and there is 24 colors in a pack! They have a soft core which is great for blending and getting a nice smooth finish. They also give you beautiful vivid colors, without having to press too hard. Let’s face it, you’re spending a lot of time on this so you want to maximize your results!

Water Color Pencils
Water color pencils are very similar to color pencils in that they allow you to have precise control, achieving great detail and variation in color depth. The difference between regular color pencils and water-soluble pencils are their leads. Color pencil leads are either wax or oil based, whereas watercolor pencil leads have a water soluble base. They are awesome! I mainly use Staedtler Aquarell. Even if you are not blending with water they are still great to use. Here is an example of the type of finish you can get by blending with water. Just use a fine pant brush to blend.

If you are just starting out and you think you might like to experiment a little I would recommend getting the Luna Aquarell pencils. You can use them as a standard colored pencils or experiment with blending.

A few things to remember when adding water. After you have layered several layers of color, and begin to apply water or blend, the results will not be the same as if you were using a standard coloured pencil. The colors will be darker, sometimes more vivid, and they can change to a color you were not trying to achieve – depending on how much color you have layered up. So experiment with blending colours first before trying it on your Adult colouring masterpiece!

Felt Tips
Remember the good ‘ol days of felt tips? They still have their place in adult coloring, but I recommend getting some good quality ones for best results. My go to Felt Tips are the Faber Connector Pens They have nice fine tips which will help you with staying in the lines and they don't bleed. They also have a nice soft tip, so less chance of getting those lines across your masterpiece. It is difficult to shade with felt tips, however if you are looking for some nice solid vibrant color then they are the go!

Fine Liners
Fine liners are the new felt tip for grown-ups! They are really great if you are wanting a nice detailed result with the vibrancy of a felt tip. Fineliners are just like a felt tip but with a much smaller tip which is great if you have a detailed page to get through. Try combining your colored pencils with fine liners to create more depth of color. My favorite are the Staedtler Triplus they come in a handy plastic display case and with 20 different colors your only problem will be deciding which one!

Metallic Pens

Metallic pens are great for adding accents and variation to your page. I wouldn’t recommend coloring a whole page but if you’re wanting to change it up a bit then add a bit of metallic. Try coloring the eyes of a bird or the bud of a flower for a pop of metallic. You can’t go wrong with the Pentel 6 Pk.

Next week I’ll give you some tips on shading and blending. I’d love to hear your comments on what else you like to hear about, and your own experience with experimenting with different materials. Add your comments below :)

Happy coloring & mindfulness.

From the Art & Craft Monkey