There are many advantages to using crayons as an art medium. The colors are bright, and they blend well when layered. You can use various colors, which can even be mixed to create a unique look. Crayons also have unique properties that make them different from other art mediums.
Chalk crayons
Chalk crayons have long been used in the artwork. These simple, inexpensive tools were once considered inappropriate for use in the arts. However, crayons have become a popular medium for contemporary artists like Don Marco and Tiona Marco. Crayons are now manufactured by many other manufacturers, including Dixon Ticonderoga, Rose Art, and Prang.
Available in a variety of colors and sizes, chalk crayons are a versatile tool. Their dense composition allows a crayon artist to create highly detailed images and smear them for different effects. Many artists keep their hands clean when using chalk and can also protect their drawings using chalk holders. Artists can also use art crayons for blending and sketching. The versatility of these tools makes them ideal for mixed media artworks.
Conte crayons, invented by Nicolas-Jacques Conte in the 18th century, are commonly used for sketching. They are composed of black pigmented chalk and powdered graphite. Conte crayons are less crumble than charcoal and are ideal for creating thick lines.
Conte crayons
Conte crayons were invented in the late 18th century and are a versatile art medium. Made from compressed graphite, charcoal, and clay, they are typically sold in darker shades and can be used for various artistic techniques. The crayons blend with other colors well and can produce paint-like effects when smudged.
Conte crayons are similar to pastels but are more arduous and waxier. This means that they produce less dust and are easier to control. Conte crayons have a more complex texture than chalk pastels and are great for highlighting and creating a more detailed image. Like their chalk pastel cousins, they are an excellent choice for portraits and figure drawing.
The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars brought about several changes in the art medium. During these times, graphite was a strategic product used in cannonballs. Conte was able to combine clay and graphite with other pigments to make an art medium that was less susceptible to smudging. This mixture produced a complex, matte finish and a limited palette of black.
Crayola crayons
Crayons have a long history in art. Initially, they were yellow and came in a yellow box. Eventually, crayon makers began replacing the oil with colored pigments. They also added wax to the mix, which made the crayons easier to mold and form. This led to the creation of the Crayola Company in 1903. Today, they manufacture various-sized boxes of crayons for kids and artists alike. The brand has even developed scented glitter crayons.
Crayons add a speckled effect when used in layers, which adds realism to out-of-focus backgrounds. The best crayons for this technique are Crayola crayons, which offer the most color saturation. It is also best to use crayons that are sharpened with a hand-held sharpener to grip the paper more evenly. Finally, learning to apply and professionally use the crayons is essential.
Lyra graphite crayons
Lyra graphite crayons are an excellent choice for artists using graphite in various art mediums. The hexagonal shape of these crayons is comfortable to hold and won’t roll off surfaces. They are water-soluble and perfect for sketching, layout, shading, and adding depth. Artists can also use Lyra graphite crayons to make watercolor masterpieces.
These hexagonal sticks are about the size of pencils and roughly equal to a 12-mm graphite crayon. Their dark marks are subtle, and the crayons blend easily with water. They have a peelable paper covering and are easy to sharpen. These sticks are also erasable once they have dried.
Colored pencils
Colored pencils are an excellent medium for artists who want to work with detail. They are often better for creating points than other art mediums. To make the most of this advantage, colored pencil artists must understand how the medium works and where to draw detail. The most delicate information should be close to the subject, diminishing as you move away from it. This is particularly important when working with compositions with a depth of field.
Colored pencils come in different grades, depending on the type of pigment they contain. Artists’ grade colored pencils are usually highly pigmented and lightfast, while student-grade pencils tend to have more wax and are prone to fading. Artists can choose between two types of pencils: wax-based pencils for fine detail work and oil-based pencils for sketching and underpainting.