Vanilla Beans: Singles
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I launched the new March projects for Color Wonk and Underpainters (see below). It’s always nice to get new projects into people’s hands.
I’ve also been redesigning info & purchase pages for my groups, classes, and courses. It’s a gigantic job. Ugh.
But hey, check out the new Return to Top button. It’s my greatest accomplishment of the week!
I purchase most of my art supplies from Dick Blick. Shop using my affiliate link to support this free newsletter. Thanks!
*Paragraph spacing issues? I’m still fiddling to find the answer. Click here for a more readable option.
A quick word before we get into the meat of today’s article…
People find me through Google, Pinterest, or YouTube which means a search algorithm said “you might like what Amy has to say.”
Then you read what Amy actually says and get all upset because it’s not what you want to hear.
We have something in common: art supplies
But we’re also different: I don’t do cards, coloring books, sketchbooks, or manga.
I’m a technical illustrator which means I don’t scribble or splash. At least not voluntarily.
I do precision, not emotion.
Google didn’t warn you that I’m the Sheldon Cooper of the marker world, did they?
Because of this, I approach art supplies from an efficiency and efficacy standpoint. With 30 years of studio work, I take the long term approach to quality and value.
Good art supplies should function for you as a beginner and grow with you as your skills progress.
I can’t recommend any product which traps you in the beginner phase forever.
Even if coloring bookers love it.
It’s nothing personal.
SINGLES
This is the week where we start talking specifics.
What makes a good colored pencil good?
And which characteristics should we look for when judging the pencils in your stash and at the art store?
Well, I made a list.
Amy’s Big List of Important Pencil Points with subheadings, tangents, and numbered citations at the end.
Sheldon enough for you?
Actually, it was all in my head but trust me, it’s a good list.
Problem is, as I went over the points, testing ‘em against specific brands to validate my decision tree. I couldn’t decide which was the most important, top of the list, starting point.
I’ve been grinding over the list order for weeks now.
This morning, as I sat down to write today’s article, I still wasn’t sure. What should I write about first?
I lifted my hands to type and put ‘em back in my lap. This one? That one?
Then it hit me— and this is a direct quote, the actual thought that ran through my head:
“I don’t give a damn about any of this if the pencils aren’t open stock.”
Ohhhhhh.
Huh.
And there it is, the first rule.
It’s easy to overlook the obvious.
Now hang with me here ‘cuz I’m typing and thinking at the same time. That’s always a little dangerous…
What is Open Stock?
Well, when I say “colored pencils”, we usually imagine the rapture of opening a box to reveal perfect rainbow rows of pristine pencils.
Open stock is the singles version with fewer angels in the choir.
You can buy one pink and three greens. Or in my case, 12 Greyed Lavenders.
Open Stock means buyer’s choice.
Just between you and me, pencil companies and art stores HATE open stock.
Pencil sets are easier. Boxes are convenient to ship. They stack nicely and look great on any kind of store shelf.
And even though sets are the lowest price per pencil for the customer, the set itself isn’t cheap. There’s a sweet profit on every box.
Open stocks on the other hand, are a nightmare for everyone.
How do you ship them without breakage? And stores don’t all order the same colors; they want 7 of this and 2 of that. And the invoice is a mile long, mistakes will be made by whomever fills the order. And once they’re at the store, they need to be displayed somehow, so now the manufacturer has to design and sell display units. And every pencil needs it’s own UPC number. And the stores may run out of red pencils months before they run low on other colors. And stores have to pay employees to monitor the pencils displays or they lock them in cases to keep dingbats from testing the pencils on the nearest wall. And you get home to find you bought Bluish Grey instead of Greyish Blue, or the pencil core is broken so you head back to the store to lecture the manager and demand a refund.
Whew!
All of this for a $1.47.
Geeze.
This is why cheap pencils are only sold in sets.
No open stocks. No headaches.
Why do I care about open stock?
Let me show you something…
See that pencil on my desk right now?
Here’s a close up:
It looks weird, right?
This pencil is older than some of you reading this.
As near as I can figure, I purchased this Prismacolor in maybe 1984 or 85? I saved my allowance to buy a set of 12. That’s how old it is.
It’s 5.25” long.
Which means in 40 freakin’ years, I’ve used less than 2 inches of Orange.
The color is lovely; nothing wrong with it. I just don’t use it much.
Meanwhile I blew through 26 white pencils in 2024.
Now imagine me having to buy a big ol’ set every time a white nubbin gets too short for the sharpener.
I can’t live like that, people.
There’s a general rule amongst artists; it applies to everything from paint to pastels to pencils. I don’t think crafters hear it much but it’s good advice:
If they don’t sell it open stock, it ain’t worth buying.
It’s simple. Either the company is serious about supplying you with pencils for the next 10 years or they’re not a serious company.
Buying a full set every time you run out of something is ridiculous.
And I know, a lot of you are looking at your collection of colorist sets and not a single one of ‘em sells individual colors.
That’s a problem.
“Honestly, Amy? I don’t really mind. I don’t use pencils often enough to run out of colors, and if I do? The pencils are cheap enough that it’s no big deal to buy another full set.
Well, okay. $59.99 every couple of years isn’t terrible if you’re just having fun and relaxing.
But here’s what I’ve noticed:
Box sets create a scarcity mindset.
I pay attention to weird stuff when I watch art videos. I’ve noticed that the people using Himi gouache and Gansai Tambi paints never seem to have one or two wells dead-empty while the others are fresh and full.
If one’s low, they’re all similarly low. And their pencils are all about the same length.
And I know some of these products do sell replacements, but still…
I think students cut back on their use of good colors when a pencil gets short or the paint pan is low.
“I’ll use Ultramarine instead of Indigo because I’m almost out…”
Yes, they’re both blue but one is warm and the other’s cool. They don’t do the same thing.
Scarcity mindset allows your supply levels to dictate your color choices. You’re using less effective colors to extend the life of the set.
By this rule, I should be using a lot more orange in my projects. I’m sorry, but that’s just stupid.
I look at someone’s pencils and I can kinda tell if they’re serious about learning or not.
It might make your left eye twitch, but this is normal folks:
People who use pencils actually use their pencils.
Okay, so the first rule of quality is:
Is this pencil available openstock?
If it’s not, that’s a hard hellz-no for me.
Next week, we’ll do rule number two.
Maybe.
Because I’m still not sure how to rank them.
IF YOU LIKED TODAY’S ARTICLE & VIDEO, PLEASE SUPPORT FUTURE FREE LESSONS
NEW MARCH LESSONS
Color Wonk: Intermediate Coloring
COLOR WONK:
Do you automatically reach for white to highlight everything?
It works but it’s not very realistic. This chocolate cookie isn’t shiny or wet, so white highlights definitely send the wrong signal.
Hello, Cookie! explores how artists create natural depth and dimension without an over-reliance on highlights. We’ve got better tricks up our sleeve!
Underpainters: Advanced Independent Coloring
UNDERPAINTERS:
Hey Amy, can you teach me to color a dog? Can we do a dog? We need to do a dog!
Okay, okay… here’s your dog. Actually, it’s my dog.
What are the fundamentals to consider when coloring precious pooch faces? As a technical illustrator who has dabbled in portraiture, I have some thoughts…
THIS WEEK IN COLOR
BEGINNER MARKER
What would happen, what could happen if you just got the beginner blending out of the way, once and for all?
CURRENT PASSWORD: RubberDuckie
COZY COLORING
click for more info
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