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We’ve been dancing around the subject of cheap colored pencils…

We started with the Cash Cow theory

Because artists didn’t defend our standards

We visited the pigment zoo for artist grade pencils

And last week, I called out the Cult of Cheap

This week, let’s explore why you’re extremely vulnerable to fraudulent colored pencil companies.

ARTFLUENCERS

“Oh Amy! You’re being too hard on inexpensive pencils. I’ve seen people making really pretty stuff with Ohudoodle pencils!”

Yep, I’ve watched the same videos. Some of these people are amazing.

The thing is, let’s say we ignore the labor conditions at cheap pencil factories…

And we don’t get upset that they’re dying pencils instead of making them the correct way…

To to truly understand the modern colored pencil market, we can’t ignore the cultural aspect. We’ve got a digital problem.

Social media has distorted how you see artists.

Which in turn, has changed how artists see you.

By the way, don’t miss the end of this article where I discuss my own hypocrisy.

As I explained before, colored pencils are a bit shunned by the artist community.

And while I’m kinda sad about it, I do agree.

This is the voice of experience here folks. I’ve worked with colored pencils since 1985.

Colored pencils, even the good ones are a second tier medium.

If I’m being totally honest— for professional artists, colored pencils are best suited for learning, practice, and experimentation.

That’s not to say we can’t make beautiful art with colored pencils. It’s just so much smarter to work with a more versatile medium.

It takes an special kind of crazy to make big projects with tiny pencil points using translucent color that must be applied in time consuming soft layers.

And if you’re not using high quality pencils?

You’re making something hard even harder.

So how is it that people are making good-lookin’ art with cheap pencils?

Well, let’s talk about who’s making this good art.

If you search colored pencil on YouTube and weed through the super-basics, you can find some formally trained professionals making cool stuff with cheap colored pencils.

And colorists? You often use these pros as justification for buying cheap pencils.

“She gets good results from RainboJoy pencils. If I use what she’s using, I’ll get good results too!”

But what you don’t realize as a colorist…

These talented professional artists are working outside their normal medium.

Many artful scribblers on YouTube and TikTock are actually painters or illustrators/animators who have trained for years. They work full time using expensive tools and high quality art supplies.

For a brief 20 minutes on the internet, you can watch ‘em goof around with cheap pencils.

NEWS FLASH: Making a fun video doesn’t mean they endorse cheap pencils for anything more than play and enjoyment.

These artists are not heading off to work in the morning to a studio filled with kiddie pencils!

And I understand that the play part is unclear when you’re watching short videos. Most don’t even mention that Monday to Friday they work real art jobs with real art supplies.

Artist to artist? We can tell. Game knows game.

But I don’t blame you for thinking they’re a full time pencil scribbler.

You saw one moment of their life and assumed it was 24-7.

Professionals playing on YouTube is one pencil distortion.

You watch a sketchbook session and assume they use cheap pencils all the time.

You want to use what they’re using.

If they’re using it, it seems like a product recommendation, right?

Here’s another distortion:

Nowadays, many artistically inclined people choose not to become professional artists.

Instead, they make a career out of social media.

They’re great at coloring but if you look behind their accounts at YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, there’s no there there. Social coloring is all they do.

They’re influencers.

Artfluencers?

The money comes from views, sponsorships, and affiliate links.

To be clear— I’m not knocking this, I’m just speaking clearly.

Their art is the video, not the coloring.

Now it’d be nice, but realistically, Artfluencers cannot talk you into buying a new set of $300 pencils every month.

If they manage to sell you even one artist grade pencil set? You’re done for a while. A single box of Holbein blows your budget for the year.

The more lucrative plan is to show you a different brand of cheap pencil every week.

Cheap keeps you in the game, my dear.

There’s also a new sub-set of Artfluencer: The Professional Reviewer

They distinguish themselves from other Artfluencers by “reviewing” art supplies.

(Scare quotes on purpose there, folks.)

I’m not throwing shade at all reviewers. There are some reputable artists making review videos…

But a most of ‘em are entertaining you with weird tests that make no sense.

And here’s the dirty secret about reviews:

The product churn on review channels is mind-boggling!

There are only about ten pencil brands worth reviewing, so at one video per month, in less than a year, you’re out of a job unless you review the cheapies.

You’ve got to be careful with reviewers because

1. They’re artistic but usually not experienced.

2. If someone ONLY colors with the Pencil o’ the Week, I question their ability to tell good products from bad. They almost never touch the good stuff so they don’t know why it’s better.

3. Like every Artfluencer, their business benefits from positive reviews.

I know you’re not stupid.

But when you’re getting all your pencil information and product recommendations from Artfluencers, you’re at a serious disadvantage.

They’re personally motivated to hype the cheap.

They can be the nicest person on the planet, incredibly talented, or fun to watch…

But let’s face it, there’s no incentive to help you make wise purchasing decisions.

And honestly, where else can you go for information?

The Artfluencers are only a thing because most trained artists have full time art jobs, not teaching jobs.

Next week, we’ll talk about what you paid for.

————

Pssttt… this week’s article hits a little close to home.

I’m not an Artfluencer but there are times when I tiptoe close to the line.

I started ten years ago with speed coloring videos for local students who missed class or wanted a refresher. Then I used videos to promote my Patreon group which ironically, was only for locals too.

I was shocked when someone from the Netherlands joined. Who is this person and how did they find me?

Eventually, I left YouTube and then Instagram. Now I’m rarely on Facebook. When something steals time from teaching, I’m focused on the wrong thing.

I’m back on YouTube but with goal of finding students who need help.

And you can kinda tell from my current hiatus, YouTube is low priority.

But I totally understand if you assumed I was an Artfluencer when you first found me. I hope over time, you’ve come to see me as something more than entertainment.

Oh, and my monthly YouTube income statements are sad. If I’m Artfluencing you, I’m not very good at it.

For the record, I’ve been approached by cheap art supply companies offering free product and money to showcase their product.

I’ve turned them all down.

That’s how I know I’m not an Artfluencer.

Oh… I am talking with OLO. Not about product placement though. Let’s call it research.

More on that when there’s more to say.