Castle Art Supplies48 Pasteltint Coloured Pencils Set with Extras | Quality Colours in Softer, Sumptuous Tones | For Professional and Adult Artists | In Neat, Strong, Zipper Travel Case

I had already purchased a cheaper set of pastel/macaron pencils, which came in a zipper case. I wasn't totally pleased with those pencils, and hesitate to buy any further of the Chinese off-brand pencils because the same manufacturer makes macaron pencils under a dozen different brand names lol! All dupes for a very expensive Japanese brand (Holbein). Thankfully, Castle Arts made a pastel set in a zipper case, so I bought that almost a year ago. Yes, the Castle Arts pencils have adopted the same aesthetic look as the aforementioned other brands of macaron pencils. But I don't feel like they're trying to confuse anyone with a dupe product, as these pencils come with all the wonderful extras that I love from Castle Arts, and they're clearly branded as Castle's Pasteltint...not "macaron".So this set of pencils seem to be the standard wax pencils like their soft cored set of regular colored pencils. I don't think these are "oil/ oily pencils" like their Gold Range (and like the generic brand I already owned). So these blend well, and seem to give me an extended range of colors for regular set of Castle Arts pencils that I use more often than the Golds.I love the zipper case option, and highly recommend getting that if you ever think you might want to travel with the pencil set...even if you don't travel, I personally have found the zipper case to be more convenient around the house than pencils in a box or tin...and cases can be pretty expensive if you ever decide to upgrade to a case later on.I also love the instruction book that comes with these pencils! This is the 5th different set of Castle Arts pencils I have purchased, and will probably buy some of their other products in the future. I don't have a huge budget for crafts supplies, and I typically look for the best value for my money being on a fixed income. Castle Arts offer the perfect pencils for my needs. Already in a case, excellent instructions that have helped teach me new techniques, and a price I can afford for good quality products! Yes, there are cheaper pencils...even decent ones...but I haven't personally found any cheaper brands that perform better than these, and they definitely don't come with all the bonus content. Yes, there are much better quality pencils than these...but they are prohibitively expensive for me. I'm a hobbyist and usually use pencils for coloring books, so I can't really justify buying professional quality, expensive pencils.I have even traveled with these pencils, especially to certain sporting events where I will be stuck there for an hour+ before the game...I tuck a mini coloring book in the case and an eraser pencil and pencil sharpener...there's enough room in the case to fit all of this, and the case makes a surface to color on. The case is discrete and small enough that I don't feel awkward carrying it in public like I would feel with my preferred set of 120 pencils. Sure, it's limiting in that scenario to just have pastels...but also liberating! You really can color almost anything with only pastels and get an amazing effect! It's a great exercise in breaking out of habit and out of a creative rut with your coloring (or other art styles). I also love that Castle Arts includes a card stock sheet with all the pencil names for you to swatch/test the colors. It also fits in the case and is yet another reason why this became my favorite brand of pencils! I can see at a glance exactly what any pencil looks like on paper, so I know which one to select without any guessing and messing.Hope this helps. Bottom line, I definitely recommend this set if you're weighing the options between this one and one of the generic "macaron oily pencils." I would only suggest getting the generic brand pencils if you're super limited with your budget because while they're decent quality pencils, they do have frequent noticable areas where the color isn't blended correctly, unlike the Castle Arts pencils, in which it's rare to find those scratchy or inconsistent patches. Or...if you happen to just prefer the coverage and effect of oil pencils better than wax pencils...if you don't like the softer and more muted style of colored pencils then you might would want oil pencils instead.

I like how everything is lightweight and fits all in the container. What I didn't like is how the colors are prone to crumbling a little. But they do lay down smooth enough for the money. They maintain a sharp point longer if you apply lighter pressure. They are easy to use. But be careful sharpening!

I’m an artist myself and when my great granddaughter’s art teacher sent her home with a message to “get some good quality colored pencils” I thought oh ho! I can fix her up! So I ordered my own favorites in every color available. And metallics. And pastels.She was bombed! And to top it off, the main colors came in a folder that zipped up so it looked like a briefcase. I’ve had many years of working with various art mediums and you can’t go wrong with this brand. Creaminess, but sharpens nicely. Intense colors that blend well. Good product.

Colors are beautiful but the one thing I don't like is they are a bit waxy so color light handed to layer.The case isn't the greatest quality but it works.😊😊

This pencil assortment is Great and works just as well as the more expensive brands.

As a pencil connoisseur I have to admit I was PLEASANTLY surprised at the high quality of the Pasteltint set.Not k my do these layer up wonderfully but the lay down quality is smooth and creamy.I’d honestly say somewhere in between a mix of a polychromos and a PRISMA pencil. A HAPPY PLACEThese are a must have for any artist level. They add a level of soft colors to my pros as abs my polychromos, not to mention these blend well with all my high end sets.Now if CA would make an entire set like these that would be the PRIMO set to have I think.

I got an artists very fancy coloring book and wanted to step up my color pencil game. I wanted to invest a little bit of money and get some really nice ones (or as nice as I could afford, lol). After reading reviews I decided to splurge a little and ordered these. I absolutely love them. I don’t even know how scratchy crayola colored pencils were until I started using these. They make blending colors so easy and beautiful. And let’s just talk about the case! I love how you can leave loose pencils in there and you can quickly zip it up and know that they wont go missing or fall out. It also has room for extra pencils in the center as well. There’s enough room that I can even fit my sharpener in there too so everything stays nice and together. I couldn’t be happier. Now I just need more coloring book recommendations!

Love the color choices, soft pastels for colorists and artist alike. Protective case, tutorial inserts for coloring.