Beginner's Guide to Colour Pencils: Spotlight on Faber-Castell Black Edition

If you’ve been following this series, you’ll know we’ve already looked at professional ranges like Polychromos, Luminance, Derwent Lightfast and Derwent Drawing.

But today, I want to talk about something different.

Not everyone is ready to invest £150–£250 in coloured pencils when they’re just starting out. And honestly? You don’t need to.

So let’s take a closer look at Faber-Castell Black Edition — a much more affordable range that many beginners are curious about.

Are they any good? Can you draw realistic animals with them? And are they worth buying?

Let’s break it down.

What Are Black Edition Pencils?

Black Edition pencils are made by Faber-Castell, a long-established art materials brand.

They are:

• Wax-based coloured pencils

• Designed to work on both white and black paper

• Bright and highly pigmented for their price range

• Water-resistant

• Available in a variety of set sizes

They’re often marketed as a “student” or beginner range, but that doesn’t mean they’re poor quality.

It simply means they’re more accessible.

Faber Castell Black Edition Colour Pencils

First Impressions

When I first tested these, I was pleasantly surprised.

They’re softer than oil-based pencils like Polychromos, and they lay down colour quite smoothly. The pigment strength is good, especially considering the price point.

They feel easy to use.

And that matters when you’re learning.

When you’re just starting out with coloured pencils, the last thing you need is a pencil that feels scratchy or difficult to control. These glide comfortably across the page without needing heavy pressure.

How Do They Compare to Professional Ranges?

Let’s be honest, they’re not designed to compete with professional, artist-grade pencils.

You won’t get:

• The same layering depth as Polychromos

• The same creaminess as Luminance

• The same archival lightfast ratings as Lightfast

• The same earthy softness as Derwent Drawing

But here’s the important thing:

You can still learn excellent technique with them.

You can practise:

• Pressure control

• Layer building

• Colour blending

• Directional fur strokes

And those foundational skills matter far more than the brand of pencil you’re holding.

Are They Good for Drawing Animals?

This is the question most of you really care about. 🐾

The answer is yes — with realistic expectations.

Short Fur (Dogs, Cats, Foxes)

They work well for building up base layers and mid-tones. For very fine, crisp individual hairs, they’re not as sharp as oil-based pencils, but for beginners learning fur direction, they’re absolutely suitable.

Long Fur

They can struggle slightly with ultra-fine detail because of their softer core, but you can still achieve lovely results with controlled pressure.

Feathers

Very good for colour blocking and initial layers. They blend nicely for soft transitions.

Backgrounds

Excellent. Because they’re quite vibrant, they’re especially effective for bold backgrounds or darker papers.

What Paper Works Best?

You don’t need expensive paper to use these.

They work well on:

• Smooth cartridge paper

• Bristol board

• Black paper (this is where they really shine)

On heavily textured surfaces like Pastelmat, you may find they fill the tooth more quickly because they are wax-based and softer. Light pressure is key.

Who Should Buy Black Edition?

I would recommend these to:

✔️ Absolute beginners

✔️ Teen artists

✔️ Hobby artists

✔️ Anyone testing whether they enjoy coloured pencils

✔️ Artists on a budget

I wouldn’t recommend them for:

✖️ Professional commission artists needing archival guarantees

✖️ Artists selling work that must last 100+ years

But for learning? They’re more than capable.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Affordable

• Good pigment for the price

• Easy to use

• Work beautifully on black paper

• Great for learning foundational skills

Cons

• Limited layering depth compared to professional ranges

• Not lightfast-rated for archival work

• Slightly less precise for hyper-realistic fur

My Honest Verdict

If you are just beginning your coloured pencil journey and feel overwhelmed by the cost of professional sets, Black Edition pencils are a perfectly valid place to start.

You do not need the most expensive tools to learn good technique.

In fact, sometimes starting with something more accessible removes pressure and allows you to focus on enjoying the process.

As your skills grow, you may decide to invest in professional ranges. But these will absolutely allow you to practise layering, pressure control, blending and fur direction with confidence.

And that’s what really builds your ability.

If you’d like help learning how to create realistic fur, feathers and animal features step-by-step, you’re very welcome to explore the resources inside my community, or join my newsletter where I share regular tips and tutorials.

Your materials matter. But your technique matters more.

And that’s something you can start building today. 🐾✨