Wax pencils for children: choice, properties, drawing features. Pencils, wax crayons, pastels Indications for use and characteristics

Wax is a versatile product that can also be used for household purposes. In particular, it was in ancient times that it served as the basis for creating drawing tools. Despite its striking history, the wax crayon has not faded into oblivion. On the contrary, this tool is only gaining popularity due to its environmental friendliness and safety.

Historical reference

In the period of antiquity, drawings with wax crayons, which were performed by the Greeks, were glorified by Plinius, the great writer of Rome. Such paintings stood out for their epic, richness and brilliance. In addition, wax was at that time an easily accessible material, so portrait painters, using wax pencils, made an enormous contribution to the development of the visual arts.

What are the benefits of wax crayons?

Drawing wax pencils have significant advantages over their counterparts.

Second life of laminate

Very often, the laminate cracks under mechanical stress, scratches appear. This can lead to deformation of the floor, the appearance of mildew, mold and rot. It is very easy to fix this problem - just restore the laminate with a wax pencil. Thanks to the use of this tool, it is possible to hide small scratches and chips on the floor surface. Laminate wax stick should be used on a previously cleaned and dried surface.

If the scratch is small, then to eliminate it, it is enough to swipe over the problem area once. In the case of deeper lesions of the wood panel, the scratch should be filled until it is completely eliminated. After that, you need to wait until the wax is completely dry. Then it is recommended to carefully polish the surface of the problem area with a small piece of rags. This ensures that scratches are eliminated as well as that the wax will re-create the natural color.

Furniture restoration is not a problem!

A furniture wax crayon will become an "ambulance" in case chips or scratches appear on the wood. Thanks to the wax, colored with natural substances, it is possible to completely eliminate the problem area on the furniture, giving it its original appearance. Thanks to the active substances, the wax crayon helps to improve the color of furniture, makes it shine. In addition, wax protects wooden surfaces from water, prevents the development of corrosion and rot.

Furniture wax crayon is easy to use. To eliminate scratches and chips, it is enough to run the tool over them several times, and then grind the surface with a rag. No additional protective layer is required.

Car wax pencil

Very often there are situations when ordinary polish cannot eliminate scratches and cracks on.In this case, a wax crayon will be the best option. Thanks to the wax, it is possible to hide even the deepest cracks and scratches that have reached the paint layer.

Pencils on the modern market are presented in all kinds of color shades. That is why customers are able to choose the option in exact accordance with the wax is applied to the scratch using a convenient brush located at the end of the pencil. This shape of the accessory allows you to economically use the product, since the layer is applied very evenly, filling microcracks.

How is wax applied to a car?

It should be remembered that a wax-based pencil is used only on completely cleaned surfaces. First you need to degrease the car body. For this, you can use alcohol-containing substances. After that, perpendicular to the scratch or chip, you need to make several strokes with a pencil. In this case, even the smallest cracks should be filled.

The second step is to sand the surface. To do this, the dried wax should be carefully rubbed with a rag or. This removes excess wax, the substance acquires a shade identical to the tone of the car body.

A wax crayon is a versatile household tool. The low cost of the accessory, numerous functionalities, various colors, environmental friendliness and safety have made this tool one of the most popular on the market.

We decided to buy drawing materials to surprise and delight the little artist. Not sure what to choose? What is better for a child to draw? Our small review will help you make the right choice and not get lost among professional brushes, paints, pastel crayons and other "specific" art supplies.

Drawing materials: pencils, paints, felt-tip pens or wax crayons?

When asked what is better to buy: colored pencils, paints, felt-tip pens or wax crayons - there is only one RIGHT answer - ALL at once. And the point here is not in the banal “I don’t know what to choose, I’ll take everything,” but in the fact that for full development a child needs to experiment as much as possible. We should not impose cliches and strict rules on him, but should show the peculiarities of work with this or that artistic material in order to broaden his horizons, to give him the opportunity to CREATE according to our own rules. Let him try to draw with colored pencils, let him feel that the line drawn by the felt-tip pen differs from the pencil one, let him make sure in practice that the watercolor loves water, and the gouache needs to be diluted to the state of thick sour cream, let him understand the difference between wax and pastel crayons by touch ... !

Let the rule be your motto: "You need to study with the best materials that we can afford."

Using dried markers, dart brushes and blotter paper, it is impossible to fall in love with drawing and become a small, but already an artist. Be sympathetic to children's creativity: do everything possible so that the child has access to different materials, mastered different techniques and tried, tried, tried ...

Colored pencils: what to look for

Pencils - it is the most popular and affordable tool for children's creativity. The richness of color, ease of handling, as well as the benefits for the development of fine motor skills of the hands make them an ideal material for the artistic creation of young children.

If your choice is colored pencils, make sure they are soft and well-sharpened, then it will be a pleasure to draw with them.

For the smallest, short pencils are suitable, they are easier to manipulate (less chance of getting into the eye and getting hurt through carelessness). Do not try to buy a large set at once, limit yourself to 6-12 colors: for the first time this will be enough, otherwise the baby will simply start going through all 36, 72 ... pencils, trying on a dot, as they draw on paper.

It is best for kids to give thick faceted pencils (triangular), they fit comfortably in the hand, do not slip, the child learns to regulate the pressure. It is better to buy pencils with a round cross-section for older children.

Teach your child to be careful with his colored assistants, explain that pencils do not like to be thrown. From resentment, they begin to break down and do not want to sharpen.

If you are choosing colored pencils for an older child who wants to learn to draw professionally (in an art school, studio, etc.), be very responsible in choosing pencils. At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing complicated in the technique of drawing with colored pencils, because even small children decorate coloring pages and tweet with pencils on paper. In fact, professional artists will tell you that pencils have their own secrets, much depends on the softness and composition of the lead, the quality of the wood. Sometimes the strokes do not overlap each other, do not fit tightly, with gaps, do not give a bright color, some pencils require frequent sharpening, break, crumble and other "bad" moments.

Of the manufacturers that are trustworthy, one can single out Faber-castell(Germany). For more than 200 years this company has been on the market, German quality is at its best, even when it comes not to complex microcircuits, but to simple pencils for drawing. Faber-Castell is one of the leaders in the stationery market.

The arsenal includes various product lines: there are pencils for children 3-12 years old ("red line"), for hobbies ("blue line"), for professionals ("green line").

Pencils also have good characteristics. KOH-I-NOOR, JOVI, Crayola, SILWERHOF and etc.

Paints: which are better

Paints(watercolor, gouache) are suitable for older children - from about 5 years old, since handling them requires certain skills and dexterity. But this does not mean at all that a 3-year-old baby is categorically contraindicated to buy paints. At this age, finger gouache has proven itself perfectly. Arms, legs and other parts of the body are actively involved in the creation of masterpieces and the knowledge of the world by a little creator.

At preschool age, they usually begin to get acquainted with painting by means of gouache paints, since the technique of writing with them involves numerous overlaps and corrections, which cannot be said about watercolors.

I would like to advise caring parents not to skimp on quality materials. The Russian "Gamma", "Sonnet", "Ray", "Black River". Artistic gouache differs from the poster in quality, so if your child is seriously interested in drawing, buy it.

Buy a large can of white gouache (this tends to go first) and some popular colors so you can get new shades. The set must contain yellow, red, blue, white and black colors, and the rest can be obtained by mixing. Ready-made gouache sets are not the best option, if the child draws often and a lot, the containers there are small in volume and often there are not quite "necessary" colors with mother-of-pearl, sparkles and other enticements that give an effect, but do not allow to fully assess the possibilities material.

It is believed that it is more useful for young children to draw while standing or lying down than sitting at a desk with a sheet of paper in front of them.

Watercolor paints enter the life of young artists, as a rule, a little later. Watercolor loves water, so all smudges and blur are technical features, not work flaws. Many kids are afraid of this, they believe that the drawing has failed and is completely ruined. This is not true. The color in watercolor should be pure (this applies to any paints), you should not mix more than three paints at the same time, it is good when the paper shines through, sometimes even some places are left specially not written down.

When choosing a watercolor, you should pay attention to the manufacturer. St. Petersburg paints have proven themselves well, most often they are sold in cuvettes or tubes. Pay attention to these names: "White Nights", "Sonnet", "Ladoga", "St. Petersburg", "Leningrad".

For the first trials, it is not necessary to immediately buy a large expensive set, pay attention to the color palette. Paints should not be faded, chalky, bleached. It is desirable that the set does not contain white and sparkles. White in watercolor is water, you want to make the paint lighter - you just need to add more water, not white paint (like in gouache). This is a significant difference between watercolors and gouache or acrylic, where the paints fit tightly onto the paper, overlapping the previous layers. They paint with watercolors with glazes, so that the bottom layer shines through the upper stroke. This creates rich color combinations.

Paints in tubes are convenient in that you can squeeze the required amount onto the palette and add, if necessary, without smearing the entire container with a brush. But a minus immediately pops up - you can't put excess paint back into the tube. Cuvettes are sold as a set or separately, there is always an opportunity to buy more popular colors.

If your child wants to decorate the coloring with paints, choose a thicker paper. And in general - for watercolor it is best to take thick corrugated paper, and for thick paints (for example, gouache), ordinary Whatman paper is also suitable.

For watercolors, it is best to use soft round brushes: squirrel, kolinsky. For gouache - flat bristle or synthetic brushes.

Long live the markers!

Available drawing material. Their usefulness today is in doubt. This does not need to be taken literally: felt-tip pens can and should be drawn, but in certain situations and not limited to them.

A small child should be able to draw NOT ONLY with felt-tip pens.

The harm lies in the fact that not all modern felt-tip pens can boast of good quality (many are not washed, a child can take in his mouth and “eat inedible”) and a rich color palette. Bright, unnatural colors negatively affect a child's perception of color.

And the second negative point is that it is much easier to draw with felt-tip pens than with pencils, the line thickness does not depend on pressure, the brightness of the color too. Pencils train fine motor skills better, are a kind of preparation for writing with a ballpoint pen. Therefore, high-quality soft pencils are much more "useful" for the development of the baby's hand.

Of course, a little artist should have felt-tip pens in his arsenal. Give preference to proven firms ( Carioca, Maped, Giotto, Crayola), choose the optimal thickness (for the smallest it is better to take faceted) markers. Do not chase brightness, let the colors be as close to natural as possible. Make sure that the felt-tip pens do not dry out, because drawing with a "shaggy stick" that leaves a barely noticeable mark on paper is not a pleasant pleasure, and the habit of taking a felt-tip pen in your mouth so that it writes better is, believe me, not the best, given the "chemistry ”And just for hygiene reasons.

It's important for the little ones that the markers are washable, you don't want body art forever, do you? And be sure to pay attention to the thickness of the rod, because children at this age do not always know how to regulate pressure, they want to quickly paint over a large plane of the sheet.

Child psychologists advise putting a pencil or felt-tip pen in a child's hand correctly, which in the future will help to learn how to hold a pen correctly about writing.

Toddlers love to bang with felt-tip pens on the table. Not every "nose" will withstand such a test, many even go deep into the body from the first time, therefore, if you notice such a peculiarity of the behavior of a little artist, look for markers with a special skirt that will not allow the rod to disappear somewhere there ...

And the caps! If they are too small, the child may have difficulty in closing / opening and accidentally swallowing (pah-pah, of course) a small part. Transparent caps eliminate the need to look for the one you need to close a certain color - here it can be regarded as a plus when it comes to a child who still poorly distinguishes colors or an adult who is simply too lazy to spend time looking for a cap of the desired color when there is already a whole lot of open ones in his hand "Sticks".

Do bees make wax crayons?

Wax crayons - popular material for children's creativity. They are made of wax or paraffin, so they are relatively harmless even for the smallest. Wax crayons, like regular pencils, are easy to sharpen with a knife.

The peculiarities of this material are that the color fits tightly, sometimes it is even difficult to mix several shades on paper. The drawing is bright and expressive.

Disadvantage: they often break, the line is thick enough, which creates some inconvenience when you need to paint small details.

For those who do not buy wax crayons for babies because they constantly break, I will open a little SECRET. Toddler wax crayons are available as pebbles and blocks - they are easy to grip in the handle and do not break! There are even egg-shaped crayons.

It is inconvenient to paint small images with wax crayons. Let the child just draw with them on a large format - so there is where the fantasies of a little genius can roam. Excellent artistic technique - combining drawing with wax crayons and watercolors.

Quality wax crayons are produced by companies such as Stockmar, Faber-Castell, Crayola.

These are just some of the recommendations that can help aspiring artists. We will definitely come back to this topic to talk even more about the various art materials and techniques. Ask questions in the comments, we will definitely help you with your choice!

Many exercises have been invented to develop fine motor skills. Drawing with pencils is one of the most beloved by children. Fortunately, today manufacturers offer a huge selection of such tools: in a case made of wood and wax, triangular and round in cross-section. We will tell you more about each type.

Traditional pencils in a wooden case

Familiar from childhood, boxes with bright rods in a wooden "wrapper" are traditional tools of labor of all young artists. How to choose the best option for your child?

• Sectional shape. For your first creative experiences, objects with three faces are best. They teach the child in advance to hold the drawing and writing supplies in their hands. In addition, trihedrons are difficult to lose - if they fall off the table, they will not roll under the sofa. Hexagons have similar parameters. But it is better to refuse round sets.
• Lead hardness. It is important that the lead does not crumble in the body. Then the pencil will be easy to sharpen even with children's hands and will not become unusable after the first fall.

Watercolor pencils

Watercolor kits are the same paints placed in a wooden case. The rod itself is made of pressed watercolors. Drawings made using this technique are brighter and more expressive than ordinary pencil drawings. If the image is wet, it is visually indistinguishable from a watercolor painting.

Wax pencils

Such kits are made from wax, which is tinted with food colors. Pencil rods are soft, so clear colored lines are easy for little artists. Plus, they're easy to sharpen. Wax kits are suitable for the first large-part painting.

Drawing is a useful activity that develops and shapes the personality of the child, as well as improves fine motor skills. The kid begins to scratch incomprehensible scribbles first on the walls, and having learned to hold a pencil, he splashes out emotions on paper. So that the child does not lose interest in drawing, you should choose high-quality tools.

In office supply stores or art markets, there is a wide selection of products that differ in price, texture and number of colors in the set. Pencils are produced by domestic and foreign manufacturers, some of them are intended for professionals, others are suitable for beginners. There are watercolors and pastels, soft and hard, translucent and matte. How to choose colored pencils, what to look for, you will learn from our article. It also provides a rating of quality drawing tools, with an indication of their strengths and weaknesses.

For the smallest, triangular pencils are great, because they will teach you how to place your fingers correctly, that is, hold them with a "pinch", as adults do. This model has one more advantage - it does not roll off the table, so the child will not be distracted from drawing.

For children, you should also choose hexagonal pencils, but not round ones. Since the kids press hard on the lead when drawing, which causes it to break, it is better to buy a product with a thickened body. The diameter of a standard pencil is 0.6-0.7 cm, and babies need 1 cm.

Domestic pencils have a characteristic mark about softness or hardness - the letter "T" or "M" with a number next to it. The imported kits have different marks: B - very soft, and H - hard. It is more convenient for the crumbs to draw with soft pencils.

Watercolor products that combine the properties of traditional and watercolor paints are more suitable for professional artists. If you paint a drawing with such pencils, and then draw a wet brush over it, it will seem that the image was painted with paints. They are only available in standard thicknesses, round or hexagonal. They can be bought for schoolchildren, as drawing with them is a pleasure.

Wax crayons will be a great gift for a little artist, because they are convenient to paint with. They are made from natural wax with the addition of food colors. Pencils do not stain your hands, they have bright, fade-resistant shades. Wax pencils are entirely composed of a writing rod, so it doesn't matter which end you start drawing with. You can even sideways! For this reason, pencils do not need to be sharpened periodically, which is very convenient for babies.

Only they are not easy to draw thin lines and small details. Another drawback of pencils is why exactly these products are asked for a "tooth". Even with quite conscientious children!

What to look for when buying

Pencil selection criteria should not be limited by price or manufacturer. Parents often buy the most colorful and large set, which is not always the best. Drawing with colored pencils is a favorite pastime not only for children, but also for adults. Manufacturers produce entertaining coloring books with different plots, from which it is impossible to tear yourself away, so it is annoying when the lead breaks or the body breaks in two when the pencil falls on the floor.

When wondering which one is better to buy, pay attention to the following factors:

• brand;

Depending on these parameters, pencils differ in texture, dynamism, durability and color scheme. Inexpensive sets are sold everywhere, their main advantage is an affordable price, starting from 36 rubles. The cost depends on the size of the set, which ranges from 6 to 12 pencils.

Why are budget options not the best ones? Because in the end, people overpay by buying other pencils, a little more expensive, but of better quality. The fact is that cheap pencils scratch the paper and turn out to be too pale. Therefore, it is better to immediately purchase high-quality pencils and enjoy the creative process without worries.

Top best colored pencils for drawing

To choose the right tool, professional artists are advised to buy several kits from different companies and experiment with them. The best manufacturers, whose products have been tested by different generations, are presented in the ranking.

Classic Faber-Castell Polychromos

If you need time-tested pencils, then Faber-Castell produces what you were looking for. They are sold in a metal box and come in 6-60 colors. The lead is thickened, made on an oily basis. Pencils are easy to store thanks to smart packaging.

The colors are bright, juicy and mix well. Pencils from Faber-Castell are unbreakable, suitable for creating sketches and art canvases. They manage to apply layers beautifully, without defects. The manufacturer uses only environmentally friendly paints for coating wooden cases. Pencils may seem expensive, but they pay off with a long period of use.

Pencil Review:

Advantages:

• durable lead;
• bright colours;
• easy to sharpen;

Disadvantages:

• high price.

Average price: 1420 rubles.

Crayola pencils

These colored pencils are suitable for artists of all ages - from youngest to teens and adults. Bright packaging and a wide range of creative tools set them apart from the rest. The firm produces watercolor, metal and wax pencils. The products are made from proven raw materials, so the finished products are absolutely safe for children.

Review of pencils from this manufacturer:

Advantages:

• strength;
• comfortable to hold;
• saturated shades;
• environmental friendliness.

Disadvantages:

• not found;

Average price: 619 rubles.

Pencils for children under 3 years old - "Kalyaka-Malyaka"

For first graders and toddlers attending kindergarten, the first pencils for drawing are most often the products from the "Kalyaka-Malyaka" company. They attract attention with an affordable price, with a different number of pencils from 6 to 24 pieces.

Advantages:

• the quality corresponds to the declared manufacturer;
• do not crumble;
• the lead does not break;
• quite soft.

Disadvantages:

• the packaging does not withstand long-term use.

Average price: 190 rubles.

Prismacolor Premium Colored Pencils

They are made on an oil or wax base, made for both professional artists and beginners. The lead glides on the paper gently and gently, leaving a rich color. A couple of strokes are enough to make a masterpiece! Prismacolor pencil drawings look like photographs. The name of the shades is spelled out on the pencils themselves, and the numbers are indicated on the box.

In order not to buy a fake, it is better to order from American online stores or from trusted domestic sellers. Pencils are the leader of all ratings in the United States and are of high quality, therefore, they are expensive. The firm produces different lines of pencils - soft or hard, watercolor. If you can't choose one thing, you can buy several pieces of each series, and then combine them.

More about these pencils - in the video:

Advantages:

• wide range of colors;
• convenient packaging;
• high quality.

Disadvantages:

• high price.

Average price: 5,000 rubles.

KOH-i-NOOR pencils for schoolchildren

Czech pencils from KOH-i-NOOR have been and remain prestigious drawing tools. The products of this company have been chosen by professional artists and beginners for two centuries.

The manufacturer came up with a unique technology, according to which pencils are made on three machines. On the first, cedar boards are prepared, on the second - a slate made of granite. After they are connected, a pencil case with leads inside is obtained, which is cut on a third machine. The surface of the finished pencils is painted several times, then a gold tip is put on them with or without an eraser.

Video review of pencils:

Advantages:

• do not scrape paper;
• one package is enough for a long time;
• do not break after an accidental fall;
• sharpen perfectly.

Disadvantages:

• the price "bites".

Average price: 1 164 rubles.

Erich Krause watercolor pencils

The manufacturer is anxious about the products, so the lead contains a lot of kaolin and color pigment. Pencils from Erich Krause are a godsend for a novice artist or just a lover of coloring.

They have high quality rods, do not rub off or fade from paper. Pencils are presented in a large color palette, so you can draw whatever your heart desires! On sale there are soft, watercolor, triangular views.

Advantages:

• comfortable for a child's hand;
• beautiful bright packaging;
• well matched colors in one set.

Disadvantages:

• are quickly consumed.

Average price: 250 rubles.

Maped pencils

Ergonomic pencils are ideal for kids just starting out with drawing. The three-sided body is made of American linden, and a special coating and multi-layer varnishing prevent slipping. That makes it comfortable for the kid to hold a pencil in his hand.

The lead is soft, shock-resistant, so it does not break or crumble when sharpening. Thanks to the thick diameter, it will be possible to draw wide, saturated lines. Maped products are of high quality and vibrant colors. Many of today's young parents drew with exactly the same pencils in childhood, so they confidently acquire them for their children.

Video test of pencils:

Advantages:

• comfortable to hold, especially for the smallest artists;
• bright colours;
• triangular shape.

There are all possibilities. Children use pencils, paints of various types, felt-tip pens to draw. Any material has its own characteristics and advantages.

A wide selection of goods is presented not only in the retail network, but also on sites on the Internet. The products of many companies, being popular, have established themselves as excellent quality and have positive reviews not only of adult consumers, but also of children.

Wax pencils

Drawing with such pencils is a rather long and laborious process that requires certain knowledge. You can get acquainted with the unique technique of drawing with wax crayons starting from childhood. However, for babies, this can be quite difficult. But it's time for teenagers to figure out all the intricacies.

Criterias of choice

Wax pencils for children are represented by all kinds of brands, models, colors. They may differ:

• form,
• hardness
• diameter,
• method of application.

Professional managers, as well as educators and teachers, will tell you how to make a choice.

For kids who are just starting to create their first artistic "masterpieces", a set with a small number of colors is perfect. You can choose pencils in shape. Especially convenient, for example, triangular products.

If a child is attending art school, he definitely needs pencils. Graphics teachers and consultants in stores will help you understand their characteristics.

For school lessons, colored and simple wax pencils are useful. School teachers will help you make the best choice.

Pencil properties

Wax pencils can be easily sharpened with a knife, just like regular pencils. It is soft stuff. This is why it is easy to blend. And some children manage to replace makeup with wax pencils.

Creating a drawing

Wax behaves differently on different materials. They usually start with sketches made with light strokes with simple pencils. The drawings are then filled with sketches of colors, in layers, from dark to light, and then rubbed in.

Buying pencils

Wax crayons are best purchased from specialist centers or online stores. This will save little artists from the harm of low-quality goods. In addition, at such points you can buy other necessary goods. For example, curly scissors that will help you fantasize and cut painted paper crafts.