Most artists have used crayons at some point in their lives, even if not since childhood. But what crayons are the best for adult colorists?
The 12 best crayons for adults are:
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- Crayola Twistables
- Filana Organic Crayons
- Super Crayon Gel Crayons
- Azafran Organic Crayons
- Jovi Hexagonal Crayons
- Jar Melo Crayons
- Faber-Castell Neon Gel Crayons
- Crayola Pearl Crayons
- Faber-Castell Metallic Gel Crayons
- Azafran Organic Glitter Crayons
- Lyra Aquacolor Crayons
- Sargent Art Premium Watercolor Crayons
We’ve weighed the pros and cons of various crayon types and brands, and each of these 12 has features that make them stand out above the rest.
The Best Crayons for Adults
Here, in no particular order, are some of our favorite crayons for adult artists.
Crayola Twistables
Crayola has been a leading brand in crayons for over a hundred years, and while their classic crayons are still outstanding, we love their updated Twistable Crayons. Rather than being wrapped in paper, these crayons come in a plastic case that twists to reveal more crayons as the old is worn away. This eliminates the need for sharpening, as well as the tiny bits of crayon paper that you have to tear off as you wear the crayon down. The Twistables are perfect for travel and hold up to heat without melting much better than regular crayons, making them the ideal road trip art medium.
Filana Organic Beeswax Crayons
Handmade in the USA, Filana Organic Crayons are made with sustainable, organic ingredients. The highly pigmented wax glides onto paper smoothly, laying down vibrant color with ease. The large size makes them perfect for filling in extensive backgrounds or landscapes and is easier on the hands of older colorists with grip issues.
Super Crayon Gel Crayons
The Super Crayon Gel Crayons come in a twistable casing, as the Crayola Twistables mentioned above. This eliminates the need for sharpening, which is a huge plus. These crayons come in vibrant colors that slide onto the paper like butter. More along the lines of an oil pencil than a typical crayon, these gel crayons are easily blendable. This also leaves them more vulnerable to smudges, though, so keep that in mind. Because these crayons are soft, to begin with, they don’t hold up to heat very well, so they might be best for at-home coloring.
Azafran Organic Vegan Crayons
Perfect for artists who prefer organic ingredients but want to avoid beeswax, Azafran’s Organic Crayons are made from 100% plant ingredients, making them entirely vegan. These crayons come in brick-like shapes rather than traditional crayon shapes, making them another good option for people with grip issues due to arthritis. They’re also perfect for covering large areas quickly, as well as for leaf and gravestone rubbing.
Jovi Plastic Hexagonal Crayons
The Jovi Plastic Hexagonal Crayons feel like a pencil in hand and sharpen just as quickly. Based in Spain, Jovi has been making art supplies since the 1930s, and they know how to make a quality crayon that deposits smooth, even color. These crayons are perfect for coloring in adult coloring books and doing work that would typically be too detailed to pull off with crayons.
Jar Melo Washable Crayons
Jar Melo Washable Crayons are another twistable crayon that you won’t need a sharpener for. The gel crayons are silky smooth, super pigmented, and blend well. Artists report that their consistency is almost a cross between a crayon and a pastel, but inconvenient, twistable form. These crayons are one of the few that can be used on the skin, so they double as face paints. It’s easy to burn through them pretty quickly, though, so be ready to buy replacements sooner rather than later.
Faber-Castell Neon Gel Crayon Set
If you’re looking for neon colors so bright they seem to glow off the page, then you need the Faber-Castell Neon Gel Crayon Set. One of the oldest art supply companies around, Faber-Castell makes quality products that won’t let you down, and these crayons are no exception. These twistable, blendable crayons glow under blacklight, too, making them ideal for cool blacklight artwork.
Crayola Pearlescent Crayons
Crayola’s Pearlescent Crayons can be used on dark or light backgrounds to make art with a pearl-like shimmer. Although pearlescent colors tend to be lighter than traditional pigments, these are still vibrant and glide on the page. These crayons can be used alone or to add highlights and contrast to work done with traditional crayon colors.
Faber-Castell Metallic Gel Crayons
Faber-Castell makes a list again with their multi-functional Metallic Gel Crayons. They can be used like traditional crayons on paper or used as watercolor sticks by adding a little water. The metallic shimmer adds a pop to any drawing, and the velvety pigment slides easily onto the page. These gel crayons are good for layering, creating a color wash-type look to a more built-up, rich color.
Azafran Organic Glitter Crayons
For those who like their bling to be eco-friendly, there’s the Azafran Organic Glitter Crayons. Vegan and organic, these are crayons that you can feel good about buying. The easy-to-grip color blocks lay down sparkly color with ease, providing vibrant colors and a fun glitter effect. Glitter is perfect for adding a bit of interest to your drawings or letter art combined with different mediums.
Lyra Aquacolor Crayons
Lyra is a top-rated art supply manufacturer based in Germany, and their Aquacolor Crayons are perfect for serious crayon artists. Super pigmented for intense color, these crayons are lightfast, meaning they resist fading over time. This makes them perfect for work that you plan to display and keep for a long time. These creamy crayons blend well and can be mixed with water for a watercolor effect.
Sargent Art Premium Watercolor Crayons
Sargent Art Premium Watercolor Crayons are rich and creamy and blend incredibly well. They also mix well with water, creating blends, fades, and washes with no trouble at all. Use these crayons if you need to cover a large canvas or if you’re doing more detailed work.
Crayon Techniques for Adults
Crayons can be used in much the same way as colored pencils, but there are a few fun techniques you can also try with them.
Blending
Blending can quickly be done by adding baby oil to your drawings with a:
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- cotton swab
- small paintbrush
- Cosmetic sponge
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Just color as usual, then dip your tool in the oil and rub it over the color.
This will allow you to:
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- Create fades with one color
- Fade different colors into each other
- Blend multiple layers
- Make shading and contouring look more seamless.
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Color Washes
Color washes are great for filling in backgrounds or creating a watercolor effect.
To do a color wash with crayons and oil:
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- Scribble with crayon on scratch paper
- Dip a cotton swab (or other tool listed above) into oil
- Rub the cotton swab over the scribbled crayon to pick up the color
- Run the swab over the drawing, transferring the color onto it
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Drip Painting
One of the most fun things about crayons is their ability to melt, opening up a wide range of possibilities when the heat is added to them.
There are three main ways to use heat to create melted, drippy effects with crayons:
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- Heat the paper with a hairdryer before coloring on it, so the wax melts as it’s applied.
- Heat the paper after coloring on it to melt the wax already applied.
- Heat the crayons and let the wax drip onto the paper.
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Experiment with different techniques, and play with picking the paper up and tilting it to help move the wax around.
Scratch Art
Many adult colorists will remember this one from their elementary school days.
To make scratch art with a crayon:
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- Make blocks or patterns of color to cover an entire piece of paper or cardstock.
- Cover the multicolored patterns with a thick layer of black crayon, or tempera paint
- Use a paper clip or similar tool to scratch designs in the black layer, revealing the bright colors underneath.
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Crayon and Watercolor Art
Another fun technique loved by young artists that can be adapted for adult coloring is crayon “resist” art.
In this technique, you’ll draw a picture with crayons and paint over it with watercolors. The watercolor won’t stick to the crayon so the crayon drawing will pop through.
This technique is best for simple drawings with strong outlines, like letter art and mandalas.
Check out some additional techniques in our article HERE!
Final Thoughts
The best crayons for adults are crayons with intense pigment that glides on smoothly. Whether you choose our suggestions or have a favorite of your own, always stick with what works best for your art style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What surfaces can crayons be used on?
Crayons work best on smooth surfaces such as paper and cardstock, but they can also be used on canvas, wood, and painted cement.
What kind of art are crayons best for?
Crayons work well for many kinds of art, such as adult coloring books, mixed media projects, and landscapes. They are not well suited for very detailed work.
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