Faber-Castell Art Supplies: Over 260 Years of German Art Materials Excellence

Faber-Castell is one of the oldest and most respected manufacturers of art materials in the world, producing pencils, coloured pencils, and other drawing materials from its base in Stein, Bavaria since 1761. The company's extraordinary heritage, spanning more than 260 years of continuous art materials production, is reflected in the quality and character of its products, which are used by professional artists, students, and art enthusiasts worldwide.

The company's most celebrated products for professional artists are the Polychromos coloured pencils, the Pitt Artist Pens, and the Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils, each of which has established a strong reputation among professional artists for its specific quality and performance characteristics. These products reflect Faber-Castell's commitment to producing art materials of the highest quality, grounded in more than two and a half centuries of experience in the art materials industry.

The Polychromos Coloured Pencils

The Faber-Castell Polychromos coloured pencils are widely regarded as among the finest professional coloured pencils available, with a reputation for exceptional colour intensity, smooth laydown, and excellent lightfastness that has made them the choice of professional coloured pencil artists worldwide. The range covers 120 colours, each formulated with high-quality pigments and an oil-based binder that produces a smooth, creamy consistency that is well-suited to the layering and blending techniques used in professional coloured pencil work.

The oil-based binder is one of the most important characteristics of the Polychromos pencils, distinguishing them from wax-based coloured pencils and producing a specific handling quality that many professional coloured pencil artists prefer. The oil-based binder produces a harder, more resistant core that is less prone to breaking than wax-based alternatives, and it produces a slightly different blending behaviour that many artists find more controllable.

The colour intensity of the Polychromos pencils is one of their most celebrated characteristics, with colours that are significantly more saturated and intense than those of most competing professional coloured pencils. This colour intensity is particularly valuable for artists who work with layering techniques, where the ability to build up rich, saturated colour through multiple layers is one of the most important practical requirements.

The lightfastness of the Polychromos pencils is exceptional, with all colours rated at the highest lightfastness levels. This commitment to lightfastness reflects Faber-Castell's understanding that professional artists need materials that will remain stable over time and that the permanence of a work is as important as its immediate appearance.

The Pitt Artist Pens

The Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens are one of the most widely used professional drawing pen ranges available, with a reputation for exceptional ink quality, a wide range of nib sizes, and excellent lightfastness that has made them the choice of professional illustrators and draughtspeople worldwide. The range covers a comprehensive selection of nib sizes from the finest brush nibs through broad chisel nibs, providing the full range of mark-making options that professional illustrators need.

The India ink formulation of the Pitt Artist Pens produces a rich, deep black that is one of the most important characteristics of the range for illustrators who work in black and white. The India ink is waterproof when dry, making it possible to apply watercolour washes over Pitt Artist Pen drawings without the ink bleeding or smearing.

The brush nib is one of the most popular and distinctive aspects of the Pitt Artist Pen range, providing a flexible nib that responds to pressure in a way that is similar to a traditional brush. The brush nib is particularly popular with illustrators who want to create expressive, variable-width lines that capture the character of brush drawing in a more convenient and controllable format.

The Albrecht Durer Watercolour Pencils

The Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils are named after the great German Renaissance artist and are widely regarded as the finest watercolour pencils available. The range covers 120 colours, each formulated with high-quality pigments and a water-soluble binder that produces a smooth, creamy consistency that is well-suited to both dry and wet watercolour pencil techniques.

The water solubility of the Albrecht Durer pencils is one of their most important characteristics, with the pigment dissolving easily and completely when water is applied, producing clean, transparent washes that are characteristic of the best professional watercolours. The water solubility is one of the most important practical characteristics of the range for artists who want to use watercolour pencils to create paintings with the specific qualities of traditional watercolour.

The colour range covers the full spectrum of colours with a particular strength in the earth tones and neutrals that are most important for landscape and portrait work. The range includes a comprehensive selection of the colours that professional watercolour artists rely on most heavily, alongside more unusual colours that extend the creative possibilities of the medium.

The German Heritage

The German heritage of Faber-Castell is one of the most important aspects of its identity, reflecting more than 260 years of German craftsmanship and technical excellence in the art materials industry. The company's long history in the Bavarian town of Stein has given it a deep connection to the specific traditions of German manufacturing and a commitment to quality that reflects the best of German industrial heritage.

The German heritage is reflected in the specific quality standards that Faber-Castell applies to its products, with a commitment to precision and consistency that is characteristic of the best German manufacturing. The quality standards are reflected in the specific consistency of the Polychromos pencils, the specific ink quality of the Pitt Artist Pens, and the specific water solubility of the Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils.

The Bottom Line

Faber-Castell is one of the most respected and widely used manufacturers of professional art materials in the world, with more than 260 years of German craftsmanship reflected in the quality of its Polychromos coloured pencils, Pitt Artist Pens, and Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils. For professional coloured pencil artists, illustrators, and watercolour pencil artists who want access to the finest German art materials, Faber-Castell is one of the most important and reliable manufacturers available.