This is a long and detailed review of Arrtx 126 colored pencils set. Grab a drink and dig right in!
Packaging Comparison of Arrtx 72 & 126 Sets
If you have the original 72 set, you may wonder how the two compare. Here, I put the two sets side by side so you can see the difference in terms of size. Each comes in a sturdy cardboard box and is factory sealed.
You can see that the126 set of colored pencils by Arrtx is substantially bigger than the first set.
The box design is the same like the original 72 set, in that the pencils are vertically arranged with the tips facing down. However, the 126 set is split into two compartments.
By the way, Arrtx has improved the design of the foam insert so that each pencil is cushioned individually. When you pull a pencil out, another one won’t shift into its place. This was a feedback that some users (including myself) had mentioned in the 72 set, so it was very nice to see that Arrtx has taken it into consideration when they expanded the set. 🙂
Arrtx 126 Colored Pencils Review: More Tweaks!
In addition, Arrtx 126 colored pencils have more mid-tone shades. Arrtx also substituted Yellow Chartreuse and Shortbread with Ocean Blue and Lavender, not just in the 126 set but also in the new stock of the 72 set as well. This is a nice change because the 72 set has too many similar yellows.
Furthermore, Arrtx has matched the barrels of the pencils to the shades much more closely in the 126 set. It has also done the same for the new stock of the 72 set.
Color Swatches
While the 72 set has a downloadable swatch sheet on Arrtx’s website, there isn’t one available at the time of this review. I bought one from BeckysDIYColorCharts on Etsy for less than CAD$2 and it saved me a lot of time. I used light pressure on the left side and burnished a little harder on the right in each shade swatch.
Color Selection of Arrtx 126 Colored Pencils
The beauty of this swatch card is that it groups the same color families together. You can see that this Arrtx 126 colored pencils set has a good selection of each color family. I also love the three fluorescent shades in this set.
Like the original set, the core is not too soft (firmer than Prismacolor Premier) and is very durable. In fact, I did not experience any breakage at all when sharpening and using the pencils.
Guess What I’m Drawing?
Just like my original review of the 72 set, I decided to do another Minion fan art. As usual, I started out with the eyes.
This particular painting allowed me to use almost all the new shades, including the fluorescents.
Shades used:
Yellows: 1007, 1016, 1012, 1025, 1023, 1022, 1040, 1066, 1069, 1033, 1061
Reds and Pinks: 3160, 3170, 3280, 4010, 3111, 4005
Violets and Purples: 3300, 4122, 4280, 4110, 4170, 4333, 4222, 4188
Blues: 4212, 2088, 4201, 2082, 2002, 2019, 2031, 2085, 2039, 2025
Greens: 5055, 5066
Browns: 5444, 6180, 6076, 6090, 6095, 6099, 6191, 7180
Greys: 1111, 7030, 7130, 7200, 7020, 7047, 5699
Metallics: 0080
Black: 0099
White: 0001
Fluorescents: 8002, 8011, 8023
Review of New Shades in Arrtx 126 Colored Pencils Set
I love the new violets and purples in this set! To me, they are the standouts. The new dark teals and blues are stunning as well. I really enjoyed using them.
By the way, I did another artwork on toned paper using mostly the original shades from the 72 set. I find that the best paper to use with the Arrtx colored pencils is white and preferably with a little bit of tooth, like Bristol vellum.
True to its claim, you can stack 5 layers without any resistance, though you will need a vellum surface for layers for any colored pencils. Just like the original 72 set, the new set does not give much wax bloom at all, which is a big plus.
Dupes for Discontinued Prismacolor Premier Shades
Since Prismacolor Premier has discontinued Lavender and Lilac, I put them side by side with the Arrtx Lavender and Lilac shades so you can see they are almost the same. These are such pretty shades, I am glad I now have a backup each in my Arrtx set! (Lilac is in the 72 set as well)
Summary
In conclusion, the Arrtx 126 set of colored pencils reviewed beautifully. Arrtx has taken user feedback into account when expanding the set, and made a lot of improvements to enhance the user experience. The pencils are smooth and easy to blend, with little to no wax bloom, and do not break easily. If you can’t decide between the 72 and the 126 set, I’d recommend getting the 126 because it has such a beautiful range of shades, especially the violets and blues/teals.
Where to Buy
*Disclaimer: Arrtx sent this set to me for review. All opinions are my own. The links above are not affiliate links. I do not make any commission off them. They are included for your convenience only.
