Castle Art Supplies 100 Piece Drawing & Sketching Set | Graphite, Charcoal, Pastel, Metallic Pencils + More for Professional and Adult Artists

ShelbyUnited States

Great for a gift, beginners, or just for your general artist

So I'll start this off by saying the cons of this- this product is a LOT bigger then the photos make it look, and it can be potentially an issue if your limited on storage. This isn't as bulky as some of castle arts other products, but it is longer. In total this measures to 16 inches across in length and 11 inches wide. (This is the measurement of the full case); this does include a pamphlet that gives the full inventory of the case in that it also explains what should come wrapped or not wrapped, for my case the 3 graphite sticks were supposed to come wrapped (just like the charcoal sticks and pastel sticks which both did come wrapped) unfortunately these were not wrapped which allowed them to move freely during shipping. While this isn't necessarily the fault of castle art I do still feel the need to mention it so people have full expectations of what could happen - the way this is packaged is other then the straps and the few items which are either wrapped or have plastic caps which help protect them there was nothing in place to keep things like the pencils safe during shipping; due to this one of my water soluble graphite pencils was broken on the tip (which overall isn't horrible, a good sharpening will fix it but it did make me a little disheartened since it's brand new and something is broken before I can even use it). Because there's nothing protecting anything to keep them in place lots of things ended up shifted around due to shipping. Overall in terms of packaging, besides the bubble wrap and box Amazon provided it comes in plastic wrap. Now onto the things I do like! In terms of the case itself, it has a nice handle to carry it via hand which can make transportation easier (it is a thicker handle so there's quite a bit of support for the case overall), whether your a beginner/wanting to gift this to an artist you know/or an artist who's needing a desperate amount of supplies on a limited budget (or even just want to upgrade your supplies), this is a good deal for what it is. Not only does this give many artists especially beginners the ability to explore several mediums without having to shell out hundreds-thousands of dollars on a medium they may not like, but it can help them get started on gathering needed supplies that they'll need throughout their art journey (whether it's hobby or career destined this can work for both even if you simply use it for studies/practice). From multiple blending tools, to watercolor, to graphite, to charcoal, to pastels. This has a little bit of it all. One major pro is that this case itself comes with 5 sketch books for varying mediums and projects, if you're like me and were wondering what type of colored pencils are included there are 12 earth tone water soluble pencils, along with 3 metallics (gold, silver, and bronze). a huge added bonus is if you have been wanting to get a pencil extender but haven't done so this comes with one, so you can get the feel of using one without worrying about wasting money on something you may never use or even like using. In terms of blenders it comes with tortillions, stumps, blending buds, and a twin tipped blender. Besides your standard charcoal sticks usually included in kits like this, there's also willow sticks and both black and white charcoal pencils. It does include a small selection of pastels such as your standard 5 soft pastel sticks as well as 5 pastel pencils. It does come with 2 sharpers as well (a single and a double). Along with many of your other standard kit items, one added benefit to this one is not only does it have some beautiful artwork on the sleeve but there's a little booklet that actually shows you how to make it yourself using the tools inside the kit. On top of that there's another booklet included which goes over what various tools are for and what they are which can help give beginners or even just your average artist a good quick insight into how to use certain tools. All in all, this is definitely a case that can be helpful to just about any artist out there, whether your just starting your art journey, in the middle of it, or have had experience for years and are a seasoned professional.

Deidre RutkowskiUnited States

Very nice

This is bought for me son for Christmas. He is a phenomenal young artist in the making. I cant wait to see what he draws. I love it has a carrying case so you can be on the go with it, and it has everything for him to start out with his professional art career. I dont have anything bad to say. Its nice ive gotten other castle products and they always hold up to there name. If your an artist starting out, you want regret this purchas, and I got a great a deal. No complaint here ill post photos after Christmas.

TeeUnited States

Great Sketching Set with a Good Mix of Various Supplies

Why did you pick this product vs others?: This is a great set because of the variety of supplies. The quality is pretty good for the price point. The pencils shade and blend rather well, however, it does seem a bit more dusty than other brands I have used. The size and feel of the pencils in my hand are comfortable, and they write nicely. Overall, I would recommend this and I do rate it 5 stars despite it being a bit more “dusty” than other brands. I think this is more a nit-picky thing of mine.

angela HawthorneUnited States

Reasonable priced and versatile

The kit comes with a large variety of crayons used to draw different things, depending on your level of skill. I bought this for my 17 year old daughter for Christmas. She loves drawing, and this kit offers her everything she needs at a very reasonable price. Definitely recommend this item.