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When I first started out doing art I didn't care so much about quality. I just wanted pencils that did the trick. Having more experience under my belt I see that quality does matter to a certain degree; and this kit fails to impress me in that area.
The pencils included are cheaply made, which makes them a pain to sharpen. Too much energy is spent trying to sharpen them that you'll forget that you're working on a drawing.
The white eraser is a bit too gummy like, a few uses and I already feel the structure beginning to weaken...
The sharpener is OK. But there are better ones (See my list below after review)
The only thing I liked about this kit were the charcoal sticks. I like to sharpen mine with sandpaper and these do produce nice dark tones.
This product receives two stars because it really isn't the kind of quality you should be seeking out in your practices. In the end the flaws just add aggravation which can easily be remedied by buying a better quality.
If you want to REALLY get a good start at art (or good quality for continuing art), then I'd suggest the following:
(Pencils)
You can't go wrong with either Faber-castell or Staedtler. I myself use the Staedtler Mars Lumograph. You can find these in kits, containing various degrees (A good range for the beginner would generally be 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B, 7B and 8B. Pencils ending in H are harder and thus produce lighter tones while pencils ending in B are softer and produce darker tones.)
(Erasers)
I recommend the Staedtler White eraser (which is fairly cheap. Mine cost me about 2$ for a fairly good-sized stick), but Pentel also works just as well. As for kneaded erasers, these are usually used to eraser thicker, heavier material like charcoal, but I recommend either Sanford or Prismacolor. Do not use any pink erasers for art, They leave a nasty pinkish residue on your paper and don't erase as good as the white (Infact, the only thing I ever use pink erasers for now is erasing stuff off of walls and desks.)
(Paper)
You'll see terms such as 15lb or 60lb. These indicate the thickness of the paper, with standard copy paper being 20lb and bristol pads coming in weights around 90 to 300 lb. Higher weights are for mediums such as painting, charcoal, ink pencil, etc., Each paper also has its own texture, with some more coarse or more smooth than others.
Hot pressed paper means that it has a smooth texture which is ideal for drawing detail and drawing with graphite and pen.
Cold-pressed paper on the other hand has a coarse texture to it, which means that it is more absorbent and allows for layer build up, and so this is ideal for painting.
You'll want to choose texture based on which medium you'll be using. Acid-free paper is preferred as a high level of acid will tend to ruin your artwork with time. I'd advise not to buy expensive paper if you're just starting out and just stick with printer paper. It's cheap and you'll be making a lot of practice sketches to burn through your supply. Strathmore is a great choice. They make paper for all kinds of mediums.
(Sharpeners)
You'll want one similar to the one included in this package, but bought from an art/ office supply store. The one included in the package was not as good as the metal one I picked up from Michael's for about two dollars. But if you REALLY want to get serious with it, I'd spend a bit more and get the KUM long-point sharpener. I use it almost exclusively and it is the best sharpener I've ever used. You can buy them here on Amazon or at any other art supply website (I've yet to see them sold in a store, unfortunately.) But it's a bit more expensive than your average sharpener (Mine was $10, shipping included). But it's well worth it, considering the fact that you save more wood and get to the point easier and faster. (Staedtler also sells a sharpener that is well-received here on Amazon. I've never tried it but it has glowing reviews)
Overall, don't get this kit; infact, don't get a "Kit," at all. Do a bit of research and get supplies separately. It's a bit more painstaking but in the end you're getting better quality products. You may save time and cash going for this product, but you'll be doing yourself, or that aspiring artist you know, a great disservice by giving them a poorly-made product.
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I bought this Late october the 25th or 26th and it showed up as expected. Acually, the first day of the "3-5days" which was a great plus. So, about this product.. I bought this because i'm not a huge professional artist that spends hours drawing and making a living off of it. I like to sketch, draw and cartoon. and this set allows me to do that with multiple tools and pencils. I love the variety and quality of these pencils. Including charcoal not just in pencil but block also, along with graphite bars. really lets me control where things go. I really love the woodless pencil, even though it doesnt keep a good point, (for long) But, i know that in about a year or more i will come back and buy another one when this set gets all used up. Thanks for a great product. I am truely happy with this set.
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