Castle Art Supplies Harmonious Colored Pencils vs Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils 24

The Prismacolor Premier is the safer pick for most artists: its soft, creamy cores are the standard for blending, shading and layering, and owners consistently praise the pigment strength. The Castle Art Supplies Harmonious set is the better buy if you already own a full-spectrum set and want 72 muted, moody shades that fill the gaps. Build quality is close, but Prismacolor cores break more easily and need careful sharpening, while Castle's wax cores are firm enough for everyday use.

• Choose the Castle Art Supplies Harmonious set if you want a large tin of muted, earthy shades to round out an existing collection and value the included tutorials.
• Choose the Prismacolor Premier 24 set if you want the most reliable cores for blending and layering and prefer a smaller, focused palette.