You remember the smell. That specific, waxy, slightly woody scent that hits you the second you flip open a fresh box of art supplies. Honestly, most of us grew up thinking the 64-count was the holy grail of crayons, but the Crayola colored pencils 64 set is a whole different beast. It’s the "big kid" version of that childhood dream. It’s heavy. It feels substantial in your hand. While professional artists might drop three figures on a set of lightfast, oil-based Polychromos, there is something remarkably honest about what Crayola puts in this yellow and green box. It’s the bridge between scribbling and actually creating.
The 64-count isn't just a random number. It’s a calculated variety. You get the staples—Red, Blue, Green—but then you hit the nuanced stuff like Mauve, Salmon, and Slate. This isn't just about having more options; it’s about the psychology of color choice for a student or a hobbyist. When you have 64 choices, you stop reaching for the "closest thing" and start looking for the "right thing."
The Anatomy of a Crayola Colored Pencil
People dismiss these as "toys." They’re wrong.
Basically, these pencils are made from reforested wood—usually thick-cut cedar or similar softwoods—which makes them incredibly easy to sharpen without the lead snapping every five seconds. Have you ever used a cheap, off-brand pencil where the wood splinters and the core just falls out? It's infuriating. Crayola avoids this by centering the 3.3mm lead core properly. It’s thick. It’s sturdy.
The "lead" isn't actually lead, obviously. It’s a mix of pigment and wax. Now, here is where the nuance kicks in. Pro-grade pencils like Prismacolor are "soft core," meaning they blend like butter but dull if you even look at them funny. Crayola is a "harder" wax. This is actually a massive advantage for certain types of work. If you’re doing detail work, or if you’re a student taking notes and want to underline things in color, you want a harder lead. It holds a point longer. It doesn't smudge the moment your pinky finger brushes against the page.
What the Crayola Colored Pencils 64 Set Gets Right
Most people get this wrong: they think more colors equals better art. Not necessarily. But in the Crayola colored pencils 64 collection, the value lies in the "in-between" shades.
- The Sharpener Situation: Every 64-box comes with a built-in sharpener. Is it the best sharpener in the world? No. But it’s there. It’s convenient. It’s built into the back of the box so it doesn't get lost in the bottom of a backpack.
- The Palette Spread: You get a significant range of skin tones, earthy browns, and vibrant neons. This matters for inclusivity and realism, even at a hobbyist level.
- Layering Ability: Because the wax is harder, you can layer colors without creating a "wax bloom"—that weird, hazy white film that happens when you pack too much soft wax onto a paper’s tooth.
I’ve seen high school art teachers specifically request this set. Why? Because it’s affordable enough to be replaceable but high-quality enough to teach the basics of burnishing and cross-hatching. You can actually teach a kid how to create a gradient from Deep Ocean to Sky Blue because the transitional colors are actually in the box.
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The Durability Factor
Let’s talk about reality. Kids are mean to their stuff.
Pencils get dropped. They get stepped on. They get shoved into overstuffed pencil cases.
The Crayola colored pencils 64 set is built for this. The cores are "bonded," meaning the lead is glued to the wood throughout the entire length of the pencil. If you drop a professional soft-core pencil, the lead inside often shatters into a dozen pieces. You won’t know it until you try to sharpen it, and the tip just keeps falling out. Crayola’s bonding process makes them remarkably shock-resistant.
Honestly, I’ve found sets of these in the back of junk drawers that are ten years old. They still work. They still sharpen. The pigment hasn't faded into nothingness. That’s a testament to the manufacturing consistency that a company like Crayola, which has been around since 1885 (though they didn't start making colored pencils until much later), brings to the table.
Why the 64 Count Is the "Sweet Spot"
You could go smaller. The 12-pack is for toddlers. The 24-pack is the standard school requirement.
But 64? That’s for the person who cares.
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It fits perfectly on a desk without taking up the whole workspace. The flip-top box acts as its own stand. If you go up to the 100 or 120 sets, you start getting colors that are so similar you can barely tell them apart on paper. With 64, every pencil has a purpose. You have enough Greys (Cool Gray, Slate, etc.) to do proper shading, and enough Greens (Pine, Grass, Lime) to draw a forest that doesn't look like a flat green blob.
Real World Performance and Limitations
We have to be honest here: these aren't lightfast.
If you draw a masterpiece with Crayola colored pencils 64 and hang it in direct sunlight, it will fade over a few years. Professional pigments are rated by the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) for lightfastness. Crayola doesn't prioritize this because their primary audience is students whose work usually lives in a sketchbook or on a refrigerator.
Also, blending is... work.
You can’t just lightly swirl two colors together and expect a seamless transition like you would with an oil-based Lyra pencil. You have to use pressure. You have to understand how to "feather" your strokes. But many artists argue this is actually better for beginners. It forces you to learn manual control. It’s like learning to drive on a stick shift before you move to an automatic.
Where to Use Them (Beyond the Classroom)
The adult coloring book craze really solidified the 64-count's place in the world.
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If you’re filling in a complex mandala, you need a fine point. You need a pencil that won't crumble and bleed over the lines. Because these pencils are "dryer" than artist-grade ones, they are perfect for the thin paper typically found in mass-produced coloring books. Soft pencils often bleed through or "ghost" onto the back of the page. Crayola stays right where you put it.
Quick Tips for Better Results
- Don’t over-sharpen. A needle-thin point is more likely to snap, even with Crayola’s durability. A slightly blunt tip actually covers more surface area and blends better.
- Use a better sharpener. The one in the box is okay for emergencies, but a high-quality metal hand-held sharpener will give you a much cleaner edge.
- Try different paper. These pencils perform wildly differently on smooth printer paper versus textured "toothy" cardstock.
The Economics of Art
Let's look at the math. A 64-set usually costs less than a single fancy lunch.
For that price, you get 64 distinct tools. In a world where "subscription fatigue" is real and everything feels temporary, a physical box of pencils feels like a solid investment. It’s a tactile experience. You’re not staring at a screen. You’re not worried about battery life.
There is also a weirdly specific joy in seeing all the points lined up in their rows. It’s organized. It’s neat. It appeals to that part of our brain that wants order in a chaotic world.
Final Insights for the Aspiring Artist
If you are looking to get back into drawing, or if you’re buying for a student who has outgrown the basic 24-pack, the Crayola colored pencils 64 set is the definitive choice. It offers the most "bang for your buck" without crossing into the intimidating (and expensive) territory of professional supplies.
- Check the box bottom: Ensure the sharpener is intact before you leave the store.
- Practice pressure: Experiment with how hard you press. These pencils respond well to heavy "burnishing" (pressing hard to fill the paper pores).
- Combine with other media: Use them over a light watercolor wash for added detail. The wax sits nicely on top of dried paint.
Stop overthinking the gear. Just grab the yellow box, find a scrap of paper, and start drawing. The 64 colors are waiting, and honestly, they're more than enough to create something incredible.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your current stash: If you have half-broken, cheap pencils, toss them. The inconsistency of poor-quality lead is the fastest way to kill your motivation to draw.
- Test the "Color Swatch" method: Take a piece of the paper you use most often and create a small square of each of the 64 colors. Label them. This shows you how the color actually looks on paper versus the color of the wooden barrel, which can be slightly different.
- Upgrade your sharpener: Purchase a dual-hole metal sharpener. The smaller hole is usually perfect for the diameter of the Crayola barrel, providing a more stable sharpening experience than the plastic built-in version.